The myth of the first African-American electrical engineer: Arthur U. Craig and the importance of teaching in technological history
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2-2016
Abstract
Abstract: In recent years, historians of technology including Bruce Sinclair, Rayvon Fouché, and Amy Slaton have analyzed the intersection of technological and African-American history to redress the historical and enduring correlation between whiteness and technology. This paper contributes to this conversation by chronicling the story of Arthur U. Craig, a faculty member at the Tuskegee Institute who installed the university’s famous lighting system. During Craig’s tenure at the Institute, he was touted to be the ‘first black electrical engineer’ – but he resisted that title. This article examines why. In so doing, ‘The Myth of the First African-American Electrical Engineer’ builds upon three scholarly conversations. First, it discusses how the cultural meanings of electricity inflected how Tuskegee advertised Craig’s contributions to campus. Second, it re-situates the often-overlooked Craig within the history of Tuskegee Institute. Finally, it examines Craig’s contribution to debates about engineering education for African American students.
Publication Title
History and Technology
Volume
32
Issue
1
First Page
70
Last Page
90
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1080/07341512.2016.1184016
ISSN
07341512
E-ISSN
14772620
Citation Information
Lieberman. (2016). The myth of the first African-American electrical engineer: Arthur U. Craig and the importance of teaching in technological history. History and Technology, 32(1), 70–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/07341512.2016.1184016