craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compa

Lewis Latimer. Ever heard of him? Well, he was the draftsman that worked with Alexander Graham Bell in drawing up the patent for the telephone - the one that beat a competitor by hours in filing for a patent. without his dedication and work into the night - the recognized inventor of the telephone may have been someone else. And - oh yes - Latimer was African American.

Also - Latimer made the light bulb better. While Thomas Edison had worked for years to get the light bulb to work - his bulb would only burn for a matter of hours. Latimer was the one who came up with and patented a process to make a carbon filament - which burned longer and made the product commercially feasible. Latimer became a consultant to many cities - including London - on the installation of electric lights.

Latimer did work for Edison - and Edison encouraged him to write the book Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. The book was extremely popular - because it explained the process of electricity to a somewhat ignorant public. A grand example of African American invention.

Then there was the African American invention that revolutionized shoe manufacturing. In the late 1800’s, shoes were mainly manufactured by hand. The customer’s feet were duplicated in a stone or wooden form called a “last.” the leather was formed around the last - and then the sole was attached to the upper by skilled craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compa

American.

Also - Latimer made the light bulb better. While Thomas Edison had worked for years to get the light bulb to work - his bulb would only burn for a matter of hours. Latimer was the one who came up with and patented a process to make a carbon filament - which burned longer and made the product commercially feasible. Latimer became a consultant to many cities - including London - on the installation of electric lights.

Latimer did work for Edison - and Edison encouraged him to write the book Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. The book was extremely popular - because it explained the process of electricity to a somewhat ignorant public. A grand example of African American invention.

Then there was the African American invention that revolutionized shoe manufacturing. In the late 1800’s, shoes were mainly manufactured by hand. The customer’s feet were duplicated in a stone or wooden form called a “last.” the leather was formed around the last - and then the sole was attached to the upper by skilled craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compa

o many cities - including London - on the installation of electric lights.

Latimer did work for Edison - and Edison encouraged him to write the book Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. The book was extremely popular - because it explained the process of electricity to a somewhat ignorant public. A grand example of African American invention.

Then there was the African American invention that revolutionized shoe manufacturing. In the late 1800’s, shoes were mainly manufactured by hand. The customer’s feet were duplicated in a stone or wooden form called a “last.” the leather was formed around the last - and then the sole was attached to the upper by skilled craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compa

mple of African American invention.

Then there was the African American invention that revolutionized shoe manufacturing. In the late 1800’s, shoes were mainly manufactured by hand. The customer’s feet were duplicated in a stone or wooden form called a “last.” the leather was formed around the last - and then the sole was attached to the upper by skilled craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compa

craftsmen. Shoe lasters had great power in the shoe industry - and could shut down operations to gain what they wanted - putting whole factories out of work.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger happened to work for one of the shoe companies and did not like being out of work. He developed an automatic lasting machine that turned out 150-700 pairs of shoes a day - compared to 50 from a master laster. This African American invention has been considered “the greatest forward step in the shoe industry” and "the most important invention for New England." Unfortunately, while the lasting machine brought much profit to the industry, Matzeliger did not share in the wealth. He had spent too many hours developing his machine without proper nutrition. A cold led to tuberculosis - and he died at age 37.

Black women are part of African American invention. Dr. Patricia Bath’s passionate dedication to the treatment and prevention of blindness led her to develop the Cataract Laserphaco Probe.

The probe, patented in 1988, is designed to use the power of a laser to quickly and painlessly vaporize cataracts from patients’ eyes, replacing the more common method of using a grinding, drill-like device to remove the afflictions. With another invention, Bath was able to restore sight to people who had been blind for over 30 years. Patricia Bath also holds patents for her invention in Japan, Canada, and Europe.

Dr. Bath has been nominated to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Two more African American gentlemen and one woman that have contributed to the growth of American society - yet their accomplishments have been lost to succeeding generations. Best now that their genius be recognized regardless of color.