What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Black History Month? For many of us, we unconsciously flip through the Rolodex of African American Civil Rights leaders, pioneering sports stars and entertainers who have been a part of our memories since elementary school.
“Everybody knows about the leaders of the Civil Rights and the black power movement: leaders like Booker T Washington, Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglas; but African American contribution goes beyond the civil rights movement,” said Robert Crowder, former superintendent of building services at the University Center.
Crowder is the curator for the Black Inventors exhibit currently in the University Center’s Gallery Lounge. This year, he wanted to enlighten students with the countless technological and industrial contributions of African Americans throughout history.
“I want students to know that a lot of things that they use daily are the result of African American invention.”
Through research, and in conjunction with a printing company, Crowder compiled a list of inventors whose contributions are part of the foundation of modern society.
The exhibit consists of portraits, pictures and information cards for numerous historical inventions and their inventors, from the 18th century through today. A quick walk through the exhibit’s walls will bring to light how much African American invention is woven into the fabric of Western life and modern technology.
Contemporary necessities like the elevator, the traffic light and cellular phones are the result of African American innovation.
Crowder hopes that showcasing these inventions will allow students to see that African American invention is a vital thread in the fabric of American history, and will inspire them to contribute.
“What I want students, not just African Americans students, to take away from the gallery is that there was a number of African Americans who made contributions beyond civil rights, sports and entertainment.”
The Black Inventors exhibit will be on display throughout February in celebration of Black History Month. Students can visit the Gallery Lounge on the third floor of the University Center during normal hours of operation.
For more information about the exhibit, visit 345 Student Center.
