Genius in black
Benjamin, the main character in 15 Lines is based on Benjamin Banneker, a Black mathematician, planner and inventor who was a member of the team that surveyed the original area for what would later become Washington DC. He wasn’t the only one! Learn more about some of them below:
Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 19, 1806) was an American naturalist, mathematician, astronomer, and almanac author. A free Black man and landowner, Banneker helped survey the territory that would become Washington, D.C. in 1791. His mastery of astronomy powered a commercially successful series of almanacs, and he corresponded boldly with Thomas Jefferson on the issue of slavery — including Jefferson's own personal involvement.
Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1859) was the first African American to receive a U.S. patent. Working as a tailor and businessman in New York City, Jennings invented a process for cleaning delicate clothing known as "dry-scouring" — a forerunner to modern dry cleaning. He applied for a patent in 1820 and received his history-making approval the following year.
Lewis Latimer (September 4, 1848 – December 11, 1928) was an American inventor and patent draftsman whose contributions helped shape the modern world. His inventions included an evaporative air conditioner, an improved process for manufacturing carbon filaments for electric light bulbs, and an improved toilet system for railroad cars. Latimer held several patents related to electric lighting and served as a patent consultant to Edison Electric, which later merged with Thomson-Houston Electric to form General Electric.
Elijah McCoy (May 2, 1844 – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-American engineer who revolutionized industrial machinery with his invention of automatic lubrication systems for steam engines. Over his lifetime he obtained as many as 57 patents — most related to lubrication, but also including a folding ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. His oil-drip cup became so trusted that engineers would specifically ask whether a locomotive was fitted with "the real McCoy system" — a phrase widely credited as the origin of the popular expression meaning the genuine article.
Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – July 27, 1963) was an American inventor, businessman, and community leader. His most notable inventions include a protective smoke hood, which he personally used to rescue workers trapped in a tunnel construction disaster in 1916, and a three-way traffic signal patented in 1923 — a precursor to the modern traffic light. Morgan also developed a hair-straightening cream and other pioneering hair-care products.
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