In Chicago, 1923, J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. was born to parents J. Earnest and Lucille B. Wilkins. Both of his parents were highly accomplished individuals in their own right. His father was an attorney who eventually became the first African American to serve in a sub-Cabinet position as assistant Secretary of Labor in the Eisenhower…
Category: STEM Like Me
STEM Like Me Stories: Patricia Bath
Patricia Bath was born in 1942 in Harlem to Rubert and Gladys Bath. Both parents added wonder and support to Dr. Bath’s eventual success. According to Bath, “My father was a MacGyver type Dad with extraordinary mathematical skills and my Mom loved sewing and art. So, I and my brother Rupert got a STEAM head…
STEM Like Me Stories: Elijah McCoy
Elijah McCoy was born in 1844 (or 1843) a free man in Ontario, Canada to George and Mildred McCoy who escaped enslavement in Kentucky, USA by way of the Underground Railroad. Eventually, at the age of 11, he and his family moved back to the U.S. and settled in Michigan where his father became a…
Grant Imahara: STEM Like Me Stories Tribute
On July 13, 2020 Grant Imahara died from a brain aneurism at the age of 49. Imahara exemplified one of the worst kept secrets about STEM careers: STEM IS FUN!!! He was born in Los Angeles and went to the University of Southern California earning a BS in electrical engineering. Imahara’s passion was robotics and…
Euphemia Lofton Haynes
Raised in a well-established family in Washington D.C. offered Dr. (Martha) Euphemia Lofton Haynes many benefits not common for African Americans in the early 20th century. A look into her life of achievements shows that not only did she take advantage of these rare opportunities, particularly in her education, but she also strived to make…