Introducing Youth to the Lives of Great Black Scientists

By D. Kevin McNeirThe Afro | Word In BlackThis post was originally published on Afro (WIB) – History is full of amazing Black scientists whose lives and accomplishments have routinely been ignored and forgotten because of their race and gender. But being overlooked doesn’t mean they have not had a profound impact on the world because of their talent, imagination and courage. In fact, their stories represent not only tales of personal triumph but also confirm the impact that an openness to diversity can have in propelling scientific discovery and progress to new heights. To shed light on the lives of great but lesser-known Black scientists and innovators, award-winning author Tonya Bolden and illustrator David Wilkerson have collaborated and recently published “Black Lives: Great Minds of Science.”This fun and accessible graphic novel for middle grade readers serves as a kid-friendly introduction to some of the greatest scientists in history – Black men and women who were doctors, engineers, mathematicians and biologists. While each of them faced challenges, they refused to give up or back down, rising to the top of their professions and making significant contributions along the way.Bolden, who began her career writing book reviews for Black Enterprise before...