FINDING OUR HUMANITY IN BLACK HISTORY

FINDING OUR HUMANITY IN BLACK HISTORY?

"All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.” - Desmond Tutu.?

There are so many astounding contributions to the arts, technology, and academia—in the U.S. and around the globe—made by brilliant and creative Black people. While Black history is made every day, we pay close attention during the month of February and celebrate those contributions of names we know—and those names that have gone largely unnoticed.

I am?excited to join the country in celebrating Black History Month and the achievements of those who paved the way for so many in the industry of technology.

Granville Woods (1856 - 1910)

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Granville Woods was a great inventor, specifically known for his 15 different appliances for the electric railways. He was most known for inventing the multiplex “induction telegraph,” which allowed for voice communication through telegraph wires. The device ended up preventing many train accidents. He became known as “Black Edison” because Thomas Edison tried to sue Woods after he invented the multiplex telegraph. The lawsuit failed, so Edison tried to make Woods a partner, but he refused. Woods held nearly 60 patents at the time of his death.

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Katherine Johnson (1918 - 2020)

The accomplishments of Katherine Johnson were highlighted in the film Hidden Figures, but for those who don’t know, she was a pioneering Black woman in tech. She entered college when she was just 15, and at the time of graduation, her only employment options were teaching or nursing. So she worked as a teacher before she applied for a job at the Langley Research Center (which would later become part of NASA). In 1953, Johnson began working as a “human computer” and calculated the flight path for the first NASA mission to space. Her calculations were essential to the success of many early missions, like Project Mercury and Apollo 11. She also helped confirm the accuracy when machine computers were brought in. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

From a global perspective, Black technologists have been missing from the tech landscape. While some great gains have been made, we still have more miles to travel. From representation in the industry to closing the digital divide, we must work together to close those gaps.

Through my role at T-Mobile and my service to the community, I remain focused on ensuring training and mentorship opportunities exist for young Black girls in particular. If you know my story, you know that I should not be where I am today.?The work of creating access is work is done through a co-creative process with partners in corporate, non- profits and everyday citizens who have a passion to open the tech world to everyone. Moving beyond awareness to action requires the right lens to interpret data, honoring our experiences and providing a safe space for our community to explore all that technology has to offer.

Having a global view of Black people in technology is also critical to advancement of a DEI approach to innovation and transformation. AfroTech has become a platform to bring exposure and knowledge of tech and entrepreneurship. We need a workforce ready and prepared to go where new emerging technologies will take us.?

Black History Month is about more than celebrating those who have come before us—it is also taking an active role in creating the path for those in the future. To achieve this, we must be committed to this work all year around.?

We cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. I find support and encouragement from peers in the industry, my partners in service to the community and with my connections on LinkedIn. It takes us all. It will also requires true allyship. Without support from our allies, some of these heavy lifts can seem insurmountable. So, thank you to our allies who lift up our names in rooms that we are not in…yet!

It takes a team approach to bring this over the goal line. Today I honor and celebrate all the Black in Tech folx for all you do and the history you make every day.

"All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.” - Desmond Tutu.?

?#blackhistorymonth #blackintech

Thank you for reading!

About the Author:?

Edwige A. Robinson is a distinguished Technologist, Transformational and Heart - centered leader who is consistently bridging the gaps between Engineering and business domains. Described as the Translator of new innovations, she is a?“ Triple Minority” in tech - A native of Ivory Coast, West Africa - a foreigner, being female, and black, she is known for her unwavering courage and optimism.?With 25+ years of experience in Technology & Leadership realms, she believes in a more diverse & inclusive Tech World! She a board member and regularly delivers keynote speeches about women in Tech, leadership, and many other?hot?subjects.?Three words to describe her: Perseverance, Authentic, and Forward-Thinker. Connect with her here https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/edwigerobinson ?and?on her website ?https://www.edwigerobinson.com