Black History Month: Contributions of Black Americans in the A/E/C Industry
Author: Millicent Williams
As we prepare to observe Black History Month here in the United States, we are reminded of the significant ways that Black Americans have contributed to and improved our communities through innovation. As we consider the Architecture and Engineering industry, one cannot separate the transformative nature of the work that we perform on a daily basis from the people who made so much of what we do possible. And even when we aren’t working, we see, use and enjoy inventions that Black Americans developed to improve our way of life.
Are you considering a roundabout as an engineering solution to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion? You can thank Benjamin Banneker, a watchmaker, almanac author and surveyor, who led the redesign of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) incorporating a series of traffic circles to address the misalignment of roads left by a previous roadway designer. Are you designing a signalized intersection? Look to the genius of Garrett A. Morgan who developed the three-light traffic signal. Do the streets that you designed need to be maintained? Charles Brooks has just what you need – a motorized street sweeper.
Do you enjoy the variation in color that you are able to use when drafting engineering designs? You can thank Mark Dean for co-inventing the IBM PC monitor. And speaking of computers, something that none of us can do without, the gigahertz chip – a revolutionary piece of technology that is able to do a billion calculations per second and is in every modern computer, was also invented by Mark Dean.
Designing a light rail corridor? Concerned about fuel efficiency and climate friendly solutions? Well, you can look to Granville T. Woods who invented the ‘troller,” a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars (later known as “trolleys”) to collect electric power from overhead wires. And speaking of trains (or better stated, rail) don’t forget about the automatic car coupler (invented by Andrew Jackson Beard) because the railcars need to connect with ease.
Need to make a Teams or Zoom call? Make sure that your microphone (developed by James West) isn’t on mute! It’s a good thing that we have Marian Croak’s voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) to keep us connected. And don’t forget to add a GIF before you end the meeting…thanks for the laughs, Lisa Gelobter. Taking a ride to the 8th floor on the elevator? The automatic elevator doors were invented by Alexander Miles over 100 years ago with design elements that have stood the test of time.
Are you going to take a client out for an afternoon of golf? Well, don’t forget the golf tees created by Dr. George Grant. And, if you get lost on your way to the course, pull up your GPS (invented by Gladys West) and make a quick call on your cellular phone (invented by Henry Sampson) to let your foursome know that you’ll be late. Thank goodness there’s caller ID on your touch-tone telephone (both invented by Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson) allowing you to find their contact information and dial with ease.
Going to the company picnic? Don’t forget your Super Soakers (Lonnie Johnson). Going on vacation and need to take a long-distance flight (not the first flight…the first long-distance one)? Charles W. Chappelle can help you fly the friendly skies. Just need to take a short hop to your next destination? Let Paul E. Williams helicopter get you there. And Katherine Johnson, the NASA research mathematician who made the 1969 moon landing possible, can get you to the moon and back.
While I’ve listed several inventors of significance, there are hundreds of individuals with thousands of inventions, that I haven’t. If you’re interested in learning more, visit your local library or check out sites like www.ASALH.org (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), Daily Hive – Inventions by Black People, or this list of inventors and scientists.
…and that, folks, is the ‘Real McCoy’ (a phrase suggesting authenticity that is attributed to Elijah McCoy who received nearly 60 patents related to lubrication systems, who developed designs for modern ironing boards, the lawn sprinkler and other machines)!