⚙️ Black Inventors Week – Technology & Innovation

“Standing Firm in Power and Pride”

Celebrating the Minds That Shaped the Future

Technology drives our world forward — and many of its biggest leaps were sparked by Black innovators whose creativity pushed the boundaries of possibility. From computers to gaming, from space travel to everyday devices, these pioneers helped design the digital world we live in today.

As we celebrate Black Inventors Week, Vibrant Radio salutes the tech trailblazers whose brilliance continues to inspire the next generation of creators.

💻 Mark Dean – The Modern Computer Architect

Dr. Mark Dean is one of the founding fathers of personal computing.
At IBM, he co-invented the ISA bus system, which allowed computers to communicate with printers, modems, and monitors — transforming how we work and connect. He also helped develop the first colour PC monitor and the original IBM PC.

💡 Did You Know?
Mark Dean holds three of the nine original patents for the IBM PC, and later led the design of a gigahertz microprocessor — a chip capable of one billion calculations per second.

🎮 Jerry Lawson – The Father of Modern Gaming

Before downloadable content and USB ports, Jerry Lawson revolutionized gaming by inventing the first video game cartridge system.
In the 1970s, as an engineer at Fairchild Semiconductor, Lawson led the team that created the Fairchild Channel F, allowing players to swap games easily — a breakthrough that paved the way for Nintendo and PlayStation.

💡 Did You Know?
Jerry Lawson was one of the only Black engineers in Silicon Valley during his time and founded his own gaming company, VideoSoft, which developed games for the Atari 2600.

🚀 Dr. Gladys West – Mapping the World with GPS

If you’ve ever used Google Maps, you owe a thank-you to Dr. Gladys West.
Her mathematical models of the Earth were essential to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS), now used in navigation, smartphones, and even space exploration.

💡 Did You Know?
Dr. West worked at the U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory for over 40 years, quietly building the technology that helps guide billions of people every day.

🌍 The Power of Innovation

From circuit boards to game consoles to GPS satellites, these inventors built the framework of our digital age. Their genius reminds us that innovation knows no colour — but representation matters.

As we look to the future of AI, robotics, and digital design, we celebrate the Black innovators whose brilliance still powers our everyday lives.