Commentary: Black Scientists, Explorers, and Inventors
By dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor
Dorothy V. McClendon (December 21, 1924 – May 17, 2013) was an American microbiologist and one of the first Black women to lead a scientific division in the U.S. military. McClenden was born in Minden, Louisiana on December 21, 1924, and soon after moved from Minden to Detroit, Michigan with her mother and older sister Melba.
As chief of the Environmental Microbiology Division at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM), she played a critical role in protecting military fuel systems and materials from microbial contamination. As a microbiologist, she developed methods to prevent microorganisms from contaminating the fuel and deteriorating military storage material. She developing a fungicide, a chemical which protects stored materials, while not harming the people who use them. Her research into microbiologically influenced corrosion helped transform the way the military and industry approached fuel storage, and her contributions to biological defense remain relevant today.
McClendon's early education was shaped by the encouragement of her mother, who pushed her to pursue academic excellence. McClendon applied and was accepted to the competitive Cass Technical High School, known for its rigorous academic and technical training, and excelled there. She went on to attend A & I State University (now Tennessee State University) in Tennessee, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1948.
McClendon initially, wanted to become a medical doctor, but her growing interest in microbiology shifted her focus. During her time at Tennessee A&I, McClendon held leadership roles in the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and served on the Sunday School Cabinet. After completing her undergraduate degree, McClendon pursued post-graduate study at various institutions, including Purdue University, Wayne State University, and the University of Detroit. She briefly taught in public schools in Phoenix, Arizona, and Eldorado, Arkansas, before deciding to pursue a career in microbiology. These early experiences helped McClendon gain valuable teaching and leadership experience, which would later serve her well in her groundbreaking work at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM).
McClenden's professional career in microbiology began in the 1950s when she joined TACOM[4] in Warren, Michigan. Initially, McClendon worked in the Chemistry Laboratory for one year, where she gained valuable experience in the scientific aspects of military supply and logistics. However, her exceptional skills and growing expertise in microbiology led her to be promoted to the position of supervisor of the Microbiology Laboratory, a position that she held for many years.[5] This marked the beginning of her long and influential career in military microbiology, which would have a lasting impact on both the U.S. military and the field of bio-defense. McClendon became one of the few African American women in her field at the time, breaking barriers in both the military and the scientific community.
At TACOM, McClendon focused on the critical issue of microbial contamination and its effects on military supplies, particularly fuels and lubricants. During this time, the Army faced challenges in preventing the degradation of stored goods, especially in the harsh and varied environments, such as the extreme conditions of the Vietnam War. Microbial growth in fuel could cause major issues, including corrosion in engines, clogging of fuel lines, and even complete equipment failure. The military needed reliable methods to prevent these issues, as any failure in equipment could severely impact operations. McClendon's expertise was key in addressing these problems, as her work aimed to ensure that military materials could withstand the environmental challenges that often led to microbial degradation.
McClendon's work addressed this pain point by developing methods to detect and control microbial contamination in stored fuels and lubricants. She worked on formulating chemical treatments that could effectively prevent microbial growth and protect sensitive military materials from degradation.[Her research also led to better testing procedures for assessing microbial contamination, allowing the Army to identify potential problems early and take corrective action before equipment was affected. One of her key contributions was developing ways to detect and mitigate microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), a form of damage caused by microbial activity in fuel systems. Her treatments and methodologies extended the life of military equipment and ensured its reliable operations in adverse conditions, contributing to the Army's operational readiness.
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News round up by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor
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Regarding country music, trust, this is not K. Michelle’s first rodeo.
The 43-year-old singer recently had to remind a reporter of this fact during an appearance at CMA Fest 2025, when she claimed the artist didn’t grow up in the country music world.
While being interviewed by American Songwriter, the reporter asked the “Tennessee” singer, who also performed during the festival at the Nissan Stadium on Thursday, June 5 in Nashville, to introduce herself and noted she didn’t grow up in the country music world.
“I did grow up in country music,” Michelle responded, per iHeart Radio. “I’m from Memphis, Tennessee. I got a scholarship for yodeling — that’s how I paid for college… I didn’t fly here — I grew here.”
She added that the first tape she recorded was her version of The Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge,” which she also performed when she was invited to help honor the legacy of the late Naomi Judd. However, despite her roots and background in music, the genre-blending artist noted she was told she couldn’t sing country because she was a Black woman.
Since clips of the exchange have begun circulating online, many have rushed to the comments to defend the Memphis native. The interview has struck a particular nerve as it arrived as more and more Black artists from Beyoncé, presently on her “Cowboy Carter Tour,” to Shaboozey to Tanner Adell and beyond, have been reclaiming the genre.
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"If he can successfully militarize LA without significant political consequences, Baltimore is next. Then we're looking at Chicago. Then we're looking at D.C.," said Angela Angel, a senior advisor at Black Lives Matter PAC. The Grio: Trump’s military deployment in LA seen as dangerous prelude for majority Black and Brown cities
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The White House remains defiant after President Donald Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of U.S. Marines in Los Angeles amid protests against Trump’s mass immigration raids. The escalation of military use on civilians presents serious concerns about constitutionally protected free speech and public safety, particularly in cities that are predominantly Black and Brown.
The president has not ruled out invoking the Insurrection Act, a wartime law that gives the president narrow authority to use the military domestically, and vowed that any ongoing protesters in American cities would be “met with equal or greater force.”
Elected officials and advocates tell theGrio they are concerned that Trump’s targeting of LA is likely a precursor for what is to come to majority Black and Brown cities, many of whom are led by Black mayors.
“If he can successfully militarize LA without significant political consequences, Baltimore is next. Then we’re looking at Chicago. Then we’re looking at D.C.–any city that dares to protect its most vulnerable residents is on his chopping block,” said Angela Angel, a senior advisor at Black Lives Matter PAC.
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African students have traded academic institutions in the West for Chinese alternatives. The Trump administration’s clampdown on international students and visas could accelerate the shift. New York Times: China’s Quiet Win: Outmaneuvering U.S. for Africa’s Future Leaders
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When students in Africa pine for an education overseas, the United States is often not top of mind.
For many, it is China.
The Trump administration’s recent tightening of visas for international students has raised fears that the United States could lose its status as a top destination for higher education. But for tens of thousands of students in Africa, that shift was already happening.
Over the past decade, applicants across the continent have traded prestigious academic institutions in countries like Britain and the United States for Chinese alternatives, attracted by government scholarships, affordable tuition, lower living costs and easier access to visas.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population at a time when many of the world’s wealthier regions — particularly in the West and Asia — are aging rapidly, making it difficult to find enough workers to keep their economies growing.
Africa lacks enough universities to educate its own students, but China has mounted an effort to recruit them as the United States reduces its diplomatic, military and humanitarian engagement on the continent.
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Nigeria's president has pardoned the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, 30 years after his execution sparked global outrage. Along with eight other campaigners, Mr Saro-Wiwa was convicted of murder, then hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime.
Many believed the activists were being punished for leading protests against the operations of oil multinationals, particularly Shell, in Nigeria's Ogoniland. Shell has long denied any involvement in the executions.
Though the pardons have been welcomed, some activists and relatives say they do not go far enough. As well as issuing the pardons on Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu bestowed national honors on Mr Saro-Wiwa and his fellow campaigners, who were known as the Ogoni Nine.
The nine men - Mr Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo and Daniel Gbokoo - were among dozens who received the honors as part of Nigeria's annual Democracy Day.
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