Lewis Latimer, an African-American inventor, was a key figure in the development of electric lighting. Latimer taught himself mechanical drawing while working at a patent office and contributed significantly to the improvement of the incandescent light bulb by inventing a longer-lasting carbon filament.
Latimer also worked with prominent inventors, including Alexander Graham Bell, for whom he helped draft the telephone patent, and Thomas Edison, as a member of Edison’s engineering team. In addition to his technical contributions, Latimer was an advocate for diversity in science and technology. His legacy as a trailblazer in engineering and innovation remains an inspiration to this day. “We create our future, by well improving present opportunities: however few and small they are” (Thoughtco.com)
