1/ Please read this thread to the end.

Do you recognise this man?

I am sure that you have heard of Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone.

I know you have heard of Thomas Edison who invented the lightbulb.

But without this gentleman, neither would have existed.

2/ Lewis Howard Latimer (1848 - 1928) was an American inventor and draftsman who was the son of former slaves who was raised in Boston, Massachusetts.

3/ Despite his humble beginnings, Mr Latimer managed to get into the navy and after an honourable discharge managed to get himself a job as an office boy at a patents office Crosby Halstead and Gould.

Latimer taught himself how to use a set-square, ruler and other tools.

4/ His boss impressed with his skill, quickly promoted him to become head draftsman at the firm.

A draftsman would be akin to a designer often sketching the technical drawings that would allow the idea to be manufactured.

5/ A draftsman had exceptional technical knowledge and usually would have the final say if an idea would work and could get a patent to protect it.

6/ Latimer reputation grew and in 1876 was employed by Alexander Graham Bell to be the chief draftsman to draw and test the idea of the telephone.

Meanwhile, in 1890, Thomas Edison was working on the lightbulb.

7/ Edison indeed managed to create a lightbulb but the filament that was used to light it was made out of bamboo, paper or thread and had a very short lifespan.

Impressed by Latimer's knowledge of electrical engineering, Edison hired him to solve this problem.

8/ Latimer invented the carbon filament that made the bulb last longer and made it commercially viable. This was the breakthrough that Edison was looking for and the lightbulb took the world by storm.

9/ In fact, Latimer in 1890 would write a book on the subject "Incandescent Electric Lighting" which was the first-ever book on the subject.

But I was never taught this in school. Do you know when I found out about this?

2 days ago.

10/ When the former cricketer Michael Holding gave his passionate speech on George Floyd on Sky News and he spoke about Education. Latimer's contributions helped to shape our modern world.

But the key question is:

Why was Mr Latimer's name never mentioned?

11/ My point is this: Black history is not only slavery, civil rights and apartheid. Black history is human history.

12/ As Mr Holding said, it is important that ALL history is taught and not just certain aspects because that is what will create better understanding and upliftment for EVERYONE.

13/ It's important that our society and our school curriculum reflects the greatness of the unsung heroes like Lewis Latimer and many others that don't have a platform. This will give the younger generations pride and purpose.

14/ And lastly, if we finally do this right, then we can say 'All Lives Matter.'

Thank you for reading.

#BLM