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Black History Month 2025: 5 Technology Icons Who Shaped the Industry

University of Advancing Technology celebrates 5 black icons in the tech industry.

Black History month shines a light on the many contributions of so many Black Americans that, for so long, did not have a flashlight.

America civil rights attorney and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court member, Thurgood Marshall, said it best:

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”

The tech industry is no exception. Read on to learn about five Black icons in the tech industry.

Dr. Sian Proctor

⇒ Field: Aerospace
⇒ Notable: Local Arizona legend who made history as the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft and first black commercial astronaut. 

Screenshot 2025-02-06 at 12.31.43 PM

Photo Credit: @Blackpast.org

Dr. Marian Croak

⇒ Field: Engineering
⇒ Tech Invention: VoIP. Credited for switching wired Technology to internet protocol
⇒ Holds over 200 patents and currently serves as the VP of Engineering at Google

Marian Croak

Gerald Lawson

⇒ Field: Game Developer. First video game console with a microprocessor and changeable cartridge
⇒ He is known for his work in designing the Fairchild Channel F video game console as well as leading the team that pioneered the commercial video game cartridge

Gerald Lawson

Roy Clay

⇒ Field: Computer Science. Tech Invention: HP 2116A 16-bit minicomputer
⇒ This was a computer was the single largest mechanical package that HP ever built.
⇒ It also marked the company's first use of integrated circuits.

Screenshot 2025-02-06 at 12.08.56 PM

Photo Credit: @USAToday

Frederick McKinley Jones

⇒ Field: Mobile refrigeration
⇒ Tech Invention: automatic refrigeration system for long haul trucks and railroad cars
⇒ In addition to that refrigerator invention, Jones also invented an air-conditioning unit for military field hospitals, a refrigerator for military field kitchens, a self-starting gas engine, a series of devices for movie projectors and box-office equipment that gave tickets and made change 

⇒ Awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991—the first Black inventor to ever receive such an honor

Frederick Jones

Photo Credit: USDA/Wikimedia

 

Follow UAT for more Black History Month articles and resources throughout the month.

 

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