Celebrating Black Scientist & Inventors

Black Scientists & Inventors

Benjamin Banneker, Thomas Jennings, other exceptional scientists

by Ann Marie Imbornoni

Madame C.J. Walker RelatSarah Breedlove Walker (Madame C. J. Walker) businesswoman, philanthropist Born: 12/23/1867 Birthplace: Delta, La. After a series of bereavements that left her orphaned at 6 and widowed at 20, she and her daughter A'Lelia moved to St. Louis to start over. She worked days as a washerwoman and went to night school before inventing (1905) a process for straightening the hair of African-Americans. Her process, combining her unique formula with brushes and heated combs, caught on, and with the money from her successful business she and her daughter moved to Denver. She married Charles J. Walker, and began promoting her product and process under the name of Madame C. J. Walker. She opened a permanent office in Pittsburgh in 1908, which her daughter ran, and in 1910 she formed Madame C. J. Walker Laboratories in Indianapolis, where she developed products and trained her beauticians, known as “Walker Agents.” The agents and the products were recognized in black communities throughout the U.S. and Caribbean for promoting the philosophy that cleanliness and loveliness could advance the plight of African-Americans. At her death, the multi-million dollar estate was left to various philanthropic organizations and to her daughter, whose philanthropic endeavors were key to funding the Harlem Renaissance. Died: 5/25/1919

During slavery, most black slaves were denied formal education and in fact many laws were passed in the South prohibiting slave literacy in the aftermath of various slave rebellions. Even free blacks in the century before and after the Civil War were limited in their access to mainstream, quality education and vocational training.

This limited education and training meant that, for the most part, blacks were shut out of professional occupations and confined to working in industries deemed acceptable for them, such as domestic services, some manual trades, and agriculture. Nevertheless a small number of exceptionally talented blacks were able to obtain an education and, through their life's work, make significant contributions to American life.

Scientists

Two early African-American scientists, namely mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker and agricultural chemist George Washington Carver, have become legendary for their intellect and ingenuity.

Born free in Maryland, Banneker was largely self-taught. He constructed the first striking clock to be made in America, helped survey the boundaries for Washington, D.C., and published an almanac

Born free in Maryland, Banneker was largely self-taught. He constructed the first striking clock to be made in America, helped survey the boundaries for Washington, D.C., and published an almanac, which he compiled based on his own astronomical observations and calculations.

Carver was born into slavery at the very end of the Civil War. He attended Iowa State College of Agriculture, where he received degrees in agricultural science. During his career as a researcher and educator, he advocated innovative agricultural methods and developed hundreds of applications for certain agricultural products, such as the peanut.

Although Banneker and Carver are probably the best-known black scientists, they were not the only ones. The achievements of a selection of pioneering black scientists, including Banneker and Carver, are outlined in the list of African American Scientists below.

Inventors

Unlike black slaves, free blacks prior to the Civil War were entitled to receive patents for their inventions. Though, again, because blacks lacked educational and vocational opportunities, few had the necessary skills or experience to develop their inventive ideas or patent them.

Despite these constraints, there were a number of successful black inventors whose inventions proved useful and important. Thomas Jennings, the first known African American to hold a patent, used the money he earned from his invention to fund abolitionist causes.

Some slaves, who were skilled craftsmen, did create devices or techniques that benefited their masters' enterprises. According to a decision by the federal government in 1858, though, neither the slave nor the slave owner could claim ownership rights to such an invention. In 1870, following the Civil War, the U.S. patent laws were revised so that anyone, regardless of race, could hold a patent. Consequently the number of patents issued to African Americans soared. Below is a list of some notable African-American inventors.

Reference

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

More on Sarah Breedlove Walker from Infoplease:

Read more: Sarah Breedlove Walker http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0772003.html#ixzz3S9MyYVDked Links

Read more: African American Scientists & Inventors http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html#ixzz3S9L3XBnN

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February is Africa American History Month..  African American are at an increased risk of lung cancer even though smoking rates are approximately the same as Caucasians.  Despite medical advancements, disparities in the rates tobacco-related illnesses remain among Africa American and other population groups. Africa American men 34 percent more likely than white men to develop lung cancer.  Additionally, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed later, when the cancer is more advanced. Screening and earlier detection for lung cancer are vital steps for anyone at a high risk for the disease. As I know from my mother's battle with small cell lung cancer it is not a cancer that is easily diagnosed in our community. My Mother was diagnosed with acid reflex that prolonged needed testing with Doctors still not listening to my mother's pleas that something was very wrong.

African Americans

• Those with college education (9.5%).8
• Between 1997 and 2007, the smoking rate declined 49 percent among African American high school students from 22.7 to 11.6 percent.9 These students were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white and Hispanic students to report current smoking in 2007. They also have the highest percentage of trying to quit in the past 12 months (58.4%).10
• In 2006, 5.5 percent of African American middle school students smoked cigarettes.  This rate was slightly lower than that for non-Hispanic white (6.5%) and Hispanic (6.8%) middle school students.

Other Facts About Smoking Among African Americans

• Use of menthol cigarettes is disproportionately high among African Americans. Almost 84 percent of African Americans smokers aged 12 years or older reported smoking a mentholated brand of cigarette compared to 24 and 32 percent of their Caucasian and Hispanic counterparts, respectively.12
• As smoking declines among the white non-Hispanic population, tobacco companies have targeted both African Americans and Hispanics with intensive merchandising, which includes advertising in media oriented to these communities and sponsorship of civic groups and athletic, cultural, and entertainment events.13
• of civic groups and athletic, cultural, and entertainment events.13
• African American communities have been bombarded with cigarette advertising. Since the signing of the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998 through 2005, the average youth in the United States is annually exposed to 559 tobacco ads, every adult female 617 advertisements, and every African American adult 892 ads.  Money spent on magazine advertising of mentholated cigarettes, popular with African Americans, increased from 13 percent of total ad expenditures in 1998 to 49 percent in 2005.14
• The former Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company (now part of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company) ran a campaign for Kool cigarettes aimed at black youths in 2006 that featured hip-hop DJ competitions, themed cigarette packs, and was billed as a "celebration              
• Smoking among African Americans is a serious problem as this population suffers disproportionately from deadly and preventable diseases associated with smoking.1  Compared to white Americans, African Americans are at increased risk for lung cancer even though they smoke about the same amount.2

• Smoking Rates Among African Americans

  n" of hip-hop 
• In 2008, about 5.6 million, or 21.3 percent of non-Hispanic black adults smoked cigarettes compared to 22.0 percent of non-Hispanic whites. African Americans accounted for approximately 12 percent of the 46 million adults who were current smokers in the United States during 2008.3
• In 2008, 25.5 percent of non-Hispanic black men smoked compared to 23.6 percent of non-Hispanic white men.4 On average, white men tend to consume more cigarettes (about 30–40 percent more) than African American men.5 Despite their lower exposure, however, African American men are 34 percent more likely than white men to develop lung cancer.6 Black women tend to smoke less than white women but the two groups have similar lung cancer rates.7
• Among African Americans, as with other U.S. populations, the prevalence of smoking declines as education level increases. In 2008, smoking rates were over 3.4 times higher among African American males over age 25 who had less than a high school education (34.5%) compared to those with a college education (10.1%). Smoking rates were over 3.4 times higher among African American males over age 25 who had less than a high school education (34.5%) compared to those with a college education (10.1%). Smoking rates are also much higher in African American females over age 25 years old who have less than a high school education (23.2%) compared to females higher education.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Resources
• http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/about-smoking/facts-figures/african-americans-and-tobacco.html

American Lung Society

February is Africa American History Month..  African American are at an increased risk of lung cancer even though smoking rates are approximately the same as Caucasians.  Despite medical advancements, disparities in the rates tobacco-related illnesses remain among Africa American and other population groups. Africa American men 34 percent more likely than white men to develop ling cancer.   February is African American History Month.  African Americans are at an increased risk of lung cancer even though smoking rates are approximately the same as Caucasians. Despite medical advancements, disparities in the rates of tobacco-related illnesses remain among African Aorelikel;y mericans and other population groups. African American men are 34 percent more likely than white men to develop lung cancer.  Additionally, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed later, when the cancer is more advanced. Screening and earlier detection for lung cancer are vital steps for anyone at a high risk for the disease. As I know from my mother's battle with small cell cancer it is not a cancer that is easily diagnosed in our community. My Mother was diagnosed with acid reflex they prolonged needed testing with Doctors still not listening to my mother's pleas that something was very wrong. hose with a college education (9.5%).8 Between 1997 and 2007, the smoking rate declined 49 percent among African American high school students from 22.7 to 11.6 percent.9 These students were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white and Hispanic students to report current smoking in 2007. They also have the highest percentage of trying to quit in the past 12 months (58.4%).10 In 2006, 5.5 percent of African American middle school students smoked cigarettes.  This rate was slightly lower than that for non-Hispanic white (6.5%) and Hispanic (6.8%) middle school students.11 Other Facts About Smoking Among African Americans Use of menthol cigarettes is disproportionately high among African Americans. Almost 84 percent of African Americans smokers aged 12 years or older reported smoking a mentholated brand of cigarette compared to 24 and 32 percent of their Caucasian and Hispanic counterparts, respectively.12 As smoking declines among the white non-Hispanic population, tobacco companies have targeted both African Americans and Hispanics with intensive merchandising, which includes advertising in media oriented to these communities and sponsorship of civic groups and athletic, cultural, and entertainment events.13 of civic groups and athletic, cultural, and entertainment events.13 African American communities have been bombarded with cigarette advertising. Since the signing of the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998 through 2005, the average youth in the United States is annually exposed to 559 tobacco ads, every adult female 617 advertisements, and every African American adult 892 ads.  Money spent on magazine advertising of mentholated cigarettes, popular with African Americans, increased from 13 percent of total ad expenditures in 1998 to 49 percent in 2005.14 The former Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company (now part of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company) ran a campaign for Kool cigarettes aimed at black youths in 2006 that featured hip-hop DJ competitions, themed cigarette packs, and was billed as a "celebration" of hip-hop  African Americans Smoking among African Americans is a serious problem as this population suffers disproportionately from deadly and preventable diseases associated with smoking.1  Compared to white Americans, African Americans are at increased risk for lung cancer even though they smoke about the same amount.2 Smoking Rates Among African Americans In 2008, about 5.6 million, or 21.3 percent of non-Hispanic black adults smoked cigarettes compared to 22.0 percent of non-Hispanic whites. African Americans accounted for approximately 12 percent of the 46 million adults who were current smokers in the United States during 2008.3 In 2008, 25.5 percent of non-Hispanic black men smoked compared to 23.6 percent of non-Hispanic white men.4 On average, white men tend to consume more cigarettes (about 30–40 percent more) than African American men.5 Despite their lower exposure, however, African American men are 34 percent more likely than white men to develop lung cancer.6 Black women tend to smoke less than white women but the two groups have similar lung cancer rates.7 Among African Americans, as with other U.S. populations, the prevalence of smoking declines as education level increases. In 2008, smoking rates were over 3.4 times higher among African American males over age 25 who had less than a high school education (34.5%) compared to those with a college education (10.1%). Smokining rates were over 3.4 times higher among African American males over age 25 who had less than a high school education (34.5%) compared to those with a college education (10.1%). Smoking rates are also much higher in African American females over age 25 years old who have less than a high school education (23.2%) compared to t Resources http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/about-smoking/facts-figures/african-americans-and-tobacco.html