Legendary Greats
Dr. Patricia Bath Dr. Patricia Bath who was born November 4th 1942, invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment in 1986. Throughout her life she has been a trailblazer of firsts, breaking new ground for African Americans and women. Her parents Robert Bath and Gladys Bath early on taught her about the value of education, travel and more. In fact her father, a former merchant marine, was the first black motorman for the New York City subway system and her mother, a housewife, worked to ensure her children received a good education. Dr. Bath attended Hunter College, then Howard University then on to Columbia for Ophthalmology. It was while at Columbia that she discovered that African Americans were twice as likely to suffer from blindness than other patients she treated, and 8 times more likely to develop glaucoma. Her research prompted her to develop a community ophthalmology system that increased the amount of eye care given to those who couldn’t afford treatment. Continuing her education Dr. Bath was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology in 1973. Two years later, she became the first female faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. In 1976, Dr. Bath co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, which established that “eyesight is a basic human right.” In 1986, Dr. Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe(laser surgery) improving treatment for cataract patients giving sight back to thousands. She patented the device in 1988, becoming the first African American female doctor to receive a special medical patent. Throughout her lifetime she had a total of 5 patents and was called “ The woman who changed the world”. In 2009 during the Obama Administration, her advocacy for the blind was recognized by President Barack Obama, who appointed her to his commission for digital accessibility for the blind. Dr. Bath stated that staying optimistic and paving the way for future generations is what helped her to overcome hurdles throughout her career. This legendary great passed away in 2019 leaving the legacy of sight to millions of people.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia on January 15th 1929 as Michael Luther King Jr. He later changed his name to Martin. Martin He was born into a legacy of ministry and activism. He was a 3rd generation minister following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. Who knew that Martin would go on to become one of the most influential, prominent and celebrated American civil rights activists in history. Easily recognizable as one of the greats of history leading African Americans and the nation through the Civil Rights Movement fighting against segregation, labor rights, the right to vote, poverty, and other basic civil rights from the mid-1950s to his death by assassination in 1968. Not only was Dr. King a Civil Rights Leader and Baptist Minister, he was a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, the first President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), husband and father. His wife Coretta Scott King was also an ever-present figure and supporter of her husband, they had 4 children Yolanda, Martin, Dexter and Bernice. Graduating from Morehouse College he went on to Theology School as well as received his PhD from Boston University. Dr. King led some of the most important boycotts and marchs during the Civil Rights Movement and history…including the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, he also helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream’’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. King believed in and led with peaceful protest and civil disobedience, but during his time he was jailed several times as well as his life was threatened and home bombed. It was during this time while jailed he penned his famous letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. On October 14th 1964, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In 1965, he helped organize two Selma Montgomery Marches. This Legendary Great was assassination in Memphis Tennessee on April 4th 1968 leaving behind a world forever changed through his actions, leadership, speeches and desire to make the world better and people equal. Today Dr. King is celebrated on his birthday with a National Holiday as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial located in Washington D.C. Across the United States you will find streets, schools and buildings named after this legend.
