1. Henry Ranson McBay
Developed a treatment for prostate cancer using acetyl peroxide – 1981.

2. Patented the method for laser removal of cataract lenses – 1988.
Patricia Bath
Patented the method for laser removal of cataract lenses – 1988.

3. Levi Watkins
Performed the 1st surgical implantation of the automatic heart defibrillator – 1980.

4. Paul Cuffe (Kufu)
Wealthiest man in the U.S. in 1800’s whose ships returned many Africans to West Africa.

5. Toussaint L’Ouverture
Conquered British and French colonization to win Haiti’s independence – 1801.

6. The very first human to reach the North Pole – 1909.
Matthew A. Henson
The very first human to reach the North Pole – 1909.

7. Daniel Hale Williams
Founded Provident Hospital in Chicago. Performed the world’s very first open-heart surgery – 1893.

8. Claud Anderson
Developed an economic system that empowers impoverished communities – 2001.

9. Founded the city of Chicago in 1770.
Jean Baptiste DuSable
Founded the city of Chicago in 1770.

10. Garrett Morgan
Invented the safety hood in 1914 and the electronic traffic signal in 1923.

11. Elijah McCoy
Invented “The Real McCoy” – automatic lubrication system for train engines – 1872.

12. Valerie Thomas
NASA analyst who invented the “illusion transmitter” that causes 3-D projections to appear as if they are in your living room

13. Developed system for overhead electric railroad lines – 1888.
Granville T. Woods
Developed system for overhead electric railroad lines – 1888.

14. The Buffalo Soldiers
Known as the fiercest fighters of the U.S. Army – 9th & 10th Calvary, 1866.

15. Built the first clock made in America – 1752.
Benjamin Banneker
Built the first clock made in America – 1752.

16. George Carruthers
Developed 1st moon-based ultraviolet camera to be placed on the moon – 1972.

17. George Washington Carver
The first to develop and teach the system of “crop rotation” to preserve soil viability.

18. Meredith Gourdine
Pioneered the research in “electrogasdynamics” that converts natural gas to electricity for everyday use.

19. Charles Drew
Discovered method for freezing blood and established the 1st blood bank – 1940.

20. Alice Parker
Invented a new and improved furnace that provided central heating – 1919.

21. Lewis Howard Latimer
Invented the carbon filament that enabled the incandescent electric lamp to glow.

22. Mark E. Dean
Co-invented the microcomputer system with Bus Control for peripheral devices – 1980’s.

23. Bessie Blount
Invented an electrical device in 1951 that allowed WW II amputees to feed themselves in their wheelchairs or beds.

24. Barack Obama
1st Black president of Harvard Law Review and elected President of U.S. – Nov 2008.