Science
10 living Black inventors whose work still shapes technology and science
From the Super Soaker and VoIP to mRNA vaccines and multicore chips, 10 living Black inventors hold patents and research that still shape modern life.
Black inventors who are still living continue to shape technology, medicine, space and everyday products. Here are 10 whose patents and research have had lasting impact.
Lonnie Johnson invented the Super Soaker water gun, one of the best-selling toys of the 1990s. He holds more than 120 patents, including work on spacecraft power systems and has reinvested earnings into energy technology research.
James West
James West co-invented the electret microphone, the design used in roughly 90 percent of modern microphones, phones and hearing aids. He holds more than 250 patents and has spent decades advocating for diversity in STEM.
Marian Croak
Marian Croak holds more than 200 patents. Her pioneering work on Voice over IP (VoIP) underpins modern internet calling, video chat and remote collaboration. She has also focused on responsible and human-centered AI.
Mark E. Dean
Mark E. Dean helped develop key IBM personal computer technologies, including the ISA bus that allowed peripheral devices to connect and the first gigahertz chip. He holds multiple patents in computer hardware.
Mae Jemison was the first African American woman in space. A physician and engineer, she has contributed to biotechnology and space technology while promoting STEM education and equity.
Jesse Russell
Jesse Russell pioneered digital cellular technology while at Bell Labs. His patents helped lay the foundation for modern mobile phone networks and wireless communication.
Lisa Gelobter played a key role in early internet animation technology. Her work contributed to the tools that made animated GIFs possible and are still used across the web today.
Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire led the National Institutes of Health team that designed the vaccine concept that became Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. She continues research in immunology and emerging viruses at Harvard.
Kunle Olukotun
Kunle Olukotun advanced multicore processor design, enabling computers to handle work in parallel rather than relying on a single core. His ideas are foundational to modern computing and AI hardware.
Janet Emerson Bashen
Janet Emerson Bashen became the first Black woman to receive a U.S. software patent. She invented a web-based system for managing and tracking Equal Employment Opportunity cases.
Lasting impact
These inventors show how Black innovation continues to shape technology, health and daily life. Their patents and research remain active contributions, not only historical footnotes.
