African American Accomplishments

African Americans have always been an intricate part of mathematical, scientific, and engineering based advancements in the United States. Being a part of the minority population of the United States causes many of their successes to be overlooked by their counterparts. Race relations and stereotypes have a lot to do with the way that African American mathematicians, scientist, and engineers have been portrayed throughout the history of the United States. African American intellectuals have been present throughout their duration in what is now the United States. Though the categorization of African Americans has changed from slaves, to negros, to coloreds, then to blacks, and now African Americans, there drive to display their intelligence

For example, Thomas Fuller was a slave in Virignia, who was commonly referred to as the “Virginia Calculator”. Fuller has the unique ability to compute unusual math problems in his mind. He was regarded as a very valuable slave because of his ability to quickly compute complex measurements. The most astounding of his accomplishments was his ability to calculate astronomy-related problems that are now computed by computer. Next was Benjamin Banneker, who is recognized as the first scientist to study the relativity of time and space. He is also credited for accurately predicating the solar eclipse that occurred on April 14, 1789. Bannekar is quoted for saying “The colour of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellecutual powers”. The presence of black engineers emerged during the 1850’s when slaves were used to help complete the Blue Ridge Tunnel Project. The Blue Ridge Tunnel Project were a series of four tunnels built alongside the Blue Ridge Tunnel Railway. Slaves were responsible for excavating the tunnel from each end. Prior to the Civil War there was a smallpox outbreak where Onesimus, an enslaved man introduced inoculation as a method to prevent the spread of the disease. Some slaves were permitted to actually do

Elijah McCoy was the son of two runway slaves who decided to stay in Ontario Canada. In his adolescent years, his family decided to move back to the United States where he was able to acquire fifty-seven patented inventions. Most of his invention focused on the lubrication of steam engines, his inventions saved many companies from losing time and money due to frequently making stops. George Washington Carver was a noted scientist that used his research to develop new uses for cow peas, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. Most of his work surrounded around his desire to create a healthier lifestyle for farmers. Born in 1877, Garret Morgan’s first ever traffic signal was patented in London in 1868, whole his three-position traffic signal was patented in the United States in 1923. His newly innovated traffic signal regulated crossing vehicles more safely than the traffic signals that proceeded his