There have been some incredible achievements made in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by African Americans. These are 10 people that your students could research to learn more about.
Granville Woods
Granville Woods (1856-1910) was a prolific inventor and engineer who made electric railways safer and faster. With over 50 patents, he had a passion for inventing, and was particularly interested in rail technology. A few of his inventions included electrical lines being installed above the railway, sending voice and Morse Code messages at the same time, and a way for moving trains to send messages to stations and other trains. All of these inventions improved safety for railway workers and passengers.
Granville Woods, author unknown
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver (1864-1943) was a scientist and inventor. He was passionate about improving farming methods and conditions for African Americans. He earned a Masters in Science and became the director of agricultural studies at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. He found that the soil in Alabama was great for growing peanuts, but when competition from state farmers impacted their sales, he set to work finding other purposes for peanuts. He invented over 300 ways to use peanuts, including soap, lotions, flour, dyes, plastic, and gasoline. Later in life, he used his life savings to open the Carver Research Foundation to continue scientific research.
George Washington Carver, photo by Frances Benjamin, restored by Adam Cuerden
Madame C. J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) was born as Sarah Breedlove, but after becoming an inventor and businesswoman, she took on the name Madam C. J. Walker, after the "Walker Method" of hair products that she developed for African American women. She was one of the first Black women to become a millionaire and through her inventions and successful business operations, she provided jobs for thousands of African American women.
Madam C. J. Walker, Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.) (photographers)
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) was one of the “human calculators” for NASA before computers were introduced. She helped to calculate the path of the first U.S. space flight in 1961, and she helped solve the math for the first orbit of the Earth in 1962. She also worked on the calculations for Apollo 11's flight to the moon. Those were extraordinary achievements, especially considering the white, male-oriented environment that she worked in.
Katherine Johnson, NASA
Garrett Morgan
Garrett Morgan (1877-1963) was an inventor who saved hundreds of lives with his traffic signal, and first gas mask for firefighters. After seeing a car accident first-hand, Garrett Morgan worked to improve the existing traffic lights. He invented a three-way signal design that meant cars in one direction had to stop so that cars in another direction could go. It seems obvious to us now, but it wasn't back then. He also noticed the breathing difficulties that fire fighters were having when fighting fires, so he invented the first gas mask, known as a "smoke hood". This saved numerous firefighters' lives as they no longer inhaled the toxic smoke. His gas mask became famous after he used it himself to rescue eight men who were trapped from an explosion inside a tunnel. He was a hero in all senses of the word, through his actions and his inventions.
Garrett Morgan, unknown author
Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison (1956-) became the first African American woman to travel into space, and that's just one of her many achievements. She graduated from high school at 16, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African-American studies and then went on to gain a medical degree and become a doctor. She is also fluent in Russian, Japanese and Swahili. She was inspired to joined NASA from watching Star Trek as a child, and after seeing Sally Ride become the first woman to go into space. She became an astronaut and went into space on the Endeavour. After her time at NASA, she started the Jemison Group, which encourages science, technology, and social change, and she started an international space camp for 12-16 year old students.,
Mae Jemison, NASA
George Carruthers
George Carruthers (1939-2020) was an engineer and space scientist who developed an ultraviolet lunar camera that took photos of previously unseen stars and galaxies. His powerful telescope was sent to the moon to take photos. As a passionate astronomer and physicist, he taught earth and space science, and taught students how to make telescopes.
George Carruthers, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Patricia E. Bath
Patricia E. Bath (1942-2019) was an ophthalmologist who invented a laser treatment for blindness. She was the first African American woman to receive a medical patent. She was passionate about improving healthcare for African Americans and started a community service to find early signs of blindness in African Americans.
Patricia E. Bath, National Library of Medicine
Annie Easley
Annie Easley (1933-2011) was a mathematician and computer scientist who worked as a “human calculator” for NASA. She graduated from high school as valedictorian and became one of only four African Americans working in computations at NASA. When computers took over from people doing the calculations, Annie Easley adapted and became a skilled computer programmer. She went on to become an advocate for students to choose a STEM career.
Annie Easley, NASA
Warren Washington
Warren Washington (1936-) has been a scientist and was one of the first developers who collaborated on computer modelling which predicts the effects of climate change. He is the second African American to receive a doctorate in meteorology. He has been a science advisor to many U.S. Presidents and a mentor to younger researchers.
Warren Washington, Oregon State University
Classroom Resources
If you're after some posters, graphic organizers, or a craft activity, you might like one of these resources:
African American Scientists Posters
African Americans in STEM Graphic Organizers
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