We are honored to celebrate Jerry Lawson during Black History Month — a true pioneer who changed the gaming world forever. Born on December 1, 1940, in New York City, Lawson was a self-taught electrical engineer who grew up inspired by agricultural scientist George Washington Carver. As a young man, he repaired televisions and experimented with…
Hollywood is set to celebrate one of its most powerful and enduring voices. On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. PT, legendary actor and director Bill Duke will receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard. The honor marks the 2,837th star in the Motion Pictures category and coincides with Duke’s…
On this 22nd day of Black History Month, we celebrate Dr. Marian Croak — a pioneering engineer and inventor whose work transformed communication technology worldwide. Dr. Croak is best known for developing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) while at AT&T Bell Labs in the 1980s and 1990s. This breakthrough technology allows voice and video calls…
On the 21st day of Black History Month, we proudly honor Thomas L. Jennings, a trailblazer whose ingenuity and courage left an indelible mark on American history. On March 3, 1821, Jennings became the first African American to receive a U.S. patent—an extraordinary achievement not only for its innovation but also for its timing. Jennings’…
On this 19th day of Black History Month, we proudly celebrate Dr. Charles R. Drew — a pioneering surgeon, visionary medical researcher, and humanitarian whose work transformed modern medicine. Dr. Drew revolutionized the way blood plasma is processed, preserved, and stored, making transfusions safer, more efficient, and widely accessible. His innovations laid the foundation for modern…
This Black History Month, we spotlight Alice H. Parker, an African American inventor from New Jersey whose groundbreaking 1919 patent helped reshape the future of indoor heating. While hers was not the first furnace ever created, Parker’s invention marked one of the earliest gas-powered central heating systems — a bold step away from inefficient fireplaces…
Today, we honor the life and legacy of John Albert Burr (1848–1926), an African American inventor whose innovation helped shape the modern lawn mower and transform everyday lawn care. Born in Maryland to formerly enslaved parents, John T. and Anna Wanger Burr, young Burr came of age during the Civil War era. As a teenager,…
This Black History Month, we celebrate Marjorie Joyner — a trailblazing businesswoman, educator, inventor, philanthropist, and activist whose innovation transformed the beauty industry. Joyner is best known as the inventor of the permanent hair-wave machine, a device used by people with both curly and straight hair to create long-lasting styles. In 1928, she became one…
On this day of Black History Month, we proudly spotlight Engineer Henry T. Sampson — a groundbreaking nuclear engineer, inventor, and trailblazer whose scientific achievements helped shape modern technology. Early Life & Education Born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1934, Dr. Sampson began his academic journey at Morehouse College before transferring to Purdue University, where he earned his Bachelor…
This Black History Month, we proudly spotlight Christina M. Jenkins, an African American innovator whose creativity transformed hair care forever. In the early 1950s, Christina Jenkins invented the revolutionary process of sew-in hair weaves, which she called her “HairWeev” technique. At a time when wigs and hairpieces were secured only with pins—often uncomfortable and unstable—Christina…
