Movers and Shakers: African-American Leaders of the 20th Century
By Robert B. Johnson, PE, SE
Background:
As we continue to celebrate the millennium, several publications have run polls listings Chicago's who have made a difference. The Chicago Tribune ran a series, Impact Players, based on a book, "Chicago and the American Century: The 100 most significant Chicago's of the Twentieth Century", by F. Richard Ciccone. The series ran Monday April 19, 1999 through Friday, April 23, 1999 and featured, Business, Sports, Performing Arts, Law leaders. The series concluded with the catch-all Potpourri Top 10.
The Chicago Sun-Times ran a poll starting in January, 1999 of the greatest Chicago's of the twentieth century. The Sun-Times initially offered about 70 suggestions and asked readers to send in the official ballot or send in their write-in candidates. The ballot was repeated and updated as readers sent in their suggestions. This writer sent in the names of Leon Lederman, Fazlur Rahman Khan, Robert Adler and Marvin Camras. On Sunday, May 23, 1999 the Sun-Times published results of the voting including write-in suggestions.
Chicago Magazine published a story, Movers and Shakers: the 100 Most significant Chicago's of the twentieth century. In the introduction it noted that the list might be biased by the individuals who assembled it. They offered readers to provide alternative suggestions.
NORTH SHORE'S MILLENNIUM 100
More recently North Shore magazine (January 2000, page 26 ) has published a list, "the North Shore Millennium 100", of North Shore residents "who have made a significant or unique impact on whatever they've done." It was ironic that Frank B Colton, "The Father of Birth Control", was listed as the North Shore's brightest star. His named appears no where in the Chicago Sun-Times Poll nor Chicago Magazine's Mover's and Shakers list. His discoveries have made a major impact on 20th century American and the world.
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VOICES OF POWER
Now the DuSable Museum of African-American History has published a list of the 100 most influential African-Americans of the 20th century (see Chicago SUN-TIMES, "Voices of Power", Wednesday, February 2, 200, Page 39 by Nancy Moffett).
THE REAL MOVERS and SHAKERS of the 20th Century !What is interesting about all of these lists is their almost universal failure to include leaders from science, technology and engineering. What defines the 20th century is the explosive, exponential growth in science and technology (engineering too). Where are the engineers who greatly contributed to our modern technological society? Some of this technology was invented, pioneered right here in Chicago. Where are the technology leaders in the polls? (Editors: A fantastic resource of technology innovations in Chicagoland is the Crain's Chicago Business, "Chicago's Story", November 3. 1997.)
Yes, the DuSable Museum did acknowledge some African-American leaders in medicine-science but I find it dismaying how many African-American inventors were not listed. Some of the inventions by African-Americans have made a significant on our modern society. So where are these engineer - inventors in these polls? These individuals probably have made a more lastly impact on our society than the more recognizable names featured in the DuSable's List of most influential African-Americans
I offer the following names the jar your curiosity:
Elijah McCoy - Self Lubricating (Automatic Lubricator Cup) for machines
We owe the term " Real McCoy" thanks to McCoy for others tried to copy his device but found the REAL MCCOY worked better.
Garrett A. Morgan - the inventor of the automatic traffic signal
Granville T. Woods - the inventor of mechanical devices for improving and modernizing our transportation systems. Most important of his inventions was the electrified "Third-Rail" used in subway systems throughout the world.
Andrew Jackson Beard - Invented the automatic railroad car coupler known as the "Jenny" Coupler
Lewis Howard Latimer - The only African American member of Thomas Edison's famous laboratory. Though Edison is credit with the invention of the Light Bulb it was Latimer who pioneered the inexpensive carbon filament for light bulbs. He also invented the toilet system for railroad cars.
Finally I conclude with Percy Lavon Julian. I find it appalling his name is not included in the list of most influential African-American of the 20th century The list of his accomplishments have made a considerable impact on the improvement of our quality of life. A commentary by Dennis Byrne, "A Life too important for obscurity", Chicago Sun-Times, Wednesday, April 21, 1999 noted chemist Percy Julian did not appear in the Sun-Times poll. Now, Julian's name is not mention in the DuSable Museum's poll either. In the commentary Byrne noted the significant work of the renowned chemist. Julian made possible the mass production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals that have benefited countless people and we take for granted. "Fire smothering foam, cortisone, birth control pills, progesterone for protecting unborn babies, physotigmine for treating glaucoma, prostigmine for treating muscle spasms and it goes on and on", so states Byrne's commentary.
In the book, The Civilized Engineer, Samuel Florman writes:
It is difficult to think of an expressed societal need to which engineers have not responded with ingenuity, resilience, energy and dedication. If engineers have not created Utopia, or even mapped out the road to that fabled land, this has less to do with their inadequacies than with the ever changing objectives of our society as a whole. Their competence of American engineers simply cannot be questioned. It has been a significant resource - indeed, a national treasure - arising from the wellspring of native ingenuity and nourished by concern at the highest levels.
When we will begin to realize who the REAL LEADERS are in creating our modern technological society!
Submitted for your consideration,
Robert B. Johnson, Engr.
Past Chair - Engineers Week Chicago visit website: www.chicagolandeweek.org
PR Chair SEAOI visit website www.SEAOI.org
Public Advocacy Committee NCSEA website: www.NCSEA.com
member Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings www.cchrb.org
fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers www.asce.org www.isasce.org
The above views do not represent the views of NCSEA, SEAOI or any other organization but are the personal opinions of the writer.
Selected References:
Chicago Tribune:, Impact Players, Monday April 19, 1999 through Friday, April 23, 1999
Chicago Sun-Times; Sunday, May 23, 1999 , "Greatest Chicago's of the 20th Century"
Chicago Magazine:, March, 1999 Movers and Shakers: the 100 Most significant Chicago's of the twentieth century.
North - Shore Magazine January 2000
"Well-kept Secrets", Chicago Sun-Times, October 19, 1997
Invention Place.
Percy Julian www.invent.org/book/book-text/60.html
Lewis Howard Latimer
www.lib.lsu.edu/lib/chem/display/latimer.html
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllatimer.htm
African-American Contributions to Transportation Engineering
ASCE NEWSLETTER- Illinois Section February 1991
The Civil Engineer, Samual C. Florman, Page 170