Tech Trend 247

Twitter woke up this morning to a wonderful appreciation of #Blackgirlmagic, cataloguing centuries of achievements by black women with the hashtag #BlackWomenDidThat

Currently, only 1 in 10 science or engineering jobs go to black women (despite being the most educated demographic overall, according to the National Center for Education Statistics). But every day, more and more women break through the ranks. Read on to see how black women have paved the way for advancements in STEM throughout history.

1. Shirley Jackson, who allowed us to connect with loved ones from afar, and to screen their calls

2. Ola Orekunrin, England's youngest doctor

3. Claudia Alexander, who oversaw a NASA flight to Jupiter and the European Rosetta comet mission

4. Dr. Joy DeGruy, who studied the residual effects of PTSD in the descendants of former slaves

5. Alice Bell, a chemist who invented an injectable oil extract to treat leprosy

6. Mae Jemison, first black woman in space and frequent guest star on Star Trek

7. Dr. Katherine Johnson, the physiscist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory for humans to fly to the moon

8 & 9. Mildred Kenner and Mary Davidson, sisters who invented and held patents for the sanitary belt and toilet paper holder

10. Marie Van Brittan Brown, who invented the home security system in 1966

11. Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark, who along with her husband published research that showed the negative psychological effects of segregated schools 

11. Dr. Alexa Canady, who holds a patent to treat hydrocephalus, an abnormal accumulation of fluid inside the brain

12. Dr. Patricia Bath, who discovered ways to treat cataracts with lasers or ultrasound 

13. Octavia Butler, considered one of the important science-fiction writers of all time, and author of over a dozen novels

14. And finally, Bessie "Queen Bess" Coleman, daring aviatrix who was famous for her death-defying piloting  stunts