This is why we celebrate black history month – Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson. Who is he? Do you know? You should – as I guarantee he has influenced your life. I’m a parent of three children and one of their favorite hobbies is video games. I’m bombarded with game theory, Youtubers, twitch streams, discord chats and, of course, requests for money. Being a part of Gen X I have vivid memories of playing video games on Atari and Nintendo and being in awe. My children’s experiences today and my fond memories create a commonality and bond in our family that is priceless. Who can I thank for this? Mr. Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson.
Gerald, ‘Jerry’ Lawson is considered the ‘Father of Modern Gaming’. He was an exceptional child with a strong interest in chemistry and science bundled with the gift of self-determination. Influenced by African American inventor George Carver Washington, Mr. Lawson was inspired to become his own inventor, to be something and teach himself. By the age of 13 he received his amateur HAM Radio license and used his time to repair TVs and other electronics. When other kids his age were climbing trees, Jerry was building a radio station in his room!
In 1970, he became an Applications Engineering Consultant for Fairchild Semiconductor in Silicon Valley. He was one of the few African American engineers in his field and built the first microprocessing arcade game, Demolition Derby, in his garage. By the mid 70’s he was the Chief Hardware Engineer which contributed to him becoming a video game pioneer.
Jerry’s talents were not unnoticed, he became the only African American member in the Home Brew Computer Club of Silicon Valley at that time, which included Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded Apple. After Fairchild, Jerry Lawson went on to found Video Soft, Inc., the first black-owned video game development company, which created software content for the Atari 2600 and other gaming systems.
Gerald Lawson has been recognized by the International Game Developers Association and his inventions are on display at the World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, NY. Jerry passed away in 2011 but his legacy continues. He was an inventor, a leader, a technology guru, a mentor and a family man. I thank him for his positive impact on my life and my family’s. To learn about the wonderful character of Gerald Lawson click here.
Images: Yahoo