James West Accomplishments

As you probably know, February marks the start of Black History Month; a month designated to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of African-American men and women. Dr. James E. West was one inventor who I chose to write about, in honor of Black History Month. West is known for inventing the Electret Microphone, one that is now an industry standard - used for everything from cameras to hearing aids. Dr. James E. West truly was a very accomplished man. Born on February 10th, 1931, in Prince Edward County, Virginia, James always had an interest in electronics. As a child, West enjoyed taking apart household appliances and exploring their innards. In fact, James once said, “If I had a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, anything that could be opened was in danger. I had to know what was inside.”. Once, when James was eight, he
One year later, in 1999, James West was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. West also joined multiple organizations, such as A.B.L.E., S.R.P., and the C.R.F.P., working to help African-Americans in college to graduate. In 2000, West (now DR. West) earned a Doctorate of Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. A year later, in 2001, James retired from Bell, moving to John Hopkins University, working as a volunteer Research Professor in the electrical/computer department. Throughout his career, James West filed 47 domestic patents and more than 200 foreign patents. James West was also a productive writer - he contributed to many scientific journals, and also wrote several independent books, such as Beijing Blur and Russian Symbolism. In conclusion, throughout his career, James West clearly was very accomplished, and deserves to be celebrated on Black History Month. Today, West lives happily, retired at the ripe old age of 85 in Farmville, VA. Truly a life well