SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND INVENTION
 In
1870, more than 80% of the African Americans in the United
States were illiterate and, even 40 years later, more than
one-third of the African American population over 10 years
of age had still never been to school. It is against this
background of systematic educational deprivation that the
achievements of the African American's development in science
and industry can be seen in their sharpest perspective.
The
principle occupation of African Americans, as listed in the
1910 Census, was agriculture. It employed some 87.4% of African
American men and 54.7% of African American women. Of the industrial
occupations, skilled trades were represented by some thousands
of African American workers and included virtually any and all
occupations. Their employment, in fact, led to many inventions
which improved the American way of life.
Statistics
show that in 1850, free African American males were engaged
in such occupations as architects, barbers, blacksmiths. boatmen,
book binders, brick masons, brokers, cabinet makers, carpenters,
clothiers, engineers, gunsmiths, merchants, shoemakers, and
many others.
Despite
many legal and social obstacles, African Americans have made
significant contributions to science:
- Wilcie
Elfe, of Charleston, South Carolina, was mixing prescriptions
as early as 1853
- One
of the most diligent researchers was Dr. Charles Turner
of St. Louis, who wrote at least 47 papers in the field
of biology
- George
Washington Carver founded a new branch of chemistry, called
'chemurgy' defined as "the chemistry of the industrial
use of organic raw materials," or "the industrial
use of living things". From his Tuskegee Institute
Laboratory in Alabama, he revolutionized southern agriculture.
He used such raw materials as peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans
and red clay to produce bleach, shampoo, flour, oil, coffee,
house paint, among others. Read
More
- Norbert
Rillieux revolutionized the sugar industry
- James
Cune Smith, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland,
wrote scientific papers attacking the idea of racial inferiority
- Lewis
H. Latimer made important applications to the principle
of electricity, and wrote the first text book on the Edison
Electric System
- Jan
E. Matzeliger revolutionized shoe-making with his lasting
machine and subsequent improvements.
The
list of outstanding African American scientists includes, but
is not limited to, such men as:
- J.
Ernest Wilkins, who earned a PhD. in mathematics at age
19
- Dr.
Percy Julian, research chemist whose work in sterols has
done much to improve the medical treatment of arthritis
and glaucoma
- Dr.
Ernest E. Just, pure scientist, recognized for his work
in the study of cells
- Dr.
Meredith Gourdine, of Gourdine Industries, who organized
a company which conducts research and produces equipment
in electro-gas dynamics.
 African
American scientists continue to make significant contributions
through such pure and applied laboratories as Abbot Laboratories,
Huffman-Larocke, Baxter Laboratories, Douglas Aircraft Company
and Rohm and Haas Chemical.
Through
these and many other industrial chemical, biological and related
institutions, including health and education, the African American
scientist, always considered exceptional, has given much and
continues to give to the industrial development of this nation
through his scientific studies, discoveries, and pursuits.
|
