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Meet The First 2 Black Women To Be Inducted Into The National Inventors Hall Of Fame

Dr. Patricia Bath transformed cataract surgery and fought to eradicate preventable blindness. Marian Croak pioneered the technology behind audio and video conferencing and text-to-donate services.
<strong></strong>Engineer Marian Croak (left) and ophthalmologist Dr. Patricia Bath (right) are the first Black women to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in its nearly 50-year history.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame has been around for nearly five decades, but hasn't included any Black women in its ranks — until now.

Engineer Marian Croak and the late ophthalmologist Dr. Patricia Bath will make history as part of the next cohort of inductees, the nonprofit announced this past week. They are the first Black female inventors to receive this honor, which has been bestowed on some 600 other innovators both living and dead.

A spokesperson told NPR over email that there are 48 female inductees and 30 Black inductees in the hall of fame.

"Innovation drives. "It's why at the National Inventors Hall of Fame we are privileged to honor our country's most significant inventors, who are giving the next generation the inspiration to innovate, create, and solve current and future problems."

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