The following information is from a presentation given to NOSA at IUSO from information compiled by Dr. Paula Boone during a Black History Month event at IUSO on Feb. 21, 2025.
Black History is American History and should be celebrated 365 days a year. Black and specifically African Americans in the United States have made extraordinary contributions throughout our nation’s history. Many contemporary conveniences and necessities, as well as life saving devices are directly related to or a derivative of inventions created by Black people.
Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), is called the “Father of Black History.” He was a pioneering scholar and educator. In 1926, he initiated “Negro History Week,” which evolved into Black History Month. He believed that accurately portraying African American History was essential to the dismantling of racism. In his book The Mis-education of the Negro, he highlighted the importance of education and critical thinking. He worked tirelessly to ensure black history’s inclusion in education.
In the early 1800s, laws prevented African Americans from participating in any legal processes, as filing for a patent and never gained legal rights to their inventions and were not given credit. But there is a list compiled by Henry Baker, an African American who worked in the U.S. Patent Office in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Below is the list of a few African American Inventors:
* Frederick McKinley Jones — Refrigerator (automatic system for long-haul trucks) and air-conditioning unit
* Martin Thomas — Fire extinguisher
* Garrett Morgan — Gas mask (fire departments) and three-way automatic traffic light
* Granville T. Woods (Thomas Edison) — Electric Railway system, electric street car, and telegraph (send voice & message over a 1 wire)
* Lewis Latimer (Alexander Graham Bell) — Long lasting electric lightbulb, carbon filament, drafted patent for the telephone
* Powell Johnson — First safety glasses
In fact, we use products every ay created by Black inventors. Thanks to Shirley Jackson we have the touch tone telephone, portable gas, caller ID, call waiting, and fiber optic cable. Marie Van Brittan Brown created home security unit with peephole, camera, monitor, 2-way microphone, alarm button to contact police, and the foundation for closed-circuit TV for surveillance. Other items created by Black inventors include the irroning board, folding bed & chair, toilet, lawn mower, luggage carrier, guitar, golf tee, fountain pen, pencil sharpener, typewriter/keyboard, automatic elevator doors, fire escape ladders, roller coaster, mailbox, tricycle, eggbeater, clothes dryer, biscuit cutter, doorknob, dustpan, ice cream and scoop, and peanut butter.
Black Americans also played a key part in healthcare.
* Otis Boykin — Invented more than 25 electronic devices, including a control unit for the pacemaker to maintain a regular heartbeat.
* Dr. Charles Drew — Developed the system to process and store blood plasma to create a blood bank. For future transfusions, developed the blood mobile
* Dr. Daniel Hale Williams — 1893 first successful open-heart surgery
* Dr. Myra Adele Logan — 1943 first woman successful open-heart surgery
Trailblazing Blacks in Eyecare
* Dr. Patricia Bath (Ophthalmologist) — Invented the laserphaco probe and created a new technique revolutionizing cataract laser surgery. First person to remove cataract with a laser.
* Dr. Constance Okeke (Ophthalmologist) — First in the country to combine Trabectome glaucoma surgery with femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. A pioneer in micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).
Today there is a dearth of Blacks in all healthcare professions, including optometry. The Association of Schools and Colleges annual student data report reveals the following 2023 enrollment:
* Asian students was around 30.4% (comprise 6% of US pop.)
* Latino around 8.7% (comprise 18% of US pop.)
* Blacks around 4.3%. (comprise 13% of US pop.)
From 1969-1989 there was an intentional effort by the federal government and some organizations as the NMA, NDA and the NOA to increase minority representation in the health manpower workforce. With the assistance of federal funding, starting in 1972, Dr. Edwin Marshall and Dr. Mel Shipp (both IUSO Graduates) set out to recruit students from HBCUs in the southern states to IUSO.
* 345 minority students recruited 1972-1980
* The largest number of blacks (6) at IUSO graduated in the class of 1980.
* In 2023, 7 black females were accepted into the class of 2027.
Why Diverse Representation Matters in Healthcare:
1. Enhances the doctor patient relationship
2. Creates an environment where doctors and their patients are culturally connected
3. Improves communication
4. Leads to greater trust
5. Increases patient compliance
6. Results in a better prognosis
7. Reduces health disparities (Greater health disparities are in the Black and Latino pop.)
8. Provides role models to influence the future pipeline for black and brown students. “If you see it, you can be it!”
The National Optometric Association (NOA) was founded in 1969 in Richmond, Va. by Dr. John Howlette and Dr. C. Clayton Powell as an organization to provide recruitment, professional development, mentorship, networking opportunities, and continuing education for minority optometrists to advance the visual health of the minority and underserved populations.
Today the 400 plus members of the NOA are in career tracks from private practice to corporate positions, academia, and research residing in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) was founded in 1979, under the leadership of president and IUSO alum, Dr. Edwin Marshall with the purpose to stimulate and encourage highly professional, intellectual, and social relationships with members of optometric programs as well as other health care professional student organizations.
Members are students at accredited schools and colleges of optometry and serve as an extension of the NOA to deliver quality care and service to the community. There are 24 active NOSA chapters throughout the country with over 900 members.
Indiana University School of Optometry has a legacy of diversity. Since its establishment in 1951, there have been about 115 black graduates. Many have distinguished themselves in numerous ways. Some are/were educators, administrators, practitioners, and entrepreneurs with trailblazing careers, advancing the profession of Optometry, especially in the minority community. Read more about our notable Black alumni at https://blogs.iu.edu/iusonews/2021/02/25/highlighting-iusos-notable-black-optometrists/.
The IUSO Comer-Currie Alumni Association is named in recognition of IUSO’s first Black graduates, Dr. Charles Comer and Dr. Clarence Currie. The alumni group’s mission is to “collaborate with other IUSO alumni, faculty, staff, students, and administration to address the academic and cultural needs of IUSO Black students and support the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and activities of the School of Optometry. We also serve as a resource for the recruitment and retention of Black IUSO students, help with a database for student mentorship, and share our appreciation of the benefits of an IUSO education.”
Follow the Comer-Currie group on Facebook @IUSOComerCurrie and Instagram @iusocc1960. Our social accounts will not only keep you up to date on events but will recognize the outstanding achievements of our distinguished Black IUSO alumni.
Challenge to Students:
Take full advantage of your IUSO optometric education
1. Stay active in NOSA and AOSA
2. Join the American Academy of Optometry
3. Network with Peers
Then practice the full extent of your scope to make the most impact in the community in which you will serve. Your practice must include all components of the profession of optometry!
1. Clinical
2. Political
3. Public Health
4. Mentorship
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