Last week I shared some BHM facts with you guys and I’m back to share more! This week I’m focusing on awesome black people in the field of technology.
Gerald A. Lawson – created the first home video game system that used interchangeable cartridges, allowing gamers the ability to play a variety games and game makers to sell individual games.
James E. West – helped develop the electroacoustic transducer electret microphone that’s used in mics now as we as phones, tape recorders and camcorders. Kanye West should thank this Mr. West!
Granville T. Woods – also known as the black Thomas Edison. Woods was responsible for over 50 patents and inventions, but best known for synchronous multiplex railway telegraph that allowed railway stations to communicate with moving trains. This helped dispatchers locate trains and saved many lives that would’ve otherwise been taken due to rail accidents.
Thomas Jennings – invented the dry cleaning process and was the first black person to receive a patent when he got it for his dry scouring process in 1821.
Mark Dean – helped develop the interior hardware on computers to connect them to printers, monitors and more! You should say a quick thank you to him and his team every time you connect your computer to a monitor or TV via HDMI port.
Lewis Latimer – Thomas Edison is credited for the invention of the light bulb, but it was Latimer who made it popular in American households. He developed a method of producing carbon filaments that made the bulbs last longer, more efficient and cheaper and he received a patent for it in 1881.
Marc Hannah – If you’ve ever watched a movie with 3D graphics you should thank Marc and his team. He was one of the founders of Silicon Graphics in 1982 and they pioneered the special effects industry in film and TV. Fun fact: he was also a key design member for the Nintendo 64 game system!
Garrett Morgan – I actually tweeted and posted something on Facebook about him today! He invented the three position traffic signal that we still use to this day (it was patented in 1923) and what eventually became today’s gas mask!
Lonnie Johnson – I don’t know about y’all, but my childhood wouldn’t have been the same without his invention…the super soaker! The invention wasn’t intentional, but came about while he was working on repairs for his home. He became a multi-millionaire and now uses the money to develop energy technology!
Roy L. Clay – this man is known as the godfather of black Silicon Valley for helping break down the barriers for blacks in technology. His help in launching HP’s computer division in the 1960’s was huge and his recruitment and mentorship of other talented black people helped pave the way for technology innovators today.
Frederick M. Jones – Another man who made my childhood amazing! He designed the mobile refrigeration unit that’s used in trains, trucks, airplanes and ice cream trucks today! He even co-founded Thermo King and became the leading manufacturer of refrigerated transportation!
I hope you guys learned something new, I know I did when I studied this in undergrad. This was nowhere in my primary or secondary history books. Stay tuned for next week’s batch of Black History Month facts and feel free to comment below or send me an email!