Black inventors in AI: Shaping the Future of Technology Exhibition

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By: Courtney Kerr

Black History month has come to an end, but at the Black Inventors Museum they celebrate year round. Their latest exhibit, “Black Inventors in AI: Shaping the Future of Technology” ran between February 21-23 and February 28-March 2, 2025 at Brooklyn City Point. This multimedia presentation is a tribute to Black inventors and innovators internationally.

“The Black Inventors Exhibit is for everyone — all age groups and ethnicities,” said James Ince, the curator.  “It graciously complements all science and American history curricula, while promoting positive images in those who seek to learn about the discoveries and challenges of these great inventors.”

While the museum was founded 29 years ago in western Massachusetts, this is the first exhibit it has hosted in New York City. Their last weekend in the city, the exhibit also featured a book signing for Keith C. Holmes´ book, Black Inventors, Crafting Over 200 Years of Success as well as a children’s workshop.

The museum’s goal, as Ince describes it, is to celebrate history and inspire future generations — promoting racial understanding as well as providing a new motivation for learning. The exhibits reveal many interesting facts, and highlight the accomplishments of Black inventors in the fields of science, aerospace, communication, health care, agriculture, transportation and engineering. Over 175 inventions are represented in a collection which includes patents designs, personal letters, rare photographs and brief biographies of Black inventors. 

The exhibit featured inventors like Lonnie Johnson, the creator of the super soaker water gun, which has generated well over $200 million dollars in retail sales and continues to be a top seller. Elsewhere was Sarah Goode, the first Black woman to be granted a patent by the U.S Patent and Trademark Office for her invention the cabinet bed, in 1885. Another figure was Dr. Shirley-Ann Jackson, who was the first African-American woman to acquire a Ph.D. from the M.I.T and is the woman who made Caller ID and call waiting possible. Lastly, Emmet McHenry’s innovation and vision helped shape the internet’s infrastructure, which has paved the way for the growth of the digital economy and global connectivity we have today. 

While their recent run has ended, the Black Inventors Museum defines themselves as a “traveling museum,” meaning that the exhibit can still be booked for events across the United States and internationally. They are therefore available in a lot of places where this information wouldn’t be shared or taught normally. Their exhibits have been featured at educational conferences, cultural expos, professional conventions, and corporate diversity programs.

You can find all their information about upcoming events and exhibits on https://blackinventorsmuseum.com/lab

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