Black Women have been hidden figures throughout history, contributing to and sustaining diverse fields of study. Though critical, their contribution rarely receives the recognition it deserves. But the trend is changing each year, especially during Black History Month which celebrates the achievements and remarkable work of African Americans. It recognizes the role of Black Americans in U.S. history, as well as in other fields including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
As a way to celebrate Black History Month and recognize the role of Black women in STEM, we are rounding up some of our favorite Black women in STEM:
1. Annie J. Easley
Annie J. Easley was an American computer scientist and mathematician who worked for NASA and the Department of Energy. She made significant contributions to the development of software used in the launch and control of rocket systems and also worked on energy efficiency and conservation. Easley was also a pioneer for diversity in the field of computer science and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) more broadly. She passed away on June 25, 2011.
2. Dr. Mae Jemison
Dr. Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. Before joining NASA, Jemison was a medical officer in the Peace Corps and a general practitioner. She also holds a degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University. Jemison is also an advocate for the use of technology in education and for increasing opportunities for minorities and women in the sciences.
3. Alice Augusta Ball
Alice Augusta Ball was an American chemist and educator. She was the first African American and the first woman to graduate with a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Hawaii in 1915.
Ball is best known for her work developing an effective treatment for leprosy, a disease that was particularly prevalent in Hawaii at the time. Her treatment, known as the "Ball Method," was based on the use of chaulmoogra oil, and was considered a significant breakthrough in the treatment of the disease.
Tragically, due to her race, her contributions were not widely recognized during her lifetime and her method was credited to a white colleague, who passed her research as his own. Her work was rediscovered and recognized only in recent years.
4. Bessie Blount Griffin
Bessie Blount Griffin was an American inventor, physical therapist, and forensic scientist. She is best known for her invention of the "Portable Electronic Feeder," a device that allows people with physical disabilities to feed themselves independently. The device was patented in 1951 and is considered a significant advancement in the field of assistive technology.
She also worked as a physical therapist, treating veterans after World War II, and later developed a system for forensic handwriting analysis. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011 for her invention of the Portable Electronic Feeder.
5. Gladys West
Gladys West is an African American mathematician and computer scientist who worked for the United States Navy and helped develop the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Her work on the development of the GPS system was not widely recognized until recently, and she was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018. West is considered an unsung hero in the field of mathematics and technology.
6. Claudia Alexander
Claudia Alexander was an American planetary scientist, science manager, and project manager who had a significant career in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She was the project manager for the Galileo Europa Mission, the last mission of the Galileo spacecraft. Alexander also served as the project scientist for the Rosetta comet orbiter mission of the European Space Agency, and as the project manager for the U.S. portion of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. She was also the chief of the science division at the Rosetta project. She passed away in 2015.
7. Dr. Ruth Ella Moore
Dr. Ruth Ella Moore is an African American chemist who made significant contributions to the field of chemistry, particularly in the area of organic chemistry. She is best known for her research on the synthesis of natural products and complex organic compounds, as well as her work on the development of new synthetic methods. Dr. Moore was a professor of Chemistry at Tennessee State University and also served as the Director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Undergraduate Education. She was also the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Indiana University.
Let’s Celebrate The Hidden Figures!
Black women have made significant contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) throughout history, despite facing barriers and discrimination. We have highlighted a few examples above, but there are many more black women who have made significant contributions to STEM fields. Who are some of your favorite women of color in STEM and what are their notable contributions? We would love to hear more stories and learn about their accomplishments.
