Franklin's paper the statesman. (Denver, Colo.), 05 Nov. 1909. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91052311/1909-11-05/ed-1/seq-6/
Historically, narratives surrounding inventors have been centered around white men. Learning about Black female innovators such as Johnson helps students challenge a traditionally limited perspective, leading to the erasure of this racial and gender injustice. Students need to see that innovation comes from diverse people. By learning about diverse innovators, students can see themselves reflected in these figures.
It is also important for students to see that innovation comes from an idea to improve daily life and/or solve real-world problems. Although Johnson was not formally educated, she still solved a real-world problem that improved daily life. She did so without thinking about fame or fortune.
Founded in 1888 and published in Denver, the Statesman was a weekly paper that served the African American community in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and New Mexico. The paper acted as a channel through which its readers could "voice their opinions, assert their rights, and demand their due recognition." The newspaper reported local, church, and society news and events, as well as national stories that would be of particular interest to African Americans residing in the Mountain West. The publication also featured op-eds about interracial marriage, Jim Crow Laws, and segregation. (Library of Congress. n.d. Review of About Franklin’s Paper the Statesman. (Denver, Colo.) 1906–1912. Library of Congress. Chronicling America. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91052311/.)
- “Afro-American Woman Inventor” is the top-left article of this page of The Statesman and includes an image of Chloe Etta Johnson. Johnson invented a trunk organizer which is also pictured in the article, for which she won an award. Johnson mentions that her parents (deceased at the time of the article) had been enslaved. She also states she has not had a formal education. The article shows that she is imaginative and savvy as she describes how she came up with the idea for the trunk organizer.
- In 1909, Jim Crow laws were still in effect. These laws severely restricted opportunities for Black people in the United States and included segregation in schools and all public places. This systemic racism likely limited Johnson’s access to education and resources.
- Black women are grossly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. This article on Johnson highlights an unconventional inventor who played a role in changing how people travel. To this day, there are suitcase organizers built into luggage and trunks, although she is not credited with their invention.
- How did her invention improve the lives of people who used it?
- What challenges did Chloe Etta Johnson likely face as a Black woman inventor in 1909?
- How did Chloe Etta Johnson’s invention contribute to the efficiency of transportation?
- Why is it important to learn about Black female inventors such as Chloe Etta Johnson?
- How does Chloe Etta Johnson’s story challenge stereotypes about inventors and innovators?
New Mexico Adopted Content Standards
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Reading |
History/Social Sciences, Science, and Technical Subjects |
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RI.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI.7.2: Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
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RH.9-10.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
RH.11-12.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
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- Students could use Johnson as a starting point to learn about other female and/or people of color innovators of the same era. They could also research more about Johnson’s invention or her life. This could lead to a presentation of their findings.
- Students could write a fictional journal entry from the perspective of someone who used her invention in 1909.
- Many people are unaware of the contributions of diverse innovators, and some may not see the importance of including them in the classroom. Others may believe that learning about underrepresented groups can be divisive and promote feelings of guilt or resentment.
- Parents and/or administrators may prefer a traditional curriculum that focuses on established narratives and may resist efforts to diversify the curriculum by including marginalized groups. There is a growing movement against the teaching of critical race theory and so-called “woke” ideology in schools. This mislabeling of diversity teaching can lead to objections to any lessons that explore issues of race, gender, and social injustice.
Links to resources for approaching those topics
- Teaching Everyone: Addressing Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in the STEM Classroom. A guide for what STEM can and should look like for different students.
- 4 Ways to Make STEM Classrooms More Inclusive. An Edutopia guide on including girls and students of color in STEM.
- Diversity in STEM: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Do We Increase It? Article from a Black female PhD student on the importance of diversity in STEM.
- Supporting Underrepresented Groups in STEM: Actionable Steps and Insights. Teaching resource for supporting marginalized students in STEM.
- American Indian and African American students at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Va., 1900(?) - men and women in chemistry lab. This image shows men and women of color in the 1900s in a chemistry lab.
- Clara Barton Tells Her Own Story of Red Cross Triumphs. 1904 Washington Times story on Clara Barton, the founder and first president of the American Red Cross.
- Women In STEM. A web resource from the Obama administration. The website is frozen in time and is no longer updated, but many links still work.
- Women in Science and Technology: Resource Guide. Library of Congress resource guide. This resource guide mainly houses books but is robust with females to study in STEM.
- Diversity and STEM. Resources and reports from the National Science Foundation.