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Remember: How Black Technologists Were Excluded From Profiting Fully From Their Labor
By George McKinney, CEO of ViQUAL Medical Technology
By George McKinney, CEO of ViQUAL Medical Technology
By George McKinney, CEO of ViQUAL Medical Technology
Historically, many Black inventors and entrepreneurs faced exploitation,
often not receiving the recognition or financial benefits they
deserved. Some notable examples include:
Lewis Howard Latimer—-An inventor and engineer who contributed to the
development of the electric light bulb and telephone. Despite his
significant contributions, he faced racial discrimination and limited
recognition during his lifetime.
Marie Van Brittan Brown—-Invented the home security system in the 1960s. Although her invention became widely adopted, she did not initially receive the credit or financial benefits she deserved.
Marie Van Brittan Brown—-Invented the home security system in the 1960s. Although her invention became widely adopted, she did not initially receive the credit or financial benefits she deserved.
Garrett A. Morgan—-Invented the safety hood (early gas mask) and traffic
light. Despite these innovations, Morgan struggled with financial and
racial barriers.
Katherine Johnson---NASA Scientist 1918-2020. Exploited
Marie Maynard Daly--Pioneered Cardiovascular research. Exploited
Black Companies and Inventors in Medical Tech and Biotech Industries
While specific instances of exploitation are less documented publicly,
Black entrepreneurs and inventors in these sectors often face systemic
barriers, including limited access to funding, mentorship, and markets.
Some notable figures and companies include:
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett—-A prominent scientist involved in mRNA vaccine
development at NIH. While her work is highly recognized now, Black
scientists historically faced systemic biases that limited opportunities
and recognition. Many Black-led startups in biotech and health tech are emerging but often encounter challenges related to funding and market access -like for instance OPKO Health and other Black-led biotech startups.
