Continuing on with this week's open thread theme, I am going to highlight two more black innovators. Joseph Winters (1859–1934) was an African-American abolitionist and inventor who patented a wagon-mounted fire escape ladder for the city of Chambersburg, PA. in 1878. It is often falsely cited that Winters was the original inventor of the wagon mounted fire escape. Winters' … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: Black First, Inventors and Scientists
Education
Monday Open Thread: Black Firsts, Inventors and Scientists
I am starting Black History Month about 5 days early. This thread is going to focus on Black Firsts, Inventors and Scientists. First up, Henry Brown who created the Safebox or strongbox. Prior to the invention, people often kept personal and valuable papers in simple wooden boxes in their homes or at local banks. These boxes provided no deterrent against burglars or bank … [Read more...] about Monday Open Thread: Black Firsts, Inventors and Scientists
Thursday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology
Good Morning to ya Obots! Today's pioneer is the first African American to receive a degree in oceanography. Roy Overstreet Roy Overstreet was the first African American to graduate from the University of California at Riverside, earning a degree in Physics over 53 years ago. After obtaining a master's degree, he became the country’s first Black oceanographer, working for … [Read more...] about Thursday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology
Wednesday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology
Happy Hump Day Obots! Today's Scientist of the Sea is Ashanti Johnson. From TheGrio: As an African-American girl growing up in Dallas, Texas, Ashanti Johnson wanted to be like a famous French man: Jacques Cousteau. “My first exposure [to oceanography] was watching him on TV,” says Johnson, 39. “The ocean for me represented the unknown… I think because it was so vast and … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology
Tuesday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology
Good Morning Obots! Today's scientist of the sea is Evan B. Forde. Evan B. Forde is an African American oceanographer. Forde was born in Miami, Florida and received his primary education in the local public school system. He received his bachelor's degree in Geology and his Master's degree in marine geology and geophysics, both from Columbia University. Forde became a … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: African Americans in Oceanography/Marine Biology