What would you’ve been with no position mannequin? What would you’ve executed had you not identified your profession path was even an choice? The solutions to those profession and life-defining questions typically come all the way down to publicity, entry, and whether or not or not we may image ourselves doing one thing within the first place. I doubt there are numerous readers on right here who are usually not often awe-inspired by the unimaginable work of the inventors we’re lucky to know and serve. There are few nobler or extra necessary professions. Whereas we already know this and probably take that data without any consideration, our future is determined by as many children as potential – from as many backgrounds as potential – being impressed by, and personally figuring out with, this world-shaping path. Our particular visitor on this month’s episode of Patently Strategic, James Howard, is taking up that problem.
What They See, They Will Be
James Howard is the Government Director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame. His wide-ranging background contains expertise as a university professor, design historian, entrepreneur, industrial designer, inventor, filmmaker, and restauranteur. Howard is an achieved inventor with 20 patents, a number of of which we talk about cowl improvements that save individuals’s lives every day.
His life’s work is now culminating in his mission of bringing a broad and detailed consciousness to the necessary work of African American inventors, artists, and innovators who’ve impressed and cast forward towards great odds and adversity. In creating the Black Inventors Corridor of Fame, James hopes to have a spot the place children of all ages and persuasions can go and be impressed to develop into the subsequent technology of scientists, engineers, medical doctors, and inventors. Like Lonnie Johnson (inventor of the Tremendous Soaker) says in considered one of Howard’s documentaries we talk about, “What they see, they are going to be.”
Episode Overview
James and I cowl a variety of matters, together with:
- His origin story as an inventor and the way his innovations are inspiring his grandkids on their very own innovation journeys.
- The genesis and motivation for the Black Inventors Corridor of Fame.
- What recommendation he provides to these newer to inventing.
- Greatest learnings from the greats featured in his Black Inventors Bought Sport
- What we needs to be doing to help and encourage right this moment’s youth and the subsequent technology of inventors.
- In honor of Black Historical past Month, we talk about some black inventors whose innovations assist form every day life however aren’t but family names.
BIHOF Origin Story
The Black Inventors Hall of Fame is presently a virtual museum and serves as a platform for telling the story of gifted African American innovators. As soon as Howard’s imaginative and prescient is totally realized (slated for 2026), the Corridor of Fame will likely be a 38,000-square-foot facility and the one museum within the nation devoted solely to immortalizing the pioneering genius of African American inventors from the previous 400 years.
The thought’s genesis stems from two vital moments when Howard realized that too many necessary tales have been going untold. The primary time was standing in line at a grocery store and selecting up a Time Journal particular problem referred to as America’s High 100 Inventors. He noticed all of the faces you’d count on to see on the duvet, however whereas flipping by way of the listing inside, he couldn’t discover a single black inventor. This caught with him and bothered him deeply for the next 4 years. Flash ahead to the opening of the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition in DC. Obama’s there, celebrities are there, and all types of public officers are all praising the museum. And for 3 hours, the storyline is about acknowledging the enslaved previous, the Civil Rights previous, the sports activities previous, and the leisure previous, however not a single phrase is talked about concerning the illustrious ingenious and innovation previous. He was decided that night time to do one thing about it. He was quickly at work, laying the inspiration for the Black Inventors Corridor of Fame.
The Generational Spark
Past inventing vital life-saving applied sciences like the primary ever single-use, disposable neonatal stress aid valve and a bunch of cardiovascular supply programs, James has a number of innovations in his portfolio that you just would possibly see at any public enterprise, together with merchandise starting from the paper towel dispensers used at most Dunkin’ Donuts areas throughout the nation to the first-ever entry management lock that includes a handbook override. Whereas visiting his daughter in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, he took his grandkids out for his or her first Christmas present of the season and noticed his patented entry management lock at a Barnes & Noble. After getting a fast image with the children (who didn’t know Grandpa was an inventor), all of them turned engrossed with curiosity and questions on what it meant to invent. The story that follows is extremely heartwarming, will culminate quickly in a pitch competitors for a brand-new board recreation, and serves as an distinctive instance of the inspiration that may occur while you make invention tangible.
Mossoff Minute: Masimo v. Apple and the Media
On this month’s Mossoff Minute, Professor Adam Mossoff discusses how there’s a pirate residing in your Apple Watch and why the media’s protection of Apple’s predatory infringement of Masimo’s patents is lacking the mark. We’re additionally publishing excerpts as short-form videos on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.
Associated Listening and Studying
To additional discover the matters mentioned, see the next past episodes and assets:
- Black Inventors Hall of Fame. A digital museum (quickly to be bodily) that serves as a platform for telling the story of gifted African American innovators.
- BIGG documentary: The Gathering. James Howard’s documentary about 4 African American inventors and their groundbreaking contributions to the toy and recreation trade.
- Tech Boy. 12-year-old DeJuan Strickland wrote the e-book James talked about to encourage youth by exhibiting them the superpowers of STEM.
- Inventor Stories Vol. 1. This episode with James is our second (of many extra to return!) targeted on inventor tales. The primary encompasses a sit down with three very revolutionary, up-and-coming inventors, all winners of our annual RISE Award.
