According to the American Society of Engineers, of the nearly 1.7 million prime-age (25-54) engineering workers in the United States in 2019, only 14% were either Black or Latinx, and only 3% of engineers in 2019 were Black or Latinx women. Despite these numbers, Black engineers have made a significant impact on the industry. Inventions like the stoplight, long-haul train routes, microphones and video games are just a few of the groundbreaking successes brought about by Black engineers.
What’s even more fascinating is that many historical Black engineers often lacked formal education, financial security, or a receptive audience, making their achievements even more extraordinary despite various challenges. In honor of Black History Month, NES is highlighting some of the most notable Black engineers who have made contributions to the electric and technology industries:
- Granville T. Woods, also known as “The Black Edison,” invented 15 appliances for electric railways including a power pick-up device in 1901, which is the basis of the so-called “third rail” currently used by electric-powered transit systems. Woods also invented the multiplex telegraph, also known as the “induction telegraph,” or block system. The device allowed people to communicate on moving trains by voice over telegraph wires, facilitating important communications which dramatically increased train safety.
- James West developed electret transducer technology alongside Gerhard Sessler. West and Sessler’s invention made microphones lighter and more responsive, eventually becoming the industry standard. Today, nearly all contemporary microphones, like ones found in telephones, tape recorders, baby monitors and hearing aids, use the technology developed by West.
- Gerald Lawson created the first video game console with interchangeable cartridges at Fairchild Semiconductor, paving the way for the future of gaming. A crucial element of the invention was the use of a new processor, the Fairchild 8. Gerald Lawson is considered a pioneer of the gaming industry, ushering in a new era of consumer video games.
- Shirley Jackson became the first African-American female PhD graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While working at Bell Labs, Jackson developed inventions that lead to the creation of caller-id and call-waiting.
NES continues to celebrate and honor the hard work and contributions of Black engineers everywhere. Happy Black History month!
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