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| african american technology inventors: Technology and the African-American Experience Bruce Sinclair, 2004 The intersection of race and technology: blackcreativity and the economic and social functions of the myth ofdisengenuity. |
| african american technology inventors: What Color Is My World? Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 2012-03-13 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA's alltime leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people’s pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people’s lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more — inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter. Back matter includes an authors’ note and sources. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Inventors in the Age of Segregation Rayvon Fouché, 2005-09-09 According to the stereotype, late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century inventors, quintessential loners and supposed geniuses, worked in splendid isolation and then unveiled their discoveries to a marveling world. Most successful inventors of this era, however, developed their ideas within the framework of industrial organizations that supported them and their experiments. For African American inventors, negotiating these racially stratified professional environments meant not only working on innovative designs but also breaking barriers. In this pathbreaking study, Rayvon Fouché examines the life and work of three African Americans: Granville Woods (1856–1910), an independent inventor; Lewis Latimer (1848–1928), a corporate engineer with General Electric; and Shelby Davidson (1868–1930), who worked in the U.S. Treasury Department. Detailing the difficulties and human frailties that make their achievements all the more impressive, Fouché explains how each man used invention for financial gain, as a claim on entering adversarial environments, and as a means to technical stature in a Jim Crow institutional setting. Describing how Woods, Latimer, and Davidson struggled to balance their complicated racial identities—as both black and white communities perceived them—with their hopes of being judged solely on the content of their inventive work, Fouché provides a nuanced view of African American contributions to—and relationships with—technology during a period of rapid industrialization and mounting national attention to the inequities of a separate-but-equal social order. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Inventors Kathy Trusty, 2021-06-29 Discover 15 inventors and inventions that changed the world in this guide for kids ages 8 to 12 Throughout history, Black inventors have achieved some of the world's greatest advancements in science, technology, engineering, and math. This book highlights 15 men and women who made a big impact with their inventions—from Marie Van Brittan Brown, who created the first home security system, to Mark Dean, who invented the personal computer. Learn all about each inventor's creative process, their invention, and the way it's benefited our world. The first Black man of science—Explore how Benjamin Banneker used his knowledge of math and science to build the first wooden clock, create an almanac, and help design the city that became Washington, D.C. An innovator in Black hair care—Learn how Lyda Newman became an inventor at the early age of 14, when she engineered an improved hairbrush design that made it easier and more affordable to properly care for Black hair. A web technology expert—Find out how Lisa Gelobter developed internet technology inventions that people rely on every day, including web animation, GIFs, and online videos. Take a journey through the stories of Black inventors and their inventions, with this guide designed just for kids. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Inventors Keith Holmes, 2012-05 Black Inventors, Crafting Over 200 Years of Success, highlights the work of Black inventors from over seventy countries. The author, Keith C. Holmes, has spent more than twenty years researching Black inventors from countries that include Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, St. Vincent, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States. Without inventions, innovations, financial resources, materials, muscle and labor saving devices, civilizations cannot exist and flourish. This book documents a number of inventions, patents and labor saving devices conceived by Black inventors. Among many other inventions, pre-enslaved Africans, developed agricultural tools, building materials, medicinal herbs, cloth and weapons. Although historical documents emphasize that millions of Black people arrived in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and the United States under slavery's yoke, it is relatively unknown that thousands of Africans and their descendants developed numerous labor-saving devices and inventions that spawned companies which generated money and jobs, worldwide. While most authors focus primarily on American and European inventors, Keith Holmes introduces inventions, both past and present, that Black people, developed and patented globally and multiculturally.Black Inventors, Crafting Over 200 Years of Success, also features early Black inventors from virtually every state in the US. It includes details about the first Black inventor who obtained a patent in both the Caribbean and the United States. To date, seventeen African American men have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Two inventors, Jan E, Matzeliger, (Suriname) and Elijah McCoy, (Colchester, Canada) were not born in this countryThe material available in this book, one of the first to address the diversity of black inventors and their inventions from a global perspective, effectively gives the reader, researcher, librarian, student, and teacher the materials they need to understand that the Black inventor is not only a national phenomenon, but also a global giant. |
| african american technology inventors: 9 African-American Inventors Robert C. Hayden, 1992 Chronicles the achievements of nine Afro-Americans responsible for inventions related to important parts of modern life such as refrigeration, electric lighting, and transportation. |
| african american technology inventors: African American Inventors Otha Richard Sullivan, 2011-04-19 Meet the black inventors who lived their dreams--from the early years to modern times Benjamin Banneker Andrew Jackson Beard George E. Carruthers, Ph.D. George Washington Carver Michael Croslin, Ph.D. David Nelson Crosthwait Jr. Charles Richard Drew, M.D. Meredith Gourdine, Ph.D. Claude Harvard Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Frederick McKinley Jones Percy Lavon Julian, Ph.D. Ernest Everett Just, Ph.D. Lewis Howard Latimer Jan Earnst Matzeliger Elijah McCoy Benjamin Montgomery John P. Moon Garrett Augustus Morgan Norbert Rillieux Earl D. Shaw, Ph.D. Madame C. J. Walker Daniel Hale Williams, M.D. Granville T. Woods Jane Cooke Wright, M.D. For more than three centuries, African American inventors have been coming up with ingenious ideas. In fact, it is impossible to really know American history without also learning about the contributions of black discoverers. This collection brings their stories to life. In every era, black inventors have made people's lives safer, more comfortable, more convenient, and more profitable. This inspiring, comprehensive collection shines history's spotlight on these courageous inventors and discoverers. One by one, they persevered, despite prejudice and obstacles to education and training. These stories show you how: Benjamin Montgomery, born a slave, invented a propeller that improved steamboat navigation. Jan Earnst Matzeliger, the son of a Dutch engineer, invented a machine that revolutionized the shoe manufacturing industry. Madame C. J. Walker, born two years after the Civil War emancipated her parents, invented a product that helped make her a millionaire. Dr. George E. Carruthers, an astrophysicist, invented the lunar surface ultraviolet camera/spectrograph for Apollo 16. Dr. Jane Cooke Wright, a third-generation physician and pioneer in the field of cancer research discovered a method for testing which drugs to use to fight specific cancers. Dr. Wright became the first woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society and the first African American woman to serve as dean of a medical college. This outstanding collection brings to light these and dozens of other exciting and surprising tales of inventors and discoverers who lived their dreams. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Pioneers of Science and Invention Louis Haber, 1991 Traces the lives of fourteen black scientists and inventors who have made significant contributions in the various fields of science and industry. |
| african american technology inventors: Imagine Life Without African-American Inventors Charron Monaye, 2021-02-18 Did you know your cellphone was invented by an African American? What about the doorknob, mailbox, or the home security system? Through the book, you will learn along with Mr. Kentrell's class just how African American women and men contributed to the world we live in. Imagine Life Without African American Inventors is a beautifully illustrated children's book about inventions that has become the fabric of our everyday lives. Children will learn that some things that we may take for granted - from the components in a cell phone, streetlights, mailbox, hairbrush, potato chips, ironing board to the home security system - were created by African American men and women. As Michelle and Mr. Kentrell's class learn about these inventors, they are asked to image life without African Americans. |
| african american technology inventors: Black People Invented Everything Dr. Sujan K. Dass, 2020-02-01 Who invented the traffic light? What about transportation itself? Farming? Art? Modern chemistry? Who made…cats? What if I told you there was ONE answer to all of these questions? That one answer? BLACK PEOPLE! Seriously. And this book is like a mini-encyclopedia, full of more evidence than WikiLeaks and just as eye-opening! Do you know just how much Black inventors and creators have given to modern society? Within the past 200 years, Black Americans have drawn on a timeless well of inner genius to innovate and engineer the design of the world we live in today. But what of all the Black history before then? Before white people invented the Patent Office, Black folks were the original creators and builders, developing ingenious ways to manage the world’s changes over millions of years, everywhere you can imagine, from Azerbaijan to Zagazig! With wit and wisdom (and tons of pictures!) this book digs deeper than the whitewashed history we learn in school books and explores how our African ancestors established the foundation of modern society! Have you inherited this genius? What can you do with it? Inspired by solutions from the past, we can develop strategies for a successful future! |
| african american technology inventors: The Inventive Spirit of African Americans Patricia Carter Sluby, 2004 In this important study, former United States primary patent examiner Patricia Carter Sluby pays homage to the inventive spirit of African Americans. Beginning with the contributions of enslaved Africans brought to American shores, Sluby introduces inventors and patent holders from all fields up to and including the leading edge of today's technology. Along with such recognizable figures as George Washington Carver and Madam C. J. Walker, readers will discover little-known or forgotten pioneers of devices such as a tobacco substitute, a home security system, and a portable heart monitor. Particular attention is given to the innovations of women inventors and scientists. Products to ease domestic life, promote the efficiency of industrial processes, and improve the safety of leisure activities all bear the hallmarks of these creative minds. Sluby details the plight of inventive slaves during the antebellum and Civil War eras. She juxtaposes their efforts with those of free blacks of the same period. Reconstruction saw significant agricultural and industrial innovations by African Americans, some of which would permanently change American industry. Military inventions during the course and aftermath of both world wars showcase the diversity of minority ideas in an age of rapid technological advances. The closing chapter recounts the ongoing efforts of modern thinkers and their contributions in the high-tech and medical fields at the vanguard of the new century. |
| african american technology inventors: African-American Inventions That Changed the World the World Michael Carson, 2017-07-18 A considerable amount of the world's most influential inventors have been African-American, which is a fact that is often overlooked. Throughout history, African-Americans inventors have played a pivotal role in creating revolutionary inventions that has impacted our lives in various ways. These pioneers have contributed to the fields of medicine, agriculture, science and technology, to name a few. In the 1800's, many of these innovators were born into slavery and were not allowed to acquire a formal education, they were faced with countless obstacles and had to triumph over many adverse conditions. Nevertheless, these inventors have made significant contributions to the World. African-American men and women have left their mark in both American and World History. Many of their innovative creations would not exist today if it wasn't for their brilliant minds and creative ideas. The incredible inventors mentioned in this book have collectively created over 500 inventions. They represent some of the amazing men and women who have impacted our lives through their intelligence and ingenuity. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Inventors C. R. Gibbs, 1995 |
| african american technology inventors: Changing the Face of Engineering John Brooks Slaughter, Yu Tao, Willie Pearson Jr., 2015-12-15 How can academic institutions, corporations, and policymakers foster African American participation and advancement in engineering? For much of America’s history, African Americans were discouraged or aggressively prevented from becoming scientists and engineers. Those who did enter STEM fields found that their inventions and discoveries were often neither recognized nor valued. Even today, particularly in the field of engineering, the participation of African American men and women is shockingly low, and some evidence indicates that the situation might be getting worse. In Changing the Face of Engineering, twenty-four eminent scholars address the underrepresentation of African Americans in engineering from a wide variety of disciplinary and professional perspectives while proposing workable classroom solutions and public policy initiatives. They combine robust statistical analyses with personal narratives of African American engineers and STEM instructors who, by taking evidenced-based approaches, have found success in graduating African American engineers. Changing the Face of Engineering argues that the continued underrepresentation of African Americans in engineering impairs the ability of the United States to compete successfully in the global marketplace. This volume will be of interest to STEM scholars and students, as well as policymakers, corporations, and higher education institutions. |
| african american technology inventors: African American Firsts in Science & Technology Raymond B. Webster, 1999 Presents capsule accounts of notable first achievements by African Americans, arranged in the categories Agriculture and Everyday Life, Dentistry and Nursing, Life Science, Math and Engineering, Medicine, Physical Science, and Transportation. |
| african american technology inventors: Technology in America Carroll Pursell, 1990-04-12 This is a collection of essays focusing on the spread and elaboration of American technology, and on the men and women who shaped it. Beginning with technology of America's Wooden Age, the authors discuss Jefferson's perception of the role of technology in a democratic society; the American System of Manufactures of Eli Whitney and others; Thomas P. Jones and the institutionalization of industrialization in educational reforms; McCormick and the spread of industrialization to agriculture; and James Eads and the rise of transportation networks. ISBN 0-262-66049-0 (pbk.): $9.95. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Inventors Who Changed History Debra D. Rich, 2021-10-07 Black Inventors Who Changed History 1800s–1900s By: Debra D. Rich African American scholar and historian Lerone Bennett Jr. once said, “If our children are to make history, they must first know their own history.” Deeply inspired by this sentiment, author Debra Rich set out to chronicle the lives of groundbreaking black inventors who have helped shape the world but who receive little credit or fame. With great talent and an unbreakable spirit, these African Americans overcame prejudice, poverty, violence, and hatred to create inventions we still use today. Finally, their stories must be told. |
| african american technology inventors: U.S. History P. Scott Corbett, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, Paul Vickery, 2024-09-10 U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender. |
| african american technology inventors: Rising Above the Gathering Storm Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: An Agenda for American Science and Technology, 2007-03-08 In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy: 1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education; 2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research; 3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and 4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation. Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars. |
| african american technology inventors: Ready Player One Ernest Cline, 2011-08-16 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. “Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.”—USA Today • “As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.”—Entertainment Weekly A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready? In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days. When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself. Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on—and the only way to survive is to win. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • San Francisco Chronicle • Village Voice • Chicago Sun-Times • iO9 • The AV Club “Delightful . . . the grown-up’s Harry Potter.”—HuffPost “An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.”—CNN “A most excellent ride . . . Cline stuffs his novel with a cornucopia of pop culture, as if to wink to the reader.”—Boston Globe “Ridiculously fun and large-hearted . . . Cline is that rare writer who can translate his own dorky enthusiasms into prose that’s both hilarious and compassionate.”—NPR “[A] fantastic page-turner . . . starts out like a simple bit of fun and winds up feeling like a rich and plausible picture of future friendships in a world not too distant from our own.”—iO9 |
| african american technology inventors: Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? Patrice McLaurin, 2016-05-01 Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? is a journey into the often forgotten contributions of African-American inventors, that contributed to the American landscape. This book was written to appeal to African-American youth, inspiring creative thought and innovation. It was also written to demonstrate to children how the genius of African-American minds is utilized on a daily basis. Biographies about each inventor, as well as activity sheets are included in the book to further stimulate the minds of young readership. |
| african american technology inventors: 100 Greatest African Americans Molefi Kete Asante, 2010-06-28 Since 1619, when Africans first came ashore in the swampy Chesapeake region of Virginia, there have been many individuals whose achievements or strength of character in the face of monumental hardships have called attention to the genius of the African American people. This book attempts to distill from many wonderful possibilities the 100 most outstanding examples of greatness. Pioneering scholar of African American Studies Molefi Kete Asante has used four criteria in his selection: the individual''s significance in the general progress of African Americans toward full equality in the American social and political system; self-sacrifice and the demonstration of risk for the collective good; unusual will and determination in the face of the greatest danger or against the most stubborn odds; and personal achievement that reveals the best qualities of the African American people. In adopting these criteria Professor Asante has sought to steer away from the usual standards of popular culture, which often elevates the most popular, the wealthiest, or the most photogenic to the cult of celebrity. The individuals in this book - examples of lasting greatness as opposed to the ephemeral glare of celebrity fame - come from four centuries of African American history. Each entry includes brief biographical information, relevant dates, an assessment of the individual''s place in African American history with particular reference to a historical timeline, and a discussion of his or her unique impact on American society. Numerous pictures and illustrations will accompany the articles. This superb reference work will complement any library and be of special interest to students and scholars of American and African American history. |
| african american technology inventors: Blacks in Science Ivan Van Sertima, 1983 Providing an overview of the lost sciences of Africa and of contributions that blacks have made to modern American science, Blacks in Science presents a range of new information from Africanists. The book also includes bibliographical guides that are crucial to further research and teaching. The lineaments of a lost science are now emerging and we can glimpse some of the once buried reefs of this remarkable civilization. A lot more remains to be revealed. But enough has been found in the past few years to make it quite clear that the finest heart of the African world receded into the shadow while its broken bones were put on spectacular display. The image of the African, therefore, has been built up so far upon his lowest common denominator. In the new vision of the ancestor, we need to turn our eyes away from the periphery of the primitive to the more dynamic source of genius in the heartland of the African world. -- Ivan Van Sertima |
| african american technology inventors: George Washington Carver Helga Schier, 2008 The life and career of the famous African American scientist. |
| african american technology inventors: Inventors Who Changed the World Heidi Poelman, 2018-10-01 From the ranging curiosity of Leonardo da Vinci to the dedication and sacrifice of Marie Curie, Inventors Who Changed the World is a young child's first introduction to the brilliant people who taught us the meaning of perseverance and innovation. Simple text and adorable illustrations tell the contributions of nine renowned inventors from around the world: Cai Lun, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Grace Hopper, Johannes Gutenberg, and Louis Pasteur. Inspire your own little inventor with the words of these inventive heroes who changed the world. |
| african american technology inventors: 101 Black Inventors and Their Inventions Joy James, 2021-05-08 Come and meet 101 of the world's greatest Black inventors ranging from superb scientists to incredible innovators to exciting entrepreneurs who changed the face of technology and design! 101 Black Inventors and their Inventions introduces you to 101 groundbreaking historical and modern-day Black inventors. This beautifully illustrated book will take you on a journey to discover the lives of these inspirational inventors and how they came to impact the world with their unique ideas. From Gerald Lawson's home video game console that led to the Xbox and PlayStation to Annie Malone's haircare products which led her to become a millionaire, read and be amazed at just how much these real-life superheroes achieved in the face of adversity and, at times, discrimination paving the way for future generations. Delve into 101 Black Inventors and their Inventions and have a think about what inventions you might like to invent. |
| african american technology inventors: Young Trailblazers: the Book of Black Inventors and Scientists M. J. Fievre, 2023-03-14 Learn About Amazing Black Trailblazers Who Changed the World A fun new book for children that teaches them about Black trailblazers who have impacted the world through their actions and inventions. From Black Inventors to Black Scientists. Take your child on an adventure and travel through time to meet historical black trailblazers who changed the game. Countdown to liftoff with Katherine Johnson who helped pioneer U.S. crewed space missions. Safely cross the street with Garrett Morgan who invented the traffic signal or even sing your heart out with James West's invention of the microphone. Experience an array of rich Black history. There are Black scientists and Black inventors such as George Washington Carver and Madam C.J. Walker we all know. There are also dozens of Black trailblazers that we don't, all of whom have accomplished remarkable things in literature, entertainment, education, STEM, business, military and government services, politics and law, activism, sports, spirituality, and more. Cuddle up with your child and meet the Young Trailblazers who will: * Introduce your child to Black history * Encourage the importance of dreaming big * Show your child that they can do it tooIf your child enjoyed books about Black History such as Black Heroes, 100 African-Americans Who Shaped American History, or Black Women in Science, they'll love Young Trailblazers: The Book of Black Inventors and Scientists . |
| african american technology inventors: Black Stars Otha Richard Sullivan, 2001-10-30 Meet African american women of science and invention from the early years to modern Times Patricia Bath, M.D. Miriam E. Benjamin Ursula Burns Alexa Canady, M.D. Jewel Plummer Cobb, Ph.D. Ellen F. Eglin Angela D. Ferguson, M.D. Sara E. Goode Evelyn Boyd Granville, Ph.D. Dannellia Gladden Green, Ph.D. Bessie Blount Griffin Betty Wright Harris, Ph.D. Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Aprille Joy Ericsson Jackson, Ph.D. Mae Jemison, M.D. Marjorie Stewart Joyner, Ph.D. Mary Kenner Reatha Clark King, Ph.D. Annie Turnbo Malone Mildred Austin Smith Valerie Thomas Madame C. J. Walker Jane Cooke Wright, M.D. Roger Arliner Young, Ph.D. Chavonda J. Jacobs Young, Ph.D. |
| african american technology inventors: Black Men in Science Bryan Patrick Avery, 2022-02-01 Incredible stories of Black men who changed the course of science—for kids ages 8 to 12 All throughout history, Black men have made important contributions to scientific discovery. This collection of biographies for kids explores 15 of these intelligent men and the extraordinary scientific accomplishments they achieved—even when they faced huge challenges. You'll learn how they stood up against racism and inequality, and never stopped following their passions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Meet talented Black men in history who have helped: Explore our world—Discover inventors like Lewis Howard Latimer and biologists like George Washington Carver, and find out how they expanded our understanding of the world around us. Advance medicine—Learn the stories of doctors like James McCune Smith and Leonidas Berry who helped stop the spread of disease and change the way we perform surgery. Change the game—Find out how people like geneticist Rick Kittles and engineer Roy L. Clay Sr. are still doing important research and breaking barriers. Dive into a world of inspiring men with this scientific entry into Black history books for kids. |
| african american technology inventors: Lectures on Entomology John Barlow Burton, 1837 |
| african american technology inventors: A Hammer in Their Hands Carroll Pursell, 2006-08-11 Scholars working at the intersection of African-American history and the history of technology are redefining the idea of technology to include the work of the skilled artisan and the ingenuity of the self-taught inventor. Although denied access through most of American history to many new technologies and to the privileged education of the engineer, African-Americans have been engaged with a range of technologies, as makers and as users, since the colonial era. A Hammer in Their Hands (the title comes from the famous song about John Henry, the steel-driving man who beat the steam drill) collects newspaper and magazine articles, advertisements for runaway slaves, letters, folklore, excerpts from biography and fiction, legal patents, protest pamphlets, and other primary sources to document the technological achievements of African-Americans. Included in this rich and varied collection are a letter from Cotton Mather describing an early method of smallpox inoculation brought from Africa by a slave; selections from Frederick Douglass's autobiography and Uncle Tom's Cabin; the Confederate Patent Act, which barred slaves from holding patents; articles from 1904 by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois, debating the issue of industrial education for African-Americans; a 1924 article from Negro World, Automobiles and Jim Crow Regulations; a photograph of an all-black World War II combat squadron; and a 1998 presidential executive order on environmental justice. A Hammer in Their Hands and its companion volume of essays, Technology and the African-American Experience (MIT Press, 2004) will be essential references in an emerging area of study. |
| african american technology inventors: Nine African-American Inventors Robert E. Hayden, 1992-09-01 |
| african american technology inventors: The Real McCoy Wendy Towle, 1995 A biography of the Canadian-born black American who studied engineering in Scotland and patented over 50 inventions, despite the obstacles he faced because of his race |
| african american technology inventors: Know Your Price Andre M. Perry, 2020-05-19 The deliberate devaluation of Blacks and their communities has had very real, far-reaching, and negative economic and social effects. An enduring white supremacist myth claims brutal conditions in Black communities are mainly the result of Black people's collective choices and moral failings. “That's just how they are” or “there's really no excuse”: we've all heard those not so subtle digs. But there is nothing wrong with Black people that ending racism can't solve. We haven't known how much the country will gain by properly valuing homes and businesses, family structures, voters, and school districts in Black neighborhoods. And we need to know. Noted educator, journalist, and scholar Andre Perry takes readers on a tour of six Black-majority cities whose assets and strengths are undervalued. Perry begins in his hometown of Wilkinsburg, a small city east of Pittsburgh that, unlike its much larger neighbor, is struggling and failing to attract new jobs and industry. Bringing his own personal story of growing up in Black-majority Wilkinsburg, Perry also spotlights five others where he has deep connections: Detroit, Birmingham, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. He provides an intimate look at the assets that should be of greater value to residents—and that can be if they demand it. Perry provides a new means of determining the value of Black communities. Rejecting policies shaped by flawed perspectives of the past and present, it gives fresh insights on the historical effects of racism and provides a new value paradigm to limit them in the future. Know Your Price demonstrates the worth of Black people's intrinsic personal strengths, real property, and traditional institutions. These assets are a means of empowerment and, as Perry argues in this provocative and very personal book, are what we need to know and understand to build Black prosperity. |
| african american technology inventors: The Mis-education of the Negro Carter Godwin Woodson, 1969 |
| african american technology inventors: African American Inventors and Their Inventions A-Z Anita C President Ed D, 2017-09-28 Did you know that African Americans invented the mop, lawn mower, clock, gas mask, and more? In this fun children's book, the author takes the reader on an alphabet journey while playfully introducing the inventions of African Americans. |
| african american technology inventors: Tell My Horse Zora Neale Hurston, 2009-10-13 “Strikingly dramatic, yet simple and unrestrained . . . an unusual and intensely interesting book richly packed with strange information.” —New York Times Book Review Based on Zora Neale Hurston’s personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica, where she participated as an initiate rather than just an observer of voodoo practices during her visits in the 1930s, this travelogue into a dark world paints a vividly authentic picture of the ceremonies, customs, and superstitions of voodoo. |
| african american technology inventors: It Began with a Dream marvin jackson, Gladys West, 2020-05 Memoir of the life of Dr. Gladys B. West, a black woman who played an integral role in the development of the GPS. |
| african american technology inventors: The Colored Inventor: A Record of Fifty Years Henry E. Baker, 2020-03-16 The Colored Inventor: A Record of Fifty Years by Henry E. Baker Baker was the third African American to enter the United States Naval Academy. He later served as an assistant patent examiner in the United States Patent Office, where he would chronicle the history of African-American inventors. This book is the culmination of that tireless work. It explored the different inventions African-American citizens would contribute throughout his career, many of which went on to be life-changing inventions in the country. |
| african american technology inventors: ABC's of Black History Craig Thompson, 2008-10 Africa is where the first people were born. It has many resources, from diamonds to corn. The book is a bright-colored, quick rhyming journey through the lives of history makers: billionaire businessman Reginald Lewis, Harlem Renaissance novelist Zora Neale Hurston, entertainment powerhouse Oprah Winfrey, and others leap from the pages. Skip along with places, events, and inventions significant to the black experience. Craig Thompson tells their stories in kid-speak, with carefully chosen words that summarize their contributions. And the backdrop for his words is the toasty hues and primary colors of illustrator Roger James. This unique guide is finally in paperback. |
Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Africa is highly biodiverse; [17] it is the continent with the largest number of …
Africa | History, People, Countries, Regions, Map, & Facts | Britannica
3 days ago · Africa, the second largest continent (after Asia), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. The continent is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, on the …
Africa Map / Map of Africa - Worldatlas.com
Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union …
Map of Africa | List of African Countries Alphabetically - World Maps
As of 2023, about 1.5 billion people lived in Africa, which is about 18.2% of the world's population. The continent is washed by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, …
The 54 Countries in Africa in Alphabetical Order
May 14, 2025 · The African continent has clearly defined borders and consists of 54 recognized sovereign countries. The linguistic diversity, with over 3,000 languages spoken, is a testament …
Africa Map: Regions, Geography, Facts & Figures | Infoplease
There are 54 countries in Africa, making it the second largest and second-most populous continent in the world. Each of these countries has its own unique identity, shaped by a mix of …
Africa: Human Geography - Education
Jun 4, 2025 · Widely believed to be the “cradle of humankind,” Africa is the only continent with fossil evidence of human beings (Homo sapiens) and their ancestors through each key stage …
Africa - New World Encyclopedia
At about 11,668,545 square miles (30,221,532 km²), Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the main mass of Earth's exposed surface. It is Earth's oldest and …
Africa: Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa - HISTORY
African History Africa is a large and diverse continent that extends from South Africa northward to the Mediterranean Sea. The continent makes up one-fifth of the total land surface of...
Africa - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are 54 fully recognised and independent countries in Africa, and 14.7% (1.216 billion) of the world's population lives there. [4] . It is thought to be the continent where the first humans …
Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis …
Africa | History, People, Countries, Regions, Map, & Fa…
3 days ago · Africa, the second largest continent (after Asia), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of …
Africa Map / Map of Africa - Worldatlas.com
Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) …
Map of Africa | List of African Countries Alphabetically - Wo…
As of 2023, about 1.5 billion people lived in Africa, which is about 18.2% of the world's population. The …
The 54 Countries in Africa in Alphabetical Order
May 14, 2025 · The African continent has clearly defined borders and consists of 54 recognized sovereign …
