African Americans have made significant contributions to the field of information technology (IT) over the years. From inventors to pioneers, these individuals have helped shape the industry as we know it today. Despite the challenges and obstacles they faced, they persevered and left a lasting impact on the world of technology. In this blog post, we will explore the accomplishments of some of these remarkable individuals.
- Mark Dean Mark Dean is a computer engineer and one of the inventors of the personal computer. He holds three of IBM’s original nine PC patents and has contributed to the development of the ISA bus, color monitor, and the first gigahertz chip. Dean was the first African American to become an IBM fellow, the highest technical honor awarded by the company. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
- Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is a physicist and the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT. She is currently the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has held several key positions in academia, government, and the private sector. Jackson is known for her work in condensed matter physics, including the development of the first practical applications of the theory of charged density waves.
- Dr. Gladys West Dr. Gladys West is a mathematician and one of the original developers of the Global Positioning System (GPS). She worked on the project at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia, where she was the only woman on the team. West’s work led to the development of an extremely accurate GPS system that is used worldwide today.
- Roy Clay Roy Clay is a computer scientist and the founder of the consulting firm Rod-L Electronics. He is known for his work in the development of the microprocessor and has been credited with helping to build the Silicon Valley tech industry. Clay was the first African American to be hired by Hewlett-Packard and went on to serve as the CEO of several tech companies.
- Katherine Johnson Katherine Johnson was a mathematician and one of the first African American women to work as a NASA scientist. She played a key role in the early space program, calculating trajectories for the Mercury and Apollo missions. Johnson’s work was instrumental in the success of the first manned mission to the moon.
These individuals are just a few of the many African Americans who have made significant contributions to the field of information technology. They have broken down barriers and shattered stereotypes, paving the way for future generations to follow in their footsteps.
Sources:
- https://www.blackenterprise.com/10-black-tech-pioneers-you-should-know/
- https://www.biography.com/scientist/shirley-ann-jackson
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/gladys-west-hidden-figures-forgotten-genius-who-helped-us-win-n1120656
- https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/technology/roy-clay-pioneer-of-the-modern-computer-industry-dies-at-88.html
- https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography
African American contributions to I.T.