Percy Julian was an American chemist and an entrepreneur who ingeniously figured out how to synthesize important medicinal compounds from abundant plant sources, making them more affordable to mass-produce. His achievements made common medical compounds available for widespread use. These include cortisone, progesterone, and Physostigmine. Julian was considered by many to be one of the brightest chemist in the field, however, he was continuously stymied by the racism in America that would not give him opportunities to excel over lesser researchers. Still, just by his sheer genius and determination, he made historic discoveries and finally gained the recognition he deserved by being inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in 1973.
Learn about Gerald Lawson who invented the video game cartridge.
Dr. Charles Richard Drew broke barriers in a racially divided America to become one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. His pioneering research and systematic developments in the use and preservation of blood plasma during World War II not only saved thousands of lives, but innovated the nation’s blood banking process and standardized procedures for long-term blood preservation and storage techniques adapted by the American Red Cross. Although it is often rumored that Drew died after a car crash because the hospital he was taken to was for whites only and would not give him a blood transfusion, this is not true. Doctors treated his injuries but they were too severe. He was only 46 years old.
Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who calculated and analyzed the flight paths of many spacecraft during her more than 3 decades with the US space program. Her work helped send astronauts to the Moon. She continued to work at NASA and has a building there named in her honor. Her life and those of her other black female colleagues were featured in the 2016 film Hidden Figures.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, planetary scientist, author, and science communicator. Since 1996, he has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. He is the host of the TV show Nova on PBS.
Fun Historical Fact: our own staff member Ms. Deborah De Grate's late husband was the first black head of public works in Blue Springs and a professional engineer. The bridge at I-70 and Wood Chapel Road was dedicated in his honor.