The Real Inventor of the Light Bulb Filament

While Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the light bulb, his early bulbs only lasted a few hours. Lewis Howard Latimer, an African American inventor and engineer, developed the carbon filament that made light bulbs practical for everyday use, lasting much longer. Latimer patented the process for manufacturing carbon filaments in 1881. He was the only Black member of the 'Edison Pioneers,' the group of scientists who worked with Edison. Latimer also drafted the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.