The Big Idea: 7 Groundbreaking Black Female Inventors

July 9th, 2012 - By Terri Williams
"Dr. Shirley Jackson"

photo courtesy of Rensselaer

Dr. Shirley Jackson

Dr. Shirley Jackson was the first black female to receive a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is the first black female president of a major technological institute (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).  However, she also has a staggering list of inventions to her credit.  Her experiments with theoretical physics are responsible for many telecommunications developments including the touch tone telephone, the portable fax, caller ID, call waiting, and the fiber optic cables that make overseas phone calls crystal clear.

Tags:

, ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • zaria595

    Have sex with me pleased

  • mdeborah827

    Wish Terry Williams would take a look at the story of Annie Malone, CJ Walker’s former boss who gave her the entire idea and profited from it first. Her life was full of ups and downs but CJ Walker DID NOT invent this process! She learned it on the job from ANNIE MALONE.

  • Me

    Insightful article! Kudos to the inventors and the author.

  • charlieshine

    This is so inspirational. Thank you for this article.

  • mnreader

    one of the best articles I’ve read here in a long long time. keep it coming! this is what should be taught to our children.

    • MsRonii

      A.M.E.N.

  • mnreader

    one of the best articles I’ve read here in a long long time. keep it coming! this is what should be taught to our children.

  • customcalendars4u2

    There is a Laundry list of Black Inventors both men and women for groundbreaking inventions
    just look it up! Sadly though neither them nor they’re descendants were fairly compensated. Black people as slaves have built this country on they’re backs literally so very often that encouraged them to find ingenious ways of making their work easier on them….

  • wlknluv

    Wow! I knew about Madame CJ Walker but I didn’t know about the other African-American inventors, truly awesome. We must know our history and pass it on to our children.

  • cookie

    typo proud of

  • cookie

    Wow did not know these things need to brush up more on my black history shoot the only thing highschool taught us about was Dr king and slavery im so proud if My African sisters girl power.

  • MedPassion

    Such an inspirational list. I need to get up and be more productive today. No excuses!!

  • Tisha

    This is wonderful and more people should kow about these groundbreaking pioneers.