THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE – THE BLACK SCIENTISTS – Lewis Latimer

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE – THE BLACK SCIENTISTS – Lewis Latimer

One of the major scientific discoveries of the 17^th century by Isaac Newton was about the spectral nature of light. It revealed for the first time one of the real and unobvious nature of white light. Before then, white light has been considered the purest and most elemental form of light. But by passing white light through a prism ,Newton revealed that white light was neither pure nor elemental. The prism separated the white light into a set of composite colors called the spectrum. It is Composed of red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo and violet (the colors of the rainbow). So scientifically, you can see that “white is not necessarily light”.

Throughout black sub-Sahara Africa there is an Elated, exalted and sovereign image of the white man deep down in the heart of the black-man. Till today when we meet an amazing technological innovation or scientific breakthrough, you bear words like “Oyibo bu Agbara” (in South-Eastern part of Nigeria) meaning the white man is a god.  Exclamations like “Ndiocha di egwu or “Oyibo too much” which means the white man is wonderful.  Almost every tribe has an exclamatory cliché that exalts his scientific, technological and economic supremacy.

The presence of a white man in a black institution in Africa, still sends forces of superiority that subtly and consistently tugs on us. The absence of a white expatriate in a major construction contract or technological exercise in Africa sends shockwaves of substandardness around.

Ben Carson, the African-American world-class Neurosurgeon, the first doctor to successfully separate brain conjoined twins and head of pediatrics Neurosurgery department in John Hopkins hospital (a purely white majority institution). He said in his book “gifted hands” that he got the most problems from black patients. The white patients just assumed that he must be extremely smart to be black and be the head. But the black patients saw him as a mediocre that was made the head inorder to give them a false of social equal integration. I don’t totally blame us. After centuries of slavery, the psychological pains, torment and inferiority is still lingering around in our minds.

So is there anything physically speaking about the western man that is made it look as though “white is always light?” not at all. Its only our ignorance about our history because western history has made it seem as though white is always light by not giving accolades to the great black scientists and inventors.

The legend of Thomas Edison and the light bulb invention is a part of our enlightenment thinking of the power of science, rationality and progress. The story that was conspicuously missing is that of the man that helped him do that. His name was Lewis Howard Latimer; a black American inventor and draftsman best known for his contributions of the light bulb and the telephone.

Latimer was born on September 4, 1848 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His mother and father were Rebecca and George Latimer, were both runaway slaves. Latimer learned the art of mechanical drawing while working at a patent firm. Over the course of his career as a draftsman, Latimer worked closely with Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, in addition to designing his own inventions. 

In 1864, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the United States Navy during the Civil War. Returning to Boston after an honorable discharge, he started a position at the Crosby and Gould patent law office. He taught himself mechanical drawing and drafting by observing the work of draftsmen at the firm. Recognizing Latimer's talent and promise, the firm partners promoted him from office boy to draftsman. In addition to assisting others, Latimer designed a number of his own inventions.

In 1874, along with W.C. Brown, Latimer co-invented an improvement of a train water closet (a bathroom compartment for trains).

In 1876, Latimer was sought out as a draftsman by Alexander Graham Bell for hard of hearing children. He had created a device and needed Lewis to draft the drawing necessary for a patent application. That was how they both came up with the telephone.

On January 17th 1882, Latimer’s patent for the "Process of Manufacturing Carbons" went through; an improved method for the production of carbon filaments used in light bulbs. The Edison Electric Light Company in New York City hired Latimer in 1884, as a draftsman and an expert witness in patent litigation on electric lights. Latimer is credited with an improved process for creating a carbon filament at this time, which was an improvement on Thomas Edison's original paper filament, which would burn out quickly.

Latimer’s capabilities in electric lighting became well known and soon he was sought after to continue to improve on incandescent lighting as well as arc lighting.

NOTABLE PATENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS     

1.147,363: Water closet for railroad cars (1874)

2.247,097: Improvement to electric lamp (1881)

3.252,386: Process for manufacturing carbon filament (1882)

4.255,212 Arc Light: globe support (1882)

5.334,078: Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting (1886)

6.557,076: Device for locking hats, coats and umbrellas on hanging racks (1895)

7.781,890: Lamp fixture (1910)

Lewis Latimer was a man of many interests. He was an inventor, draftsman, engineer, author, poet, musician, a devoted family man and philanthropist. Throughout the rest of his life, Latimer continued to try to develop ways of enhancing everyday living for the public, ultimately working on initiatives to improve the civil rights of Black citizens within the United States. He married Mary Wilson on December 10, 1873. The Latimers had two daughters. He also painted portraits and wrote poetry and music for friends and family. Lewis Latimer died on December 11, 1928 and left behind a legacy of accomplishment and leadership that much of the world owes gratitude.

Don’t allow the name Latimer create a disconnect. Remember that his parents were slaves. Which means that the name was a slave name by their white master. He could have well be lewis okoro, lewis ajana, or even lewis akperi. He is black. He is African. And he did this when black suppression was very high.

If we did it before, we can still do it again and even better.

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