Details the life of Percy Lavon Julian and his accomplishments which made him one of the greatest chemists of the 20th century.

For the best story (enactment) of the life of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, the greatest African-American chemist of the 20th century, google PBS NOVA "Forgotten Genius" YouTube. The present book is a good bibliography and sourcebook, with 48 photographs and illustrations, many in color.

Meet the black inventors who lived their dreams--from the early years to modern times Benjamin Banneker Andrew Jackson Beard George E. Carruthers, Ph.D. George Washington Carver Michael Croslin, Ph.D. David Nelson Crosthwait Jr. Charles Richard Drew, M.D. Meredith Gourdine, Ph.D. Claude Harvard Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Frederick McKinley Jones Percy Lavon Julian, Ph.D. Ernest Everett Just, Ph.D. Lewis Howard Latimer Jan Earnst Matzeliger Elijah McCoy Benjamin Montgomery John P. Moon Garrett Augustus Morgan Norbert Rillieux Earl D. Shaw, Ph.D. Madame C. J. Walker Daniel Hale Williams, M.D. Granville T. Woods Jane Cooke Wright, M.D. For more than three centuries, African American inventors have been coming up with ingenious ideas. In fact, it is impossible to really know American history without also learning about the contributions of black discoverers. This collection brings their stories to life. In every era, black inventors have made people's lives safer, more comfortable, more convenient, and more profitable. This inspiring, comprehensive collection shines history's spotlight on these courageous inventors and discoverers. One by one, they persevered, despite prejudice and obstacles to education and training. These stories show you how: Benjamin Montgomery, born a slave, invented a propeller that improved steamboat navigation. Jan Earnst Matzeliger, the son of a Dutch engineer, invented a machine that revolutionized the shoe manufacturing industry. Madame C. J. Walker, born two years after the Civil War emancipated her parents, invented a product that helped make her a millionaire. Dr. George E. Carruthers, an astrophysicist, invented the lunar surface ultraviolet camera/spectrograph for Apollo 16. Dr. Jane Cooke Wright, a third-generation physician and pioneer in the field of cancer research discovered a method for testing which drugs to use to fight specific cancers. Dr. Wright became the first woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society and the first African American woman to serve as dean of a medical college. This outstanding collection brings to light these and dozens of other exciting and surprising tales of inventors and discoverers who lived their dreams.

Percy Julian discovered medicines. Shirley Jackson studied atoms. George Washington Carver discovered ways to help farmers. Read about these great scientists and more!

Since 1619, when Africans first came ashore in the swampy Chesapeake region of Virginia, there have been many individuals whose achievements or strength of character in the face of monumental hardships have called attention to the genius of the African American people. This book attempts to distill from many wonderful possibilities the 100 most outstanding examples of greatness. Pioneering scholar of African American Studies Molefi Kete Asante has used four criteria in his selection: the individual''s significance in the general progress of African Americans toward full equality in the American social and political system; self-sacrifice and the demonstration of risk for the collective good; unusual will and determination in the face of the greatest danger or against the most stubborn odds; and personal achievement that reveals the best qualities of the African American people. In adopting these criteria Professor Asante has sought to steer away from the usual standards of popular culture, which often elevates the most popular, the wealthiest, or the most photogenic to the cult of celebrity. The individuals in this book - examples of lasting greatness as opposed to the ephemeral glare of celebrity fame - come from four centuries of African American history. Each entry includes brief biographical information, relevant dates, an assessment of the individual''s place in African American history with particular reference to a historical timeline, and a discussion of his or her unique impact on American society. Numerous pictures and illustrations will accompany the articles. This superb reference work will complement any library and be of special interest to students and scholars of American and African American history.