By recognizing common pitfalls, Tech Stackd fills in the gaps that cause many underrepresented people to fail when trying to break into tech.. Theyve paved the way toward advances in all sciences. So why are Black people so underrepresented in Silicon Valley and in the tech world? Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. Morgan created an automated signal in a T-shape with three positions, including a warning position. Eventually, he began his own company, Rod-L Electronics, where he invented the first electric equipment safety testing device. Today Dean is an emeritus professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. As the architect of 3D effects software, he helped contribute directly and indirectly to a number of different fields, including the film industry and military. Copyright 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. He developed a number of products, many of them based on his most famous invention, Lingo programming: a scripting language that helps render visuals in computer programs. After his time at APF, he became a successful electronics salesman, a career he continues to this day. Another inventor we have to thank for our modern-day conveniences is Fredrick McKinley Jones. Kimberly Bryant Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls CODE in 2011 to empower girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields. Michael shared the inspiration behind POCIT with Forbes: "I wanted to switch up the narrative around the type of faces we usually expect to be a techie or work in tech. Her invention helped modernize the HVAC industry and central heating systems, allowing for greater conservation of energy and moving us away from a reliance on wood and coal. That computer Clay and his colleagues designed was about the size of a typewriter. As the Center for American Progress notes, Black people are better represented in other parts of the country. Evelyn Boyd Granville was born in 1924 in what was then a segregated Washington, D.C. Stacy is currently helping to run the SoftBank Opportunity Fund as a founding member. President Bill Clinton even appointed Jackson as Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He became the first Black IBM Fellow when he was appointed to the position in 1995. Copyright 2022 IDG Communications, Inc. Credited with creating the first home security system, Marie Van Brittan Brown filed a patent for her closed-circuit television security (CCTV) system invention in 1966. Although there are efforts to improve diversity and inclusion efforts at large technology companies, paving the way for a new generation of Black developers to come to the fore, there is much work to be done. She spent two years working at the White House as part of the newly formed United States Digital Service, where she helped design new digital services for people in education. It was at HP where Clay worked with the late Tom Perkins, a founding member of the legendary Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. Richard had a long career, with a resurgence in popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s. CCTV systems are still used to this day, and thanks to Browns contribution, homes and businesses across the world have affordable access to home security. Their work inspires and motivates us, and we hope they'll inspire you too. He began photographing at just 17 years old when he started an apprenticeship under white photographer Moses Rice. If you ever thought the special effects in Jurassic Park were impressive, you have Hannah to thank. Imagine the impact that these curious, creative minds could have on the world with the guidance and encouragement others take for granted, writes Kimberly on the Black Girls CODE website. Advancing racial equity means making space in your networks for more teams and leaders that look like us. Along with her doctoral degree in particle physics, Dr. Jackson worked with Bell Laboratories and collaborated on research related to charge density waves. This graph was published by the Center for American Progress. Are you a front-end developer, thinking about switching from front end to back end? In a 2019 interview with Know Your Value, Stacy shared, Im focusing on changing the face of technology by creating a diverse company where people feel they can bring their whole selves to work.. Clarence Skip Ellis was one of few African-Americans to walk the halls of the now-legendary Xerox PARC in the 1970s and 1980s, where he was part of the team that developed early display software, object-oriented programming languages, and OfficeTalk, an early groupware system that paved the way for todays collaboration software. Managing Editor, News, From there he went on to co-design an early cartridge-based video game system, the APF MP-1000 (1978) for New York-based APF Electronics. She offers so much to so many people, breaking down concepts as easily as she breaks down barriers for newcomers.. Without having a diversity of thought and diversity of opinion, were losing on so many incredible inventions and innovations that can impact a lot of people.. I could immediately see how impactful Harvey was to the company's success. He launched Calendly using funds from his 401(k), and has been outspoken about the difficulty he faced in raising VC funding. Build. It's no secret that success for African Americans in tech has not come easily. Notable persons [ edit] The following is a list of notable Black women in computer science, in alphabetical order by last name: Rediet Abebe Monica Anderson Donna Auguste Erica Baker Carlotta Berry Aisha Bowe Khalia Braswell Meredith Broussard Kimberly Bryant Joy Buolamwini Marian Croak Shaundra Daily Tawanna Dillahunt Annie Easley The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, for example, is 25 percent Black while tech companies workforces are about 17 percent Black. His patent helped make Fairchild a leader in semiconductor tech in the 1960s. In the 70s, he worked at Hewlett-Packard. Packard knew little about software, so Clay became Hewlett-Packards software pioneer. In a recent interview on The Step, a podcast hosted by author Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Lyndsey speaks about the issues women of color face in tech, plus talks about the work she's doing to advance women and minorities in the engineering space. 36-Week Software Engineering Immersive Part-Time, 19-Week Software Engineering with JavaScript and Python. Before founding ROD-L, Clay was a programmer. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Black Girls CODE hosts after school programs, community outreach programs, workshops, hackathons, and more, dedicated to introducing coding to a new generation of coders. Programming has accelerated the progress of humanity like nothing else. 1996-2022 Ziff Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2013, there were 262,981 Americans of color ages 45 years and younger with bachelors or advanced degrees in computer and mathematical sciences, as well as electrical engineeringjust three of several fields closely associated with high-tech jobs. From Jerry Lawson to Dr. Mark Dean, these Black professionals in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s broke through and succeeded at high-tech firms, despite immense challenges. He is best known as the principal founder of Microsoft .more #150 of 545 American Public Figures Who Are National Treasures #159 of 440 Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With #87 of 344 He passed away in 2011. The Codecademy team has found inspiration in seeing how Sofia has created actionable and accessible solutions to make and inspire real change. There is so much discourse to be had surrounding ethics, systems, and politics in technology that create what seems like an impossible (and widening) barrier for the marginalized and disenfranchised.. There are not nearly enough examples of people who look like us in positions of power or who have a lot of success in the tech field. Clay led the team that brought HPs computer, the 2116A, to market in 1966. The relationship led to a consulting role for Clay and an investment from Kleiner Perkins in ROD-L in 1978, marking the first Black founder the firm ever invested in. Hannah was the principal coder for graphics programs like Personal IRIS, Indigo, Indigo2, and Indy Graphics, which were used in movies like Jurassic Park, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunt for Red October, and Field of Dreams. While at IBM, Granville was on the team responsible for the formulation of orbit computations and computer procedures for NASAs Projects Vanguard and Mercury. Dr. Gladys West is a STEM pioneer whose work is the basis for the Global Positioning Systems we now take for granted. List features people like Peter Molyneux, Ron Gilbert. In 1966, Joe Booker began his long career in tech at IBM, working in manufacturing; he moved up to management in 1969 at Memorex, then helped start-up pioneering hard disk manufacturer Shugart Associates, where he became Executive VP. As the Center for American Progress notes, Silicon Valley has long claimed that theres a shortage of qualified Black coders due to the lack of diversity in the educational pipeline. Here at Codecademy, were inspired by Tonys mission too, which is why were excited to announce that weve partnered with Black and Brilliant on an upcoming accelerated course in Applied Artificial Intelligence. The Most Beautiful Flower (Season 1): Mexican teen comedy. From reputable, prominent, and well known game programmers to the lesser known game programmers of today, these are some of the best professionals in the . PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. In 1958, he moved to what is now known as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, operated by UC Berkeley for the US Department of Energy. Combined, only about 3 percent of Silicon Valley employees are Black. Fats Domino. Jackson became NASAs first black female engineer, and she helped propel Americans to the moon. Learn more about how to get involved with HBCUvc here. Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and beyond, meanwhile, Ken Coleman thrived as a manager and executive at several high-profile tech firms. He has since been an adviser to the US government on trade and received many honorariums for his achievements in the industry. Lewis Latimer worked on some pretty landmark inventions, but he often receives little recognition. He passed away in 2014. His most famous invention was the language Lingo, which is able to incorporate graphics formats to create multi-media content and applications. Jamie has been active in the transgender community and transitioned from male to female around 1998. We have a long way to go with minorities. This was the inspiration for We Read Too. She went on to work for IBM as a computer programmer in 1955. In 1963, Clay went to work for Control Data Corporation, where he worked on the language FORTRAN. For instance, it was in high school where a guidance counselor told us we should send college applications and provide an email address - thing is - I didn't know what an email address was. The most famous programmers and developers of our time and historical context are listed below in this article. Her family was poor. Tennessee native Dr. Mark Dean joined IBM in 1980, and soon after became part of the team that developed the revolutionary IBM PC 5150, released in 1981. Stints at SGI, ITM Software, Accelrys, and more solidified his reputation as a highly respected tech executive. Lawson helped create the Fairchild Channel F console, the first cartridge gaming system, in 1976. He went on to study mathematics at Saint Louis University where he earned a Bachelors of Science. Marc Hannah is a world-renowned inventor, chief architect, and co-founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI). Hadiyah Mujhid is the Founder and CEO of HBCUvc, a nonprofit dedicated to racial equity in venture capital and technology. Theres a need to help people break through the glass ceiling in a time of digital transformation, Tony shared during a U.N. webinar on Youth Engagement for Global Action: Digital Skills and the Power of 3P in October 2020. As part of a cultural group that has been on the receiving end of discrimination, disenfranchisement, and blatant terror extending back hundreds of years, Black engineers and tech executives often feel like they must perform at twice the level just to break even with their non-minority counterparts. Jamie Fenton Jamie Faye Fenton (born Jay Fenton) is a game programmer best known for the 1981 hit arcade game Gorf and for being one of the creators of MacroMind's VideoWorks software (since renamed Macromedia Director). https://www.pcmag.com/news/7-black-computer-tech-pioneers-you-should-know, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, first cartridge-based (read: computerized) video game system, Canada Judge Authorizes Fortnite Addiction Lawsuit, EU's 'Right to be Forgotten' Includes False Claims About People, Musk 'Open to the Idea' of Purchasing Substack, Instant Collaboration: How to Share Google Drive Files, Inside Computer Stores of the 1970s and 1980s, Go for the Retro Gold: 7 Olympic Gaming Classics. He sold the invention for $40,000. Below, we'll take a look at a handful of these important innovators. Kaya Thomas is an iOS developer, writer, and public speaker. After a 42 year career working for the Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force, she completed a PhD when she was 70 and was inducted into the Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018. Despite those immense challenges, a handful of Black professionals in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s broke through and succeeded at high-tech firms. "Curvy, curly, confident Mich knows she's fabulous. Augusta Ada King, more commonly known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and the world's first computer programmer and was chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Jovanay worked as a campus hair stylist for hair braiding for Black women and had the opportunity to speak with Kaya about her computer science experience while she worked. At TaskRabbit, she succeeded in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and her work didnt start there. The history of computer science, the internet, and the modern software industry is populated by a cast of characters that is largely White, middle-aged men. We should first note that the racial disparity within the tech community is less stark in cities outside of the Silicon Valley bubble. Coding has a really unique ability to be able to impact so many people with just a few keystrokes, she shared. His students frequently praise his ability to teach with a special combination of confidence, approachability, and humor.. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. One could easily make the argument that software engineering is one of the most revolutionary career choices, and its effects can be felt in nearly every facet of modern life. Scott Carey is a Managing Editor for news across Foundry's five B2B brandsComputerworld, CIO, CSO, Network World and InfoWorld. He formed a group named the Flames, later called the Famous Flames, that produced the immediate hit "Please, Please, Please.". Mark Dean a computer scientist, engineer, and named IBM Fellow worked with IBM to develop technologies like the first Gigahertz chip. Best shows to stream for Black History Month. An important text in uncovering the contributions of Black people to the history of technology was Margot Lee Shetterlys book Hidden Figures, and the Hollywood movie based on it, that charts the careers of three African-American NASA mathematicians during the space race. 21. Dr. Clarence Ellis, better known as Skip, was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in computer science (in 1969 at the University of Illinois). Clay went on to develop software languages for Control Data mainframe computers, before joining Hewlett-Packard as the lead developer for the HP 2116A minicomputer and later as part of its research and development department. In 1958, Clay received a job at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, now known as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, where he wrote software that demonstrated how radiation particles would spread through the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion. Editor's Note:This story was originally published on Feb. 20, 2018. Mark Zuckerberg Famous For: Starting Facebook Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard dropout that started Facebook; the social platform that changed social media as we know it today. For his numerous achievements at IBM, the firm named Dean an IBM Fellow in 1995, one of only 50 active at the firm and the first African-American so honored. Clay worked his way up to being the top black employee at HP. Before joining Operation Spark, Harvey worked for another local non-profit, the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP). Foil electret microphones may not sound all that riveting, but the technology is used in nearly 90% of all microphones produced annually. Here is the list of the topmost influential programmers who have changed the tech landscape. Tope Awotona is the CEO of Calendly. William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, investor, author, philanthropist, and humanitarian. In an interview with KTLA5 last year, Sofia spoke about how coding can be a catalyst for change. Ed Smith got his start in Brooklyn working on traffic control signal for Marbelite. Despite educational and hiring roadblocks, many of modern historys greatest advances wouldnt have been possible without Black software engineers. Before launching his own. Today, however, the educational pipeline is not the primary cause of the absence of people of color in Silicon Valley. Lawson did electronics design for the console, went on to found his own video game company, VideoSoft, and was then a mentor at Stanford. Addison N. Scurlock Addison N. Scurlock of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was born in 1883. His contributions played a vital role in our communications, electrical systems, and travel industries. He worked alongside Alexander Bell to draft his patent for the telephone, for example, and he patented the carbon filament for the incandescent light bulb. High school was when I started to realize that none of the characters were ever black girls, she shared in an interview with Apple's Developer. He then went on to MIT, where he studied computer science and visual arts. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology had its first African-American graduate, Robert R. Taylor, in 1892. For instance, Sofia built an award-winning app, ReDawn, to help survivors of sexual and domestic abuse and their loved ones find support. Jovanay from our recruiting team met Kaya when they were in school together at Dartmouth. Thanks to the work of Boykin, we can now designate an accurate resistance value to wiring in our electronics. Well be sharing more details about this partnership in the coming days and weeks. Charlene wrote her first line of code at the age of 10 and went on to earn a BSc in Mathematical Sciences and an MSc in Computer Science before embarking on a professional career in coding. Lyndsey shares: Harvey Sanders is the Engineering Lead for the in-house dev-shop at Operation Spark, a non-profit coding bootcamp founded and operating in New Orleans. In an interview with The New York Times, she shares, Theres been so much momentum in terms of creating gender equity in tech. Software engineers have taken us to the moon. To ask yours Continue Reading 13 5 It is my hope that they may serve as inspiration to kids of today who may be considering a career in technology. Thats why this year, in honor of Black History Month, the Codecademy Team is celebrating Black leaders that are continuing to build a more inclusive, more welcoming, and more diverse tech industry. He went to school in Ferguson, MO, the same community in which Michael Brown was killed at the hands of police. As part of that process, he co-created the PC's ISA bus, and he is named on three of the nine original patents that define foundational IBM PC technology. Sadly though, software engineering has a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity. philippines weather july. Their work inspires and motivates us, and we hope theyll inspire you too. Richard changed the styles that would fuse to make modern rock and roll, and his well-rounded nature made him appealing to Black and white audiences alike throughout the 1950s. For more on Smith's fascinating career, you can readan interview I did with him(Opens in a new window)several years ago. Today Saron is building Disco, making technology more accessible through audio courses on subjects like machine learning, cryptocurrency, and ethics in AI. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks. Partly to place some overdue spotlight on those fantastic individuals, but also to inspire the next generation coming up behind.". In the 1960s, Roy Clay led the team at HP that came out with the 2116A. Hannah has since been involved in several high-tech businesses (including SongPro, a firm that created an MP3 player for the Game Boy Advance in 2002) and is still highly respected in the industry. He made it possible to ship items that need to stay cool, with numerous patents in refrigeration. Perlis was an American mathematician and computer scientist who in 1966 won the A.M. Turing Award.This incredibly smart person was one of the most important figures in establishing computer science as a distinct academic field and left a huge imprint at the roots of programming languages. His work has been monumental and continues to impact our day-to-day life in many ways, paving the way for todays computers and gaming consoles. Hannah was the principal coder for graphics programs like Personal IRIS, Indigo, Indigo2, and Indy Graphics, which were used in movies like Jurassic Park, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunt for Red October, and Field of Dreams. Your subscription has been confirmed. And, as if that werent impressive enough, Gelobter acted as Chief Digital Officer for BET Networks. In 2014, Bryant was named among the Top 25 Most Influential African-Americans in Technology. Marian Croak has been in technology for 35 years and currently works at Google as vice president of site reliability engineering for ads, corporate engineering, and YouTube. Long a math wiz, She began her aerospace career in 1951 at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which became NASA in 1958. It was only 25 years later, in 1917, that the university gave its first civil engineering diploma to an African-American. If you're trying to find out the names of famous American programmers then this list is the perfect resource for you. These programmers . In 1999, Dean led a group at IBM to create a 1GHz CPU, and today he is a professor(Opens in a new window) at the University of Tennessee. Despite Silicon Valleys lack of diversity, it would be difficult to imagine the tech industry without Roy Clay Sr. The SoftBank Opportunity Fund is a $100 million venture fund supporting Black, Latinx, and Native American founders. Iinterviewed Lawson in 2009(Opens in a new window), and it was an illuminating discussion. But it also serves as an important example in the case for making venture funding more equitable. Ada Lovelace. Ben, a curriculum developer here at Codecademy, began working at Operation Spark in 2017. As a sought-after computer researcher, he worked at firms like Bell Labs, IBM, Los Alamos Scientific Lab, and many more during his long career. As both inspiration and impetus, and in celebration of Black History Month this February, we delved into the archives to shine a light on some key Black tech pioneers who may have been overlooked by history. But, without Lawsons work, we might not have todays high-graphics titles or consoles. His goal was to design his own language to bridge the gap between art and technology, which he did. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Black Programmers and Technologists Who Inspire Us, Follow the Black and Brilliant Advocacy Network on LinkedIn, How DALL-E Mini Makes Those Viral Image Mashups That Are All Over Social Media. Find out how to get involved with Operation Spark here. The most famous programmers and developers of our time. Sofia Ongele is a 20-year-old student, coder, and activist. With games like video blackjack, bowling, checkers, and slot machine, it was nothing like the games we have today. His company was arguably the first Silicon Valley tech startup. But I have learned that growing up black in America is very different. She worked under Dorothy Vaughaun (also featured in Hidden Figures) in the segregated computing unit until she began working in the 4 foot by 4 foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel. The advancement of lower-cost graphics solutions led to the end of SGI in 2009, although Hannah left the firm in 1997. It not only reduced the size of the computer but improved its reliability. Follow the Black and Brilliant Advocacy Network on LinkedIn to stay in the loop. For quite a while throughout history, engineering was almost entirely the domain of white men. Bria Sullivan is an entrepreneur and software engineer at Google. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Its nearly impossible to imagine how wed survive the COVID-19 pandemic without online delivery, Zoom, games, and of course, softwares influence on testing and vaccine distribution. Results Focused Influencer Marketing. Being stuck in traffic at a signal is the worst, but these signals play a vital part in traffic regulation. When her daughter reached college-age, things werent much better. The inspiring programmers and technologists on this list were nominated by members of the Codecademy team. Jerry Lawson is best known for his time at legendary Silicon Valley semiconductor firm Fairchild. Word got around and in 1965, Clay was hired by David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. While she was at Google, she founded the Black Googler Network, an employee resource group. January 14th, 2008 at 8:32 pm. Her programming work on the IBM 7030 STRETCH (the fastest computer of its time) and data analysis resulted in the ability to develop a highly accurate model of the earth, serving as the groundwork for the GPS systems in use today. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were programming pioneers, learning to code in Fortran and advocating for women in science, engineering, and mathematics positions at NASA. We offer scholarships, actively recruit People of Color and just announced a new partnership with/dev/color, the global career accelerator for Black software engineers, technologists, and executives as well as the go-to accountability partner for companies who invest in, employ, and are led by Black software engineers, technologists, and executives. Koma, the VP of Curriculum here at Codecademy shares, In an era when both women and people of color were underrepresented and/or absent in STEM fields, Dr. West's relentless pursuit of and commitment to education, perseverance in a field where few women or Black people were present, and pursuit of excellence contributed to her groundbreaking work.. Gladys Mae West is an American mathematician who contributed to the creation of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) during her time at what is now the Naval Surface Warfare Center, part of the US Air Force. He was one of the first to write about the possibility of computer intelligence. The ENIAC Six Programmers These women are to thank for the programming behind the first electronic computer: Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Jean Jennings Bartik, Frances Snyder Holder, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frances Bilas Spence, and Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum. Shirley Jackson remains one of the most impressive people of all time. Latimers contributions completely changed the way we live, work, and communicate. Galvanize and Hack Reactor Bootcamps are also trying to change the face of Silicon Valley. Dean also holds other key patents related to early models of the IBM PC, released in 1981. She worked on Hulu and Shockwave and is even credited with creating the animation used in GIFs. She was also part of the founding team for the streaming service Hulu. Sample Black civil rights documentaries, dramas, rom-coms, sci-fi, and other film and TV content with these video streaming services. Any history of Black contributions to the field of computer science has to include Roy L. Clay, Sr., the founder and former CEO of ROD-L Electronics, a manufacturer of electrical safety testing equipment. Anyone who has taken part in a Zoom call recently will have come into contact with VoIP technology in some form. Michael Berhane is the founder of POCIT (People of Color in Tech), a resource dedicated to telling the stories of people of color in tech, and host of the Techish podcast. Thats when Bryant founded Black Girls Code, a non-profit designed to encourage black girls to enter the sciences and tech fields by teaching them to code. [] DevTopics - 101 Great Computer Programming Quotes "To iterate is human, to recurse divine." (L. Peter Deutsch) (tags: computers programming recursion culture funny geek quotes) [] Link notes dal 14 1 2008 al 16 1 2008 Sapientone Says: January 16th, 2008 at 8:31 pm. Over decades of work in the telecommunications field, Russell played a large part in getting cell phone communications to where they are today, with numerous patents in the field for innovations like his wireless communication base station and mobile data telephone. A hugely influential figure in modern technology, Clay worked to develop electrical safety testing equipment and has helped others get involved in the tech industry. While there, he proved instrumental in the development of the world'sfirst cartridge-based (read: computerized) video game system(Opens in a new window), the Fairchild Channel F (1976). InfoWorld |. John Henry Thompson is the inventor of the object-oriented Lingo programming language, created primarily for the now-defunct Adobe Director platform. Tony Effik is a managing director at Google, an adjunct professor at Columbia Universitys engineering school, and the co-founder of Black and Brilliant, an organization he founded with his wife Perky Noah-Effik last June. Dean has received numerous honors since then and went on to earn a doctorate from Stanford. Black and Brilliant is dedicated to this mission. Why don't wsearables work as well on dark skin? Before TaskRabbit, Stacy was at Google, where she also worked towards a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Topes story is an inspiring one of overcoming the odds to build a business worth over $50 million in annual revenue without funding. Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls CODE in 2011 to empower girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields. At Xerox PARC in the 1970s and 80s, he pioneered Officetalk, a collaborative office work system that presaged today's frequently used apps, like Google Docs. As a tech educator, Im completely in awe of all that Saron has accomplished (and continues to accomplish), shares Codecademy curriculum developer Mariel. There are literally hundreds of thousands of Blacks and Hispanics with tech-related degrees across the country, many of whom graduated from top programs. Each time you pick up your smartphone, think of Jesse Russell. Black in AI provides mentorship, academic programs, advocacy, events, and community building. HBCUvc envisions a global economy where Black, Indigenous, and Latinx innovators can boldly create, fail, invest, and thrive. Who are the Black programmers and technologists that you admire? It means listening to our expertise and providing long-standing and unwavering financial support for the necessary work.. Shes not only teaching, but shes pushing those around her to think more critically and conscientiously. We talked with Arnav, a Back-End Software Engineer at Delivery Hero, to find out how he made the transition. In the post, Hadiyah shared ways to get involved with HBCUvc and to advance racial equity in VC and tech. I mention this with one purpose in mind: To get those of you in the American Sector of the industry to think about all the nuances of such an interaction. Born in Tennessee in 1957, Mark Dean is a computer scientist, professor, and inventor who was central to the creation of the personal computer. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Eventually, she became just the second black woman to receive a PhD from an American university (Yale, 1949). During his long career at IBM, between 1979 and 2013, Dean worked on the team responsible for bus control systems, including what became the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) that allowed early computers to communicate with external devices. Keep an eye on your inbox! He went on to attend an Operation Spark bootcamp in one of the first cohorts. Additionally, Woods created the troller, which made it possible for trolleys to receive power from overhead wires. Below, youll find just a few of the influential people who made a giant impact on the technology field. And if you're feeling inspired and want to follow in their footsteps, check out our Computer Science career path to start learning the basics of computer science and programming. He also contributed to other industries, specifically film, as well as the medical field. He shared in an interview with Inc., I had a working product, and customers using it, and everyone said no The only thing I could attribute it to was that I was black., Tope grew up in Nigeria and says, Where I grew up, everyone looked like me all of our leaders were black, so color didnt set any limits to my dreaming. Her crowning achievement was contributing to the invention of the Voice over IP (VoIP) protocol in the 1990s. Find out more about how you can support Black Girls CODE here. Answer (1 of 5): Thomas Dolby, who had a big New Wave hit in the 1980s with "She Blinded Me With Science," is also a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who invented the Rich Music Format for downloading audio files and has developed miniature synthesizers used to make ringtones for mobile phones. In addition to serving as Chief Digital Service Officer for the Department of Education under Obama, Gelobter played a part in many of the technologies we use today. He became interested in computers as a teenager when he was tasked with guarding a commercial computer system; having studied the manuals in his spare time, he surprised his employers by solving many technical problems. Thompson used Lingo in one of his better-known computer inventions, Macromedia Director. Charlene is the founder of Coding Black Females one of the largest platforms for black female coders in the UK. Lingo was the primary language for the Adobe Shockwave Platform, which dominated the game and multimedia product market in the 1990s. I had no idea it was this world of imagination and exploration and I only wish that the message of Imagine. Their faces might not be as prominent or well-known as those of white tech pioneers, but their contributions to the industry are no less important. Macromedia Director is able to incorporate different graphic formats (such as . Jesse Russell: Cellular communications Fredrick McKinley Jones: Automatic long-haul truck refrigeration system Jerry Lawson: Fairchild Channel F video game console and cartridge Show 12 more items. Participants strengthen their skills in web development and computer science, make industry connections, and create pathways into high-paying careers. Jovanay, an associate recruiter here at Codecademy shares, I grew up understanding that programming was for men in the dark staring at their computers all day. Now she just has to convince everyone else at her Xochimilco high school to believe . Any history of Black contributions to the field of computer science has to include Roy L. Clay, Sr., the founder and former CEO of ROD-L Electronics, a manufacturer of electrical safety testing. A doctorate holder and one of the world leaders in semiconductor technology, Greene created a patent for an integrated circuit. While there is some racial disparity in university-level computer science classes, there have been enough advances in recent years that its no longer a legitimate excuse. Programmers are some of the hardest working and most influential people. Saron Yitbarek built an inclusive, supportive developer community, CodeNewbie, from scratch. Her supervisor was so impressed he arranged special authorization for Jackson to study engineering in a previously segregated program. This has made it possible for our TVs, PCs, and radios to move leaps and bounds to the modern devices we have today. Alan Turing 1912-1954 This British computer scientist, mathematician and logician is the creator of a Turing machine that simulates computer algorithms. Both men were featured in the June 1985 issue ofBlack Enterprise(above);read the full article on Google Books(Opens in a new window). After graduating, he joined Operation Spark as a software engineer, building the company's proprietary content-delivery system and then teaching as an instructor. She describes her work in an interview with Eyebeam: I am an artist who is interested in creating platforms for ongoing dialog about artificial intelligence as it intersects race, gender, aging, the proliferation of knowledge(s) and our future histories., Stephanies most recent project, Secret Garden, illuminates "the power and resilience in Black women's stories shared across space and time.". List of notable or famous programmers from the United States, with bios and photos, including the top programmers born in the United States and even some popular programmers who immigrated to the United States. There were few if any students who looked like her. James Brown, rightly known as "The Godfather of Soul", went from a poverty-stricken life in the South to an unmatched career as America's blues, funk and soul performer. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. He was the one who originally exposed us to the World Wide Web in 1989 and set up the first successful Internet communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol client and server. In addition to articles and interviews from individuals in the tech industry, POCIT also hosts a recruitment platform, pocitjobs.com, that helps connect people of color with tech jobs. Her father performed any number of odd jobs to keep a roof over the familys heads. In 2016 she decided to build CapWay as a way to provide opportunity for underserved millennials and Gen Z. Charge density waves are important in creating high-temperature superconductors, which have all sorts of technological applications. Most famous programmers in 3 categories: MACHINES 1. HBCUvc supports students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), teaching venture capital and providing funding, mentorship, culturally-affirming curriculum, and access to paid internships at tech and venture capital companies. Since then, he has been involved in several high-tech start-ups in Silicon Valley. In 1982, Dr. Marc Hannah and several other computer scientists founded Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI), a highly influential computer graphics firm that specialized in software and hardware for creating cutting-edge 3D illustrations and effects, especially for films such asJurassic ParkandTerminator 2. Just a few centuries ago machines and other equipment were controlled manually, but today, thanks to . West patented the electret microphone in 1962, and now, it can be found in everything from phones to hearing aids to baby monitors, not to mention a wide array of other devices. Bria describes Tech Stack'd in an interview with POCIT: And Bria managed to create Tech Stackd all while working as a full-time software engineer at Google. Weve come a long way but theres still a long way to go. John Henry Thompson began his career as a self-taught coder. In 2018, Nico Grant of Bloomberg News highlighted the racial disparities in Silicon Valley and the software industry in general. Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Linkedin; Influencers; Brands; Blog; About; FAQ; Contact We use cookies on this website to make it function correctly and to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. The people on this list are from different countries, but what they all have in common is that they're all renowned game programmers. Lisa Gelobter is a computer scientist and technology executive who has a long history of contributions to video technology on the web, including early contributions toward the now-ubiquitous Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). 21 influential black professionals in tech 21 PHOTOS More Stories Employees quit Twitter after Elon Musk gives deadline, reports say Tech Why would a company sue to keep its latest tech from. Sheena Allen is founder and CEO of CapWay, a banking app dedicated to creating financial access and opportunities for everyone. Just know when you purchase produce at the store or order perishables online, Joness work helped make it possible. Find out more about how you can support Black in AI here. He is also a BE Modern Man. GPS is nearly ubiquitous in todays day and age, with applications in everything from travel to weather to the military. By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies. In 1982, he joined pioneering video game developer Activision, where he later became VP of Product Development. Leafing through Walter Isaacsons excellent history of the technology industry, The Innovators, I was struck by the lack of diversity of the inventors, hackers, geniuses, and geeks responsible for the modern computer age. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. One Codecademy Team member shared, The entire organization has inspired me by setting an example of how people in our industries can help others on an individual level, in order to make an impact at a systemic level. Were excited to announce that weve partnered with Black and Brilliant on an Artificial Intelligence Accelerator program, starting March 15, 2021. Dan Farmer - created COPS and Security Administrator Tool for Analyzing Networks (SATAN) Security Scanners Steve Fawkner - created Warlords and Puzzle Quest Stuart Feldman - created make, authored Fortran 77 compiler, part of original group that created Unix David Filo - cocreated Yahoo! Were grateful for the contributions of Black pioneers that have broken barriers and paved the way for more inclusivity and diversity in the tech industry. In 1982, Booker founded his own firm, Vertex Peripherals, which later merged with Priam Corp. He also developed software for the computer. Let us know in the comments. 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Despite living in the Bay Area, they saw few suitable options for a Woman of Color in tech. Through the 1970s and 1980s, West helped program an IBM 7030 Stretch computer to build a highly accurate geodetic model of Earth, which would later form a key part of an early version of GPS. It would be tough to imagine modern games or entertainment without the influence of electrical engineer and computer graphics designer Marc Regis Hannah. Boykins work also helped lead to the implantable pacemaker a medical device thats used by millions to treat heart conditions. She not only uses her platform to educate, but also builds tools that provide access for people to engage and take action towards important social issues. We have a long way to go with making sure we have more black people represented in tech.. He started his career in 1956 programming IBM and Burroughs computers for McDonnell Aircraft. Army and Giovannie are both founding members of Emergent Works (formerly Code Cooperative), a non-profit that disrupts the prison cycle by providing technology education and mentorship to formerly incarcerated individuals. Black and Brilliant is an advocacy network dedicated to upskilling talented people of color and indigenous people. Rod-L Electronics is still in business and sells its testers to many electronic manufacturers. Theyre fighting climate change. I'm a Black programmer and the first hurdle I ran into was not having access or understanding the concept of a computer until I HAD to use one. Sheena recognized a problem: theres not adequate access to banking in marginalized communities. Some people even refer to Lawson as a father of modern gaming. Alice Parker patented a natural gas furnace in 1919. Thanks to the movie Hidden Figures, NASAs Mary Jackson is among the most famous software engineers in history. 7 Black Computer Tech Pioneers You Should Know From Jerry Lawson to Dr. Mark Dean, these Black professionals in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s broke through and succeeded at high-tech firms,. February is Black History Month in the United States a month we honor the important contributions of the Black community throughout history. In the interview, Luvvie Ajayi Jones asks Lyndsey how shes seen her visibility impact young women that want to enter computer science fields. Just because the Oscars are (still) so white doesnt mean your streaming experience should remain that way. While Black people represent 13 percent of the US population overall, in many Silicon Valley companies, only 1 to 2 percent of employees are Black. Gelobter is currently the cofounder and CEO of Tequitable, a platform for employees to address issues of bias, discrimination, and harassment. Tim Berners-Lee: " Tim " Berners-Lee, usually known as " TimBL ," is a British computer scientist who is best known for the HTML, URL, and HTTP technologies. James Brown. In high school in the 1970s, Thompson taught himself several programming languages, such as FORTRAN, PLI, COBOL, and JCL. Stephanie Dinkins is a transmedia artist and professor. Still in use today, VoIP allows voice communications and multimedia to be transmitted over Internet Protocol (IP) networks instead of over traditional telephone networks. Bria is such an inspiration to all who want to create the change they want to see in the tech industry, says Roger, a Codecademy software engineer. Top 10 African Americans in the Video Game Industry Andrew Augustin Augustin is the founder and creative director of Notion Games L.L.C.. Tech especially cutting edge tech is often imagined to be this rising tide that lifts all boats. In 2014 she launched We Read Too, an app for discovering books for young readers written by and about people of color. His enthusiasm and joy around technology is contagious to those around him, which I think is what makes him a great teacher and coworker. Unfortunately, that limits people and can hinder the idea that they can do whatever they want.. Needless to say, our homes are now much more comfortable thanks to her revolutionary concept. These individuals represent 18.8 percent of degree holders. Life may have been tough, but Granville fell in love with school, where she graduated as valedictorian. Larry Page By no means is this a complete list; there are many more out there, and I encourage those of you interested in the subject to keep researching this vital corner of Black history after you're done reading here. Using the Alto and Dorado machines, and the Cedar database and programming environment, we have devised a system that allows the flexible manipulation of electronic forms on the display screen of users and helps to coordinate and control the flow of forms between user workstations, said the original OfficeTalk notes from 1982, coauthored by Ellis. Stacy Brown-Philpot is the former CEO of TaskRabbit and was one of the few Black women CEOs in Silicon Valley. Granville Woods invented quite a few devices, including a telephone-telegraph hybrid that allowed people to speak over telegraph wires. Penned The Godfather of Silicon Valley, Clay was born in a small Missouri town and was raised in a home with no indoor plumbing. Our origins are rooted in Blackness and the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which forged education opportunities for us in a time when our country would not, Hadiyah wrote in a Medium post last year. 4. Jerry's story was also recently highlighted in an audiobook as well as a Google Doodle(Opens in a new window). Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Frank S. Greene, an electrical engineer, inventor, teacher, and advocate, was a Silicon Valley powerhouse. During the company's 7-year history, so many people of color have been able to find careers in tech through Operation Spark and Harvey has been an enormous part of the company's success. So without further ado, here we present the 12 greatest programmers of all time: 12. Next time you turn on your lights, answer a call, hop on social media, or order something online, keep in mind how one of these inventors helped pave the way for our modern tech conveniences. He also wrote the software for the 2116A as well. Harvey was integral in launching YEPs bike shop to provide underserved youth with real job experience, and served as the Assistant Director of the Work and Learn Program where he taught young people in New Orleans the basics of front-end web development. Sponsored item title goes here as designed, IT career roadmap: Database administrator, Black developers tell how the US tech industry could do better, Also on InfoWorld: Black developers tell how the US tech industry could do better, new generation of Black developers to come to the fore, long history of contributions to video technology, How to choose a low-code development platform. John Henry Thompson As an engineering student at Vanderbilt University in the 1980s, Kimberly Bryant felt isolated. To get you started learning about this critical piece of history, here is a list of 15 famous Black photographers you should know about. Lingo had been a key language in the development of Shockwave and other multimedia formats. The technology wouldnt be possible, however, without the contributions of Gladys West. Timnit Gebru is a computer scientist, advocate for diversity in tech, and co-founder of Black in AI, an initiative geared towards increasing the presence of Black people in the field of artificial intelligence. Create. was shared with me at such an impressionable age.. There were 300+ developers of differing cultural back grounds and ethnicity all around us, but apparently seeing a black man -in the building- unsettled him. He also worked on its computer attachment, the Imagination Machine, which competed with products from Apple and Atari in the late 1970s. In 1982, Hannah, along with Jim Clark and five others, co-founded Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI). A mathematician and programmer, West programmed a computer to give calculations for a geodetic earth model, which helped make GPS possible. Her work has made and continues to make a case for the critical importance of diversity in fields like AI, and exposes the limits of the kinds of technological progress that don't consider the lived experiences of marginalized people., Rebecca, a senior software engineer on our team says, I'm inspired by her perseverance in fighting for a higher standard for ethics in AI, standing up for what's right, and lifting up other underrepresented voices in the tech industry.. February may be Black History Month, but in reality, we should always celebrate the inventors who changed the world with their ideas, hard work, and dedication. Still, as compared to the percentage of the population, Black People and People of Color are underrepresented. In 1982, Hannah, along with Jim Clark and five others, co-founded Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI). Shes also the CEO and founder of Tech Stackd. Acquired by the DEV Community last year, CodeNewbie offers a wide range of resources, including a Twitter chat, an annual conference, podcasts, and more. Many tech companies, including Facebook, Amazon, and Apple, publicly back reform by donating to social justice groups such as Black Lives Matter. Brad Fitzpatrick - created memcached, Livejournal and OpenID When you think of famous programmers, Linus Torvald should be one of the first that comes to mind! All Rights Reserved. During her time at Adobe, Gelobter led the Shockwave and Flash Player product teams. While everybody uses software products and platforms, programmers rarely get to see the spotlight in the same way as famous celebrities and CEOs. The inspiring programmers and technologists on this list were nominated by members of the Codecademy team. Lyndsey Scott is an actress, model, app developer, and advocate for women and minorities in tech. Gebru correctly identified that, however well-intentioned technologists may be, the products they create tend to carry and, in the worst cases, magnify the biases they hold, shared Devin, an associate product designer here at Codecademy. The whole point of building this company was to build a full ecosystem for people who have been left on the outside of traditional banking, Sheena shares in an interview with Essence. The mission of Tech Stackd is to help underrepresented software developers and non-technical entrepreneurs advance their careers in tech through workshops, courses, and a supportive community. The Codecademy team has found inspiration in the way Sheena has taken her skills and experience and turned it into something that is making real change in the world, bettering the financial prosperity of underprivileged communities. 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