People
- Internationally recognized for her work in aeronautics and systems engineering
- First black woman to hold position of CEO of The Aerospace Corporation
- Co-founder of MakingSpace, Inc., a systems engineering and leadership development consultant
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Inventor of the lubricating oil cup that allowed railroad steam engines to be lubricated without stopping the train
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The saying “the real McCoy” is sometimes attributed to McCoy’s lubricating cup, but the phrase’s true origin is unknown
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Filed 57 U.S. patents, producing more patents than any other black inventor of his time
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First black student to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1948
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First black member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
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One of the founders of the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers (NCCBPE)
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Played a critical part in developing the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES), a protocol for the exchange of digital information on CAD/CAM systems
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Served as Vice President of information systems and architecture at Boeing in 1991
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Named Black Engineer of the Year in 1995
History
Throughout history, Black engineers have been at the forefront of many engineering and technological advancements, although many often went unrecognized for their contributions. These engineers and innovators have made invaluable contributions to our society, from the creation of the induction telegraph to the development of the modern-day traffic light. From transportation to communication, Black engineers and innovators have led the way in developing groundbreaking technology that has changed how we live and work.
This article looks at some of the most notable Black engineers throughout history and the engineering developments they played a critical role in.
Learning Modules/Resources
Confronting Anti-Black Racism e-learning course
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism is excited to launch an e-learning course called Confronting Anti-Black Racism. This course is based on Dr. Christopher Taylor’s Arts130 course that ran in Fall 2020. Thanks to Dr. Taylor’s generosity, this course is now available to all Waterloo students, faculty and staff and is an opportunity for (un)learning and gaining tools to better take anti-racist action in our own lives, at work, home and in our communities.
Moving from Bias to Inclusion (INC123)
Understanding our implicit biases is an essential step in developing an inclusive mindset. This online self-paced course describes some of the most common unconscious biases and how to recognize them in the workplace. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own biases and the importance of being inclusive when making decisions.
Community Events
- CCAWR – Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region - BLACK HISTORY, BLACK HERITAGE, BLACK ACHIEVEMENT (3 day event, livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube)
- CCAWR February 2023 List of Events
- BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023 LAUNCH
- Black Presence in Berlin (History Walking Tour in Downtown Kitchener, happening Spring/Summer 2023)
Support
There are so many phenomenal Black-owned businesses you can support in your community. For a listing of Black-owned businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, check out the ACB network.
For other Black History Month events happening on campus, please take a look at the University's Black History Month page.