February is Black History Month and while UHCL celebrates the month with events and activities, UHCL The Signal created a social media campaign on their Instagram to highlight individuals who have made contribution to business, science, education, humanities, sports and performing arts.
Black scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs
Black History Month coverage
Alice Ball
Alice Ball was the first African American and first woman to graduate with a MS in Chemistry from the University of Hawaii. At 23, she then became the first person to create a successful treatment for leprosy. Ball did not get initially recieve credit for her work, She died at the age of 24 because of unrelated exposure to chlorine. Feb. 29 is celebrated as “Alice Ball Day” in Hawaii.
Percy Lavone Julian
Reggie Fils-Aimé
Born from two Haitian immigrants, Fils-Aimé is one of the most recognizable faces in gaming. From 2006 until he retired in 2019, Fils-Aimé served as the president and CEO of Nintendo America. Since retiring, he has served as the first Leader in Residence at his alma mater, Cornell University.
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
Unable to afford tuition at Howard University, Kenner followed in her father and grandfathers’ footsteps and invented solutions to everyday problems. The most famous of which was the sanitary belt. Misogyny and discrimination towards black women, left her unable to patent the invention for roughly 30 years. Once it when public in the 1950s, the invention was used widely until the 80s when temporary adhesives were implemented instead. Her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith, joined her in inventing a few more everyday use items.