#clovis grant
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I whipped up this cute drawing I did of Nico di Angelo and Clovis Grant. When I started reading TLH, I immediately started to ship Nico with Clovis. I absolutely love Clovis. I may change Clovis’s design and give vitiligo.
#nico di angelo#nico di angelo fanart#clovis#clovis pjo#clovis grant#nico x clovis#niclovis#otp#percy jackson#percy jackson fanart#percy jackson and the olympians#heroes of olympus#heroes of olympus fanart
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Dating Clovis Grant
MY MAN! HIM! JUST HIM <;33
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clovis is arguably the best boyfriend ever.
☆ not only does he give the most amazing hugs and cuddles but the man can cook up a storm. so expect homemade meals and desserts when your feeling down
☆ hes such an attentive boyfriend, he always knows when your having a bad day and knows just what you need to feel better
☆ he's one of the only people in camp who can get away with having you stay overnight. so expect sleepovers
☆ speaking of, he 100% joins you in your dreams and even though when you wake up you can't always remember them, he holds those moments close
☆ you were with him through the entire war, when he was unclaimed in cabin 11 to when he was finally claimed and had zero control over his powers
☆ with determination and your support clovis was able to keep his powers under control. every now and then he still needs a break and is found asleep in random corners of camp
☆ you definitely became his personal pillow when he was unable to control his powers and now he still lies down on you when he's tired almost as a inside joke
☆ now that he's got control the two of you definitely train together and he's an amazing swordsman especially when he figured out how to put his opponents to sleep
☆ whatever hobbies you have he will sit and listen to your rambles, he will ask questions and buy things that remind him of said hobby for you
☆ he makes sure you don't have nightmare but he can't stop most demigod dreams (seeing as most of them are in link with a prophecy/quest) but he's aware of them and goes straight to your cabin when he senses something's wrong.
☆ hes the type of boyfriend to buy two drinks and whichever one you dislike more he'll happily have.
☆ OLIVE THEORY BOYFRIEND RIGHT HERE
☆ yk those guys getting married who smoosh the cake in the brides face even though they know the bride doesn't want them too but they do it anyway? yeah clovis would rather die even think of being like that
☆ he also definitely hasn't fully planned out your wedding, and totally hasn't see it play out in one of his dreams
☆ he's the type of guy who would wait all year for the release of a movie then wait for the dvd to come out just because he knows you don't like the same movies as him and he's not going to force you to sit through a movie you won't like. and going to the movies without you? without. you. ??? no.
☆ he has the best pajamas and without a doubt lets you borrow them
☆ he would also love the matching pajamas/onesies. he might beg you to wear them with him
☆ speaking of begging, that man has the cruelest puppy eyes ever. one bat of his big brown eyes and your crumbling (your pretty sure it's even worked on chiron)
☆ he's the best guy to bring home as well, he is the perfect gentleman and he's so charismatic. whoever's at home with you will instantly accept and love him
☆ and please don't even get me started on how pretty he is
☆ because ugh he's gorgeous
☆ his wild and curly brown hair with his doe brown eyes. he has the cutest dimples and when he gets super tired he gets the slightest lisp
☆ he owns a pair of light blue bunny slippers he wears unironically and it's the cutest thing ever
☆ hes always on your side no matter what, and when he loves someone he loves them with all his heart
UGH CLOVIS IS THE BEST
#pjo x reader#clovis grant x reader#pjo fandom#percy jackson#percy jackson and the olympians#clovis#clovis pjo#pjo#clovis grant#clovis pjo x reader#pjo hypnos#percy jackson x reader
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Priene: So, how was “holding hands” with Clovis? Mercedes: Eep! Great, actually. I know you two have—wait, are you upset with me? Priene: Oh, please. As if a guy could ever stand between us. Mercedes: Right!
#the sims 2#widespot x lgu#land grant university#lgu: round 12#dormitory 2#mercedes wheels#priene pythias#clovis point#they're so cute...#💚
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I miss being able to breathe..... I had no idea how good I had it........ Shout-out to breathing....
#Don't take it for granted... Cries#When will my pneumonia be resooooolved#The Clovis ring#This is why I've been. Somewhat quieter recently btw I'm so so sick and miserable and weak lol
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Happy Julius Caesar gets stabbed day! Here’s a Les Mis take on the subject, courtesy of Grantaire’s Drunken Rambles:
Whom do you admire, the slain or the slayer, Cæsar or Brutus? Generally men are in favor of the slayer. Long live Brutus, he has slain! There lies the virtue. Virtue, granted, but madness also. There are queer spots on those great men. The Brutus who killed Cæsar was in love with the statue of a little boy. This statue was from the hand of the Greek sculptor Strongylion, who also carved that figure of an Amazon known as the Beautiful Leg, Eucnemos, which Nero carried with him in his travels. This Strongylion left but two statues which placed Nero and Brutus in accord. Brutus was in love with the one, Nero with the other. All history is nothing but wearisome repetition. One century is the plagiarist of the other. The battle of Marengo copies the battle of Pydna; the Tolbiac of Clovis and the Austerlitz of Napoleon are as like each other as two drops of water. I don’t attach much importance to victory. Nothing is so stupid as to conquer; true glory lies in convincing. But try to prove something! If you are content with success, what mediocrity, and with conquering, what wretchedness! Alas, vanity and cowardice everywhere. Everything obeys success, even grammar. Si volet usus, says Horace. Therefore I disdain the human race.
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ooooh if you cared to expound upon the isnliv wips, I would be all hearteyes, i love ISNLIV to itty bitty teeny tiny pieces. Also question: on the WIP list you have a few that are J/W - I'm assuming J is Jaskier, but who is W? or does that mean Witcher (generic)?
Here's a little bit of Coën pining, just a little, for his Wolves:
He’d found their brethren good company, too, when he made it up the Trail to Kaer Morhen - most of them, at least. Old Vesemir is a bastion of strength and wisdom, Frank and Gwen good-natured and willing to grant a strange beta space as long as he doesn’t overstep, and Clovis is, as far as Coën can tell, just irritable by nature. They aren’t replacements for his lost Schoolmates, who he knew as well as he does himself, but it’s good to be around other witchers all the same. But then this year - this year, and Gardis, and Aubry. Coën has never met anyone quite like Gardis and Aubry before.
"W" in this context is "Wolves" - since I didn't want to write out all of their initials!
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Barbarians and Romans: the geopolitical recomposition of the 5th century.
1 : « Atlas historique mondial », Les Arènes, 2019
2 : « Atlas de Rome et des barbares », Autrement 2018
via cartesdhistoire
The presence of barbarians could not be resolved by force alone, so the emperors chose to address the issue politically. Treaties that settled barbarians in specific regions helped to stop the violence and costly devastation from a fiscal standpoint. Additionally, the barbarians strengthened the imperial army against other barbarians, usurpers, and anti-tax revolts. There was also hope to integrate them into the empire.
During the 5th century, the status of federates recognized by the emperor allowed local elites to cooperate with the barbarians while remaining loyal to Rome. Political reasons (such as the legitimacy of the barbarians' presence granted by the emperor), acculturation (acceptance of Christianity, Latin culture, and many Roman social traditions), and long-standing relations with the Romans facilitated the acceptance of barbarian power, as they often belonged to the same late Roman world.
For example, the Salian Franks entered the Empire around 290 as dedicates in Batavia and settled in Toxandrie in 342. In 451, they allied with Rome against Attila, then against the Burgundians and the Visigoths. At the death of Childeric, Remigius of Reims considered Clovis a natural partner. Similarly, the Goths signed their first treaty with Rome in 332 and regularly helped Rome from 413 to 460 against other barbarians (Alans, Hasdingi Vandals, Suevi), usurpers (Jovinus), Bagaudae revolts (454), and invaders (Attila). They had been in the Empire for a century when they were recognized as independent. The Burgundians signed two treaties as federates around 413 and 442. After 458, their leaders defined themselves as masters of the Gallic militia for more than half a century. The Ostrogoths, on their part, came to Italy at the request of Constantinople.
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Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet (1838-1875) was a French Romantic composer best known for his opera Carmen and the instrumental music for the play L'Arlésienne. None of his earlier operas had enjoyed any great success, and even Carmen took several months to gain public and critical acclaim, too late for the composer, who died of a heart attack aged 36, to witness.
Early Life
Alexandre César Leopold Bizet (later known simply as Georges Bizet) was born in Paris on 25 October 1838. His father, Adolphe Bizet, was a wig-maker and hairdresser, but he taught singing occasionally. Georges's mother, Aiméé Delsarte, was the daughter of a successful businessman, and she also had musical talent, this time as a pianist. Georges showed his own great musical talent at an early age, and he was enrolled in the Conservatory in Paris aged just nine (one year younger than was usually permitted, but his aunt and maternal uncle pulled some strings). In 1855, when he was just 17, Georges wrote his Symphony in C. Georges was a star pupil at the Conservatory where he won the 1857 Prix de Rome along with several other prizes such as for composition, his entry being the one-act opera Le docteur miracle. Other prizes were gained for his piano and organ playing and for two cantatas, David and Clovis et Clotilde.
One of Bizet's composition teachers was Fromental Halévy (1799-1862), significantly, a composer of operas. Bizet became a great admirer of the German opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864), whom he described as "a thundering dramatic genius" (Schonberg, 269). Another influence on the young composer was Charles Gounod (1818-1893) whose operas included Faust (1859). Above all, Bizet believed in melody, and he admired those who could produce it.
Upon graduation in 1858, Bizet went to Rome – paid for out of his prizes – where he spent the next three years visiting the ancient sites and composing. Bizet enjoyed Italy and was beginning to find himself. He said, "I am beginning to think of myself as an artist but what howlers, what failures" (Steen, 585). Here in Italy, he composed a comic opera, Don Procopia (not performed until 1906), and various orchestral works but not the mass he was supposed to have composed as a condition of his grant. The orchestral works would be rearranged into the composer's Roma symphony, not fully completed to his satisfaction until 1871. It was in the Italian capital that Bizet first began to have the problem with his throat that plagued him for the rest of his life.
Continue reading...
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thinking about the way Destiny shows obsession.
we have so many examples of it in the lore. Clovis Bray, Eramis, Calus, now Maya Sundaresh, and earleir even Osiris. The Osmium siblings, too. All of them dipping into the darkness in search of salvation and immortality, and dooming themselves. Like a monkey's paw.
Here, have your immortality, but to your senses it will be perverted and dangerous, and the Traveler will reclaim it anyway if it can. Have your salvation in the shape of revenge, but it won't matter, because you are just a pawn. Have your riches and loyalty, but it will not matter, because looking back at you are empty husks.
And then they all, or almost all, die. And everyone else is left to fix it, but maybe they can't.
Not only is it about obsession, it's about the way it directly affects the people around said people. Exos, other Eliksni, the Cabal, now the whole of Neomuni and more. It's like rolling waves, far into the future.
And even more so, that salvation and immortality and favour they are looking for is also everything the Traveler grants. But also as a monkey's paw with... maybe possibly better outcomes? Not sure.
IDK, but it's interesting to me how much Destiny puts these types of characters on the forefront of storytelling, and it IS very compelling. Listening to Chioma Esi's logs put a lot of things into perspective imo.
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Travis Stoll (Part 6)
As soon they both enter, the entrance closes by itself, leaving them in complete darkness
"Will, do the thing."
"I'm not doing the thing, it's ridiculous and embarrassing."
"Dead people don't judge William."
"You judge enough for the lot of them."
"Oh by Hermes, I told you once that you looked like a living lamp !"
"Nobody wants to be compared to an object !"
"Fine, fine, I apologise. Happy now ?"
"No."
"You're insufferable."
"I am not, everybody would have the same reaction as-"
"Shut up."
"What ?"
"Did you hear that ?"
"Travis, this is not the time to be joking."
"Don't be ridiculous Willy, a good joke is always welcome. Now lighten up, please, so that I can see if we are about to be a monster's delicious meal."
A beat passes before Travis hears Will sighs next to him in the darkness.
His friend is now glowing a soft golden light, flickering at the rate of his heartbeat and illuminating the underground corridor.
"Not a word.", warns Will when he notices Travis smiling.
Footsteps coming right toward them stop him from answering to his friend.
Quickly, Travis pushes Will behind a large rock and urges him to stop glowing.
As darkness engulfs them again, the sound gets closer and closer until it's right in front of them.
"You should really stop trying to be on stealth missions amore mio, you suck at them."
Will's glowing comes back with such force, Travis is pretty sure his vision won't ever recover.
"Nico !", exclaims happily Will as he goes hug his boyfriend.
"How did you know we would be here ?", he asks the son of Hades still busy with his own personal sunny leech.
"Clovis sent me a dream about your quest," Nico's face darkens, "I promise you Travis, I'll help you as much as I can to save Connor."
"I know what is it like to lose your sibling after all", he says with a sardonic smile.
Right, what was her name again ? Biana ? No, Bianca. Bianca Di Angelo.
"Thank you Nico, really, I mean it."
"You're welcome. Now come on, we have to hurry up, we don't have a lot of time and Persephone may be hard to convince."
Connor's fate looms over Travis like the sword of Damocles, a constant reminder that his brother could die any moment from now.
How much time has passed since they enter the Underworld ?
How much has he left ?
Dad, I know I've been asking a lot of things but please grant one last favor. Keep me updated about Connor's health, send dreams or whatever other signals.
He doesn't have any offerings to burn for his prayer to reach his father, he can only hope Hermes is paying attention to him.
"You're right Neeks, lead the way."
"Don't call me Neeks, Stoll."
"Do you prefer Nicolas ?"
"Oh I'm keeping that one."
"No I don't and Solace if I ever hear calling me by that name I-"
"Ouch Will, you're on second name basis."
"You're both insufferable."
"For the last time, I am not !"
Despite the sorrow weighing on his heart, Travis cackles the whole way to Hades' Palace at Will and Nico's constant bickering.
part 7 posted !
#percy jackon and the olympians#pjo#percy jackson#will solace#connor stoll#travis stoll#heroes of olympus#solangelo#nico di angelo#will solace glows in the dark
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Hi! First off i wanna say i love your work, literally an highlight each week, no matter what i always look forwars to saturday and the updates
I'm wondering if Piper can sense that there's, ehm, something very much not platonic going in between Leo and Jason. I'm pretty sure they don't know (disaster gays) but will anyone figure it out? I can picture Annabeth, like Thalia, just going"🤔".
Also can i just say i love how gay Jason is here? He really is great rep for all disaster queers out there (thank you Jason), from his interaction with Clovis ( i cackled) to him taking for granted Leo was referring to either Cal or Zethes when he talked about his "prom date", to gay panicking every time Leo is being Leo (that boy really likes curly hair). I'm legit thinking he could see Leo with his whole seducing-Narcissus-followers awful outift and just crush even harder. He is such a perfect mirror to Piper-falling in love with every girl I meet-McLean. (Literally twirling her hair while running miles with Thalia, what an icon).
That's so sweet of you!! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic so much!! Thank you for letting me know!! <3
Now, as for Piper, daughter of the goddess of love herself, easily the most emotionally intelligent of the Seven, she absolutely has NO clue about Jason and Leo lmao. Romance flies RIGHT over her head. She is the embodiment of that one meme where the old lady is like "They seem like good friends. :)" She DOES wind up clocking Jason's crush eventually, but it was pretty much a moment of divine inspiration. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only reason she DID figure it out was because Aphrodite was just throwing stuff at her from Mount Olympus. Annabeth does eventually sus it out and tbh Thalia thinks they're already dating. She'll refer to Leo as Jason's boyfriend and Jason thinks she's making fun of him but she's not. She just full on thinks that's his boyfriend. That's why she doesn't take any of Leo's flirting seriously.
And Jason! I have had SO much fun writing him as an absolute disaster queer. He doesn't even fully realize he likes boys yet (he's been BUSY, okay?? There hasn't been a lot of time for soul searching!) but being a gay little mess in baked right into his DNA. No amount of memory nonsense can fix him. Leo does show up covered in motor oil with Sharpie tattoos and Jason is for sure into it. Piper is judging him SO hard, but she doesn't have any room to talk considering she ordered three extra drinks when they went to the movies just because the girl behind the counter was cute and she wanted an excuse to go back and talk to her.
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YOU ARE THE BEST ONG I LIVE FOR CLOVIS GRANT AND IM SO HAPPY SOMEONE HAS FINALLY WRITTEN FOR HIM
He is Deff the type of bf just to go to ur cabin to sleep in ur bed when he misses you
OMG THANK YOU SM!!
CLOVIS IS THE BESTEST BOY <33
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☆ he's the literal definition of a pillow boyfriend. cuddles with that man are so comfy and warm.
☆ the rest of your cabin is used to him just walking in and making himself at home, whether its a the crack at dorm or if he's breaking the rules and staying the night
☆ the only reason your cabinmates don't snitch on you both breaking the rules at night is because once he's asleep everyone else soon follows, they always get better dreams when he's around.
☆ he runs around talking to people in 'dreamworld' for date/gift ideas (which he takes credit for)
☆ and don't even get me started on when he figures out his powers, that man is putting anyone who looks at you funny in a deep nightmare filled sleep for weeks.
#pjo#pjo x reader#pjo fandom#percy jackson and the olympians#clovis pjo#clovis pjo x reader#clovis grant#clovis grant x reader#heroes of olympus x reader#heros of olympus
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Unfortunately, Clovis attacked Gerry after an unlucky drink… Is this the end to the fraternity friendship?
#the sims 2#widespot x lgu#land grant university#lgu: round 12#nagard annya hoh#clovis point#gerry mander
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THE LORE DAMP, THE LORE DAMP, THE LORE DAMP
"Mab was born when the world was young," The Thirstlewitch says. "In those days, we Folk were not so diminished as we are now, when there is so much iron. Our giants were as tall as mountains, our trolls like trees. And hags like myself held the power to bring all manner of things into being. Once a century, there is a convocation of hags, where we, the witches and enchanters, the smiths and makers, come together to hone our craft. It is not for outsiders, but Mab dared enter. She besought us for all that she wanted, the power to create. Not a mere glamour or little workings, but the great magic that we alone possessed. Most turned her away, but there was one who did not. That hag gave unto her the power to create from nothing. And in return, she was to take the hag's daughter and raise the witch child as her heir. At first, Mab did as she was bid. She took for herself the title of the Oak Queen, united the smaller Seelie Courts under her banner and began bestowing sentience on living things. Trees would lift their roots at her beckoning. Grass would scurry around, confusing her enemies. Faeries that had never existed before grew from her hands. And she raised three of the Shifting Isles of Elfhame from the sea."
Oak frowns at the dirt. "Has [ Cardan ] inherited some of her power ? Is that why he can - "
"Patience boy," Says the Thistlewitch. "Prince or not I will tell you in full or I will not tell you at all." [ . . . ] The Thistlewitch clears her throat and begins to speak again. "Mab called the child Mellith, which means 'mother's curse'. Not an auspicious beginning. And yet, it was only when her own daughter was born that she began to think of ways to weasel out of the bargain."
"Clovis, who ruled before my grandfather, Eldred."
The thistlewitch includes her head. "Indeed. In the end, it was a simple trick. Mab boasted again and again that she had discovered a means for Clovis to rule until the rumors finally found their way to the hag. Enraged, she swore to kill Clovis. And so, the hag crept up on where the child slept in the night and fell upon the girl she found there, only to discover she had murdered her own daughter. Mab had bested her. But the hag was able to put a final enchantment on her daughter's heart as it beat its last, for her daughter was a hag too and magic sang through her blood. The hag imbued the heart with the power of anihilation, of destruction, of unmaking. And she cursed Mab, so that piece of her child would be forever tied to the queen's power. She would have to keep the heart by her side for her magic to work. And should she not, it's power would unmake all that she created.
As for Mab, you know the rest. She made an alliance with one of the solitary fey and founded the Greenbriar line. A trickle of her power passed down to her grandson, Eldred, granting him fecundity when so much of Faerie is barren, and to the current High King, Cardan, who pulled a fourth isle from the deep. But a large amount of Mab's power stayed trapped with her remains, confined to her reliquary."
THIS IS HUGE THIS IS HUGE, THIS IS HUGE.
#( 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 ┊ character study )#( 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ┊ headcanons )#( personals do not interact. )#( THIS IS HUGE FOR CARDAN'S FUNDIMENTAL POWER#( my suspicion that cardan has in fact inherited power nearly as strong as Mab's was correct#( he was the only one out of the next 3 rulers of Elfhame - clovis and eldred and himself - that managed to make a fourth island#( CARDAN HAS THE POWER TO CREATE Y'ALL#( AND APPARENTLY HE ALSO HAS SOME TRINKLET OF A POWER TO DESTROY AS WELL BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT#( AS A SERPENT ALL HE DID WAS DESTROY AND WHEN JUDE ASKED ABOUT IT HE SAID IT WAS A FEELING HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND#( NOT A CURSE. A FEELING#( I'M SCREAMING CRYING I'M FUCKING HYPED#( anyway balekin & family co must be feeling preeeeeeeeeeetty stupid rn lol#( eldred ignored the one (1) child of his that actually HAD the power to rule because he thought he was useless and weak#( love that for babygurl cardan
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Snippet of a New York Times article from 1910 describes founding of Mound Bayou, a town founded on the wealth of a steamboat patent. SundayMagazine.org
America has long been the land of innovation. More than 13,000 years ago, the Clovis people created what many call the “ first American invention” – a stone tool used primarily to hunt large game. This spirit of American creativity has persisted through the millennia, through the first American patent granted in 1641 and on to today.
One group of prolific innovators, however, has been largely ignored by history: Black inventors born or forced into American slavery. Though U.S. patent law was created with color-blind language to foster innovation, the patent system consistently excluded these inventors from recognition.
A New York Times article from 1910 describes founding of Mound Bayou, a town founded on the wealth of a steamboat patent. SundayMagazine.org
As a law professor and a licensed patent attorney, I understand both the importance of protecting inventions and the negative impact of being unable to use the law to do so. But despite patents being largely out of reach to them throughout early U.S. history, both slaves and free African-Americans did invent and innovate.
Why Patents Matter
In many countries around the world, innovation is fostered through a patent system. Patents give inventors a monopoly over their invention for a limited time period, allowing them, if they wish, to make money through things like sales and licensing.
The patent system has long been the heart of America’s innovation policy. As a way to recoup costs, patents provide strong incentives for inventors, who can spend millions of dollars and a significant amount of time developing a invention.
Patent Office relief on the Herbert C. Hoover Building. Neutrality
The history of patents in America is older than the U.S. Constitution, with several colonies granting patents years before the Constitution was created. In 1787, however, members of the Constitutional Convention opened the patent process up to people nationwide by drafting what has come to be known as the Patent and Copyright Clause of the Constitution. It allows Congress:
This language gives inventors exclusive rights to their inventions. It forms the foundation for today’s nationwide, federal patent system, which no longer allows states to grant patents.
Though the language itself was race-neutral, like many of the rights set forth in the Constitution, the patent system didn’t apply for Black Americans born into slavery. Slaves were not considered American citizens and laws at the time prevented them from applying for or holding property, including patents. In 1857, the U.S. commissioner of patents officially ruled that slave inventions couldn’t be patented.
Slaves’ Inventions Exploited by Owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.
Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a Black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.
Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”
Reaping Benefits of Own Inventions
The answer to this question is that Black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.
One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.
The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and Black employees.
Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.
Some Black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.
Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.
Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
A Legacy of Black Innovators
The patent system was ostensibly open to free Black people. From Thomas Jennings, the first Black patent holder, who invented dry cleaning in 1821, to Norbert Rillieux, a free man who invented a revolutionary sugar-refining process in the 1840s, to Elijah McCoy, who obtained 57 patents over his lifetime, those with access to the patent system invented items that still touch the lives of people today.
This legacy extends through the 21st century. Lonnie Johnson generated more than US$1 billion in sales with his Super Soaker water gun invention, which has consistently been among the world’s top 20 best-selling toys each year since 1991. Johnson now owns more than 80 patents and has since developed different green technologies.
Bishop Curry V, a 10-year-old Black inventor from Texas, has already applied for a patent for his invention, which he says will stop accidental deaths of children in hot cars.
Black women are also furthering the legacy of Black inventors. Lisa Ascolese, known as “The Inventress,” has received multiple patents and founded the Association for Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs. Janet Emerson Bashen became the first Black woman to receive a patent for a software invention in 2006. And Dr. Hadiyah Green recently won a $1 million grant related to an invention that may help treat cancer.
True to the legacy of American innovation, today’s Black inventors are following in the footsteps of those who came before them. Now patent law doesn’t actively exclude them from protecting their inventions – and fully contributing to American progress.
Shontavia Johnson is the Associate Vice President for Academic Partnerships and Innovation at Clemson University.
#America’s Always Had Black Inventors—Even When the Patent System Explicitly Excluded Them#systemic racism#us patent law#Black Inventors#Black History#white supremacy
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Kallus Time Travel for WIP Wednesday please!
OOhh, I am so happy that people want to see some of this story.
"Kallus peered over the console. He knew he had a few moments before Clovis and his cronies returned, but it wasn't much time. There had to be a way to get into the system. After a few moments of thinking, he smirked.
He reached over and typed in a single word.
PADME
Access granted."
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