Forgotten Genius

In this time and age where it is difficult to find something to look at on television worthwhile, I was granted a blessing this past week. Outside of ESPN, CSPAN and the occasional show on HGTV, it is not easy to find material that makes one want to sit down and view it in its completeness with their family. This past week, the Public Broadcasting Service series NOVA aired the life story of one of the most remarkable scientist of the 20th century, Percy Julian.

As a child, I grew up idolizing Dr. Julian because I was always interested in chemical and chemistry and blowing up stuff, but never knew of any other chemist other than him growing up in Memphis. Born the grandson of slaves in Alabama, he attended DePauw University in Indiana. Just to pay for his education he worked as a waiter and even a ditch digger. He received his A.B. in 1920, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was the valedictorian of his class. It was his goal to become only the second African American with a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the time. However, even with good grades, no school would offer him entry in such a program. Even the people who wrote letters of recommendation for him explaining his brilliance asked the universities of his selection to discourage him from getting a Ph.D.

Eventually, he went to Fisk University as an instructor in chemistry and eventually to Harvard as an Austin fellow. He received his Masters at Harvard, but was unable to seek his Ph.D. Julian had to travel to Europe where he finally received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Vienna in 1931.

Although he loved academic science, it was difficult, because of minor scandals and racism, for Dr. Julian to work in Academia. However, he was able to secure a job with the Glidden Company as the Director of Research and Development – this was some decade before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. Julian’s accomplishments are many folds: he synthesized a soy sterol to manufacture male and female hormones, progesterone and testosterone. Julian also synthesized the medicines physostigmine for glaucoma and cortisone for rheumatoid arthritis. He held more than 100 patents.

The show was aptly called "Forgotten Genius”. I was just happy to be able to see such greatness, such stamina and such perseverance at a time when children are up and feeling blessed that I was able to share this moment with my son and daughter. Good Look Nova that was the bomb show.