Forgotten Genius is the title of a NOVA Documentary about one of the great black scientist of the 20th century; Percy Lavon Julian*(1899-1975). It is aptly titled for a man who created drugs to treat glaucoma as well as arthritis just to name a few. Did you know that during his lifetime he owned more than 100 chemical patents? He also became the first black chemist to direct a chemical research laboratory when he was hired by Glidden in 1936, unheard of for a black man during that time. He was awarded 18 honorary degrees and membership to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences—only the second African-American bestowed such an honor. Percy’s life was not without struggles especially in obtaining an education. When there was no high school for him to attend in his native Alabama he did two years at a teacher training school for African-Americans but when he was admitted to DePauw University in Indiana that education was considered inadequate and Julian had to take remedial courses along with his regular college courses. No matter because in four years he graduated valedictorian of his class. Julian’s brilliance met roadblock after roadblock mostly because of the color of his skin but he prevailed against the odds and mentored dozens of young black chemists.

*Source: Extraordinary Black Americans from Colonial to Contemporary Times
by Susan Altman

Posted by the NON-Conformist and Libergirl