5 Black Women in STEM You Should Know About

STEM fields have never been accommodating to women or people of color, therefore, to say it is an accomplishment to achieve great things in these fields would be an understatement. It’s difficult to succeed while facing adversity, which is why it’s important to acknowledge the accomplishments of Black women in STEM, and give them the recognition, as well as celebration, that is long overdue. Here are five Black women who made an impact in various STEM fields that you should know!

Katherine Johnson worked at NASA for 33 years. During this time Katherine completed trajectory analysis and various other calculations that greatly impacted American space exploration. Her calculations aided NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 6 and Apollo 11. Mercury-Atlas 6 sent an astronaut orbiting around the earth and Apollo 11 helped the U.S. get a man on the moon for the first time. Katherine’s calculations also contributed to various other NASA missions and she received many awards for her contributions such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom which former President Obama appointed to her in 2015, as well as the Congressional Gold Medal which she was awarded in 2019. Additionally, the movie Hidden Figures, released in 2017, portrays the hardships Katherine Johnson faced as a Black woman working for NASA in the 60’s. The movie highlights the impact Katherine’s calculations had on space exploration as well as the contributions two other women of color made, named Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. Without Katherine Johnson it’s doubtful that the United States would be as advanced in space exploration as they are now. 

Valerie Thomas is an American scientist who invented the illusion transmitter. In 1976, she attended a seminar where an exhibit on optic illusions was presented. The exhibit inspired Valerie’s invention. An illusion transmitter uses concave mirrors to produce a three-dimensional image which makes the image appear to be real. Valerie received a patent for her invention in 1980. She then went on to work at NASA for several years, where she aided in the development of computer program designs that furthered NASA’s research programs. These programs furthered our understanding on various aspects of space exploration such as satellite technology, Halley’s comet and even the ozone layer. Valerie Thomas gained recognition from NASA for her astounding accomplishments. NASA awarded her with the Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal. Since its creation, the illusion transmitter has been adapted for surgical use and for the production of television screens.

Alice H. Parker invented the gas furnace. Her idea for the invention stemmed from feeling cold during the winters in New Jersey because fireplaces didn’t warm the entirety of a home. During that time, people needed a steady supply of wood and coal to ensure heat. Parker’s design utilized natural gas, which saved time chopping wood and stopped people from burning fires all night, which was a health hazard on its own. Parker was granted a patent in 1919. Her design wasn’t the first gas furnace design but it was the first design to involve multiple burner systems that were individually controlled. Her exact design was never implemented but her invention served as the basis for many modern heating inventions such as the thermostat and the air furnace, which are used in homes today.

Marie Britten Brown invented the home security system. Marie lived in a town with a high crime rate and was afraid of being home alone at night. As a result, Marie created a system that allowed her to see who was at her front door. This led to the invention of the first closed-circuit television security system. Her system is still used as a model for modern home security systems. Marie’s husband, Albert Brown, was an electronics technician who assisted her in the creation of the security system which was composed of four peepholes, television monitors, a sliding camera, and two-way monitors. Together these items formed a closed circuit television system (a.k.a CCTV). The camera used the multiple peepholes to take pictures of people at various different heights. The microphones allowed her to communicate with whoever was outside. Additionally, Marie was able to stand a safe distance away from the door and still open it using a remote. Marie also included an emergency button that would alarm the police when pressed. In 1969, Marie and Albert received a patent for their security system. Her invention serves as the basis of security systems in places such as banks and office buildings in modern day society.

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman in the United States to earn a degree in medicine. Dr.Crumpler faced prejudice because she was both a Black person and a woman. After she received her degree, she cared for formerly enslaved people. In 1883 she published a book titled Book of Medical Discourses which disclosed her experiences as a doctor, as well as guidance on maternal and child health. Dr.Crumpler partnered with many different missionary and charity groups. This was her way of caring for the freed African-American’s who wouldn’t otherwise be receiving healthcare. Many African-Americans faced discrimination from white doctors, or had no money to pay for any doctor. All of this led to an increase in African-Americans seeking medical training. During the 1860’s Dr.Crumpler tended to Black patients around her home, whether they could pay or not. Dr.Crumpler paved the way for Black women in the medical field and she used her skills to aid the Black community in any way she could. We should always remember Dr.Crumpler’s achievements and aspire to be as giving as she was.

These five women aren’t the only Black women who accomplished important achievements in STEM throughout their lives. There have been many others and there will continue to be many more Black women who gain impressive achievements. We should never forget those who came before us and the impact they left behind.