How did I miss this when it was first written? I grew up in Washington, DC, and I had a thorough grounding in Black inventors. Thanks for re-introdoucing the brilliant Lewis Latimer to (not nearly enough) readers. I read this essay with trepidation, because I presumed there would be a truckload of haters determined to characterize you as exaggerating, or inventing, another example of Black achievement. I was surprised to find none. I was also disappointed that this hasn't gotten readership. As you can see by today's comments, it's never too late!