Most Famous Black Scientists in History

When talking about scientists whose works have impacted our world, we often don't see blacks in the picture. However, just like every other race, black people have also played important roles in making our world a better place. Here are few of the most famous black scientist who have also contributed to humanity but we don't usually talk about them. 

(August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941)

An African-American biologist and author, famous in the 20th century. Ernest Everett Just, is known for his work on egg fertilization and the structure of the cell during the development of an organism. 

(born November 4, 1942)

Dr. Patricia was an American ophthalmologist and inventor. She invented the laser cataract surgery also called "Laserphaco Probe". She became the first African American female doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. 

(November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806)

Benjamin Banneker was a African-American almanac author, surveyor, an astronomer and a farmer who had knowledge of mathematics and natural history. He invented America’s first functional clock.

(born August 23, 1954)

Philip Emeagwali is a Nigerian born computer scientist and inventor. He is known for being the first person to use a Connection Machine supercomputer to help analyze petroleum, by using a novel mathematical formulation and implementation.

(April 16, 1921 – October 28, 2003)

She was a Biochemist who became the first African-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. 

(3 June 1904 – 1 April 1950)

Charles Richard Drew was a surgeon, physician and medical researcher. He worked extensively in the field of hematology. His understanding of blood and blood transfusion led to his invention of blood bank during the second world war. 

(January 18, 1858 – August 4, 1931)

Daniel Hale Williams was an African-American general surgeon, who performed the first documented, successful prototype open-heart surgery in the U.S in 1893. 

(March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963)

Garrett Augustus was an African-American businessman, community leader, and inventor who made both the first traffic signal invention and the first patented gas mask.

James West 

(born February 10, 1931)

He developed the mic in the 1960s. He holds 47 U.S. and over 200 foreign patents for the production and design of microphones and techniques for creating polymer foil electrets.

Mae Jemison 

(born October 17, 1956)

Mae Carol Jemison is an engineer, physician, and NASA astronaut. She is known for being the first black woman to travel into space. 

Dr. Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu, is a Nigerian-American physician, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist. He was the first person to discover a brain disease, "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy" C.T.E.