According to the stereotype, late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century inventors, quintessential loners and supposed geniuses, worked in splendid isolation and then unveiled their discoveries to a marveling world. Most successful inventors of this era, however, developed their ideas within the framework of industrial organizations that supported them and their experiments. For African American inventors, negotiating these racially stratified professional environments meant not only working on innovative designs but also breaking barriers. In this pathbreaking study, Rayvon Fouché examines the life and work of three African Americans: Granville Woods (1856–1910), an independent inventor; Lewis Latimer (1848–1928), a corporate engineer with General Electric; and Shelby Davidson (1868–1930), who worked in the U.S. Treasury Department. Detailing the difficulties and human frailties that make their achievements all the more impressive, Fouché explains how each man used invention for financial gain, as a claim on entering adversarial environments, and as a means to technical stature in a Jim Crow institutional setting. Describing how Woods, Latimer, and Davidson struggled to balance their complicated racial identities—as both black and white communities perceived them—with their hopes of being judged solely on the content of their inventive work, Fouché provides a nuanced view of African American contributions to—and relationships with—technology during a period of rapid industrialization and mounting national attention to the inequities of a separate-but-equal social order.

"In debunking some of the myths, including financial success and race pride, Fouch humanizes them and examines the greater significance of their work in the context of American sociological and commercial history." -- Booklist

It began one quiet autumn evening during November of 1996. At home, David Head was viewing the PBS documentary Transportation in America and he noticed the film made no mention of African American contributions. But as chairman of the Black History Committee for Transport Workers Union Local 100, he knew there was much to share. At that moment Head determined his new purpose in life would be to share the extraordinary life and legacy of Granville T. Woods. After twelve years in pursuit of this goal, David Head has accomplished a great deal for his cause: - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Sponsorship of 2004 Subway Centennial Granville T. Woods Commemorative Exhibit - 4 million Granville T. Woods Commemorative Metro Cards (2 million in Spanish) - 2009: Brooklyn Street renamed "Granville T. Woods Way" - 2009: Figure 8, the world's first electric roller coaster created by Woods was inducted into the Coney Island Hall of Fame - 2010: Transit News Telly Award for GTW documentary - 2012: Granville T. Woods: African American Communication and Transportation Pioneer, an illustrated book for young readers, highlighting Woods' struggles and achievements, was published With his many successes, and realizing the impact he could have on others, Head decided to pursue his goals within an educational framework as well by: - Showcasing Woods' inspirational life and amazing innovative abilities - Revealing the purpose behind teaching the life and accomplishments of Woods, and his significant contributions to our American Society - Encouraging youth to cultivate their own talents, to stay in school and seek higher education, to discern their abilities and pursue them as Woods did In the spirit of Granville T. Woods and his life of invention, Head is now spearheading a major effort to increase the participation of urban youth in the fields of science and technology. By integrating field trips and practical experience with his S.T.E.M. program classroom curriculum, youth will be motivated and guided in an innovative approach to comtemporary challenges. With this goal in mind, careers in science and technology will be encouraged and given direction.

Incredible stories of Black men who changed the course of science—for kids ages 8 to 12 All throughout history, Black men have made important contributions to scientific discovery. This collection of biographies for kids explores 15 of these intelligent men and the extraordinary scientific accomplishments they achieved—even when they faced huge challenges. You'll learn how they stood up against racism and inequality, and never stopped following their passions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Meet talented Black men in history who have helped: Explore our world—Discover inventors like Lewis Howard Latimer and biologists like George Washington Carver, and find out how they expanded our understanding of the world around us. Advance medicine—Learn the stories of doctors like James McCune Smith and Leonidas Berry who helped stop the spread of disease and change the way we perform surgery. Change the game—Find out how people like geneticist Rick Kittles and engineer Roy L. Clay Sr. are still doing important research and breaking barriers. Dive into a world of inspiring men with this scientific entry into Black history books for kids.

They advocated economic independence from whites and founded insurance companies that became some of the largest black-owned corporations.--L. Diane Barnes "Alabama Review"

A “timely, informative, and fascinating” study of 8 inventions—and how they shaped our world—with “totally compelling” insights on little-known inventors throughout history (Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sixth Extinction) In The Alchemy of Us, scientist and science writer Ainissa Ramirez examines 8 inventions and reveals how they shaped the human experience: • Clocks • Steel rails • Copper communication cables • Photographic film • Light bulbs • Hard disks • Scientific labware • Silicon chips Ramirez tells the stories of the woman who sold time, the inventor who inspired Edison, and the hotheaded undertaker whose invention pointed the way to the computer. She describes how our pursuit of precision in timepieces changed how we sleep; how the railroad helped commercialize Christmas; how the necessary brevity of the telegram influenced Hemingway’s writing style; and how a young chemist exposed the use of Polaroid’s cameras to create passbooks to track black citizens in apartheid South Africa. These fascinating and inspiring stories offer new perspectives on our relationships with technologies. Ramirez shows not only how materials were shaped by inventors but also how those materials shaped culture, chronicling each invention and its consequences—intended and unintended. Filling in the gaps left by other books about technology, Ramirez showcases little-known inventors—particularly people of color and women—who had a significant impact but whose accomplishments have been hidden by mythmaking, bias, and convention. Doing so, she shows us the power of telling inclusive stories about technology. She also shows that innovation is universal—whether it's splicing beats with two turntables and a microphone or splicing genes with two test tubes and CRISPR.

The life and times of the thirty-second President who was reelected four times.

By 1907, Mr. Granville Taylor Woods was the first Black American who was granted 49 patents and was titled the "Black Edison" in news articles from the 1900s. Mr. Woods was a pioneer in power distribution, telegraph communication, and safety for the railway industry. Granville Taylor Woods sold eight patents to the General Electrical Company, Harry Ward Leonard, Westinghouse Air Brake Company, and various individuals or investment partners. The ultimate goal of this book is to provide standard concepts in presenting accurate interpretations of patents granted to Granville Taylor Woods. This book is not intended to dispute, dishonor, or argue for or against a particular accomplishment by Granville Taylor Woods. Rather, the author aims to furnish a concise way to present the material in laymans terms. To put something in laymans terms is to describe a complex or technical issue using words and terms that an average individual may comprehend the basic concept. The material is divided into five (5) sections related to Mr. Woods: Introduction, birthplace of Granville Woods, list of patents, list of patent assignments, and photos with a description of each patent granted to Mr. Woods. The introduction provides the purpose of the book, the authors approach, and fundamental patent terminology. Section two contains the most reliable source of Granville Woods birthplace and his whereabouts as a young adult and teenager. This source of information is extracted through the United States Federal Census that is closest to Mr. Woods birth. Section three is concentrated on a brief explanation that verifies the number of patents granted to Granville Taylor Woods in addition to patents he assigned to individuals, partners, or companies. Section four is centered on patent assignments by Granville Taylor Woods since the majority of patents were assigned to individuals, partners, or companies. Section five is the focal point of this book because the original images of Mr. Woods patent drawings will be displayed, both front and back. This is the most exciting part of the book!

A proud, empowering introduction to African American history that celebrates and honors enslaved ancestors Your story begins in Africa. Your African ancestors defied the odds and survived 400 years of slavery in America and passed down an extraordinary legacy to you. Beginning in Africa before 1619, Your Legacy presents an unprecedentedly accessible, empowering, and proud introduction to African American history for children. While your ancestors’ freedom was taken from them, their spirit was not; this book celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered—and how their stories should be taught.

Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2018 A Book of the Year for the Evening Standard and the Observer A black porter publicly whips a white Englishman in the hall of a Gloucestershire manor house. A Moroccan woman is baptised in a London church. Henry VIII dispatches a Mauritanian diver to salvage lost treasures from the Mary Rose. From long-forgotten records emerge the remarkable stories of Africans who lived free in Tudor England… They were present at some of the defining moments of the age. They were christened, married and buried by the Church. They were paid wages like any other Tudors. The untold stories of the Black Tudors, dazzlingly brought to life by Kaufmann, will transform how we see this most intriguing period of history.