What Modern Inventors Can Learn

The story of Mary Kenner has particular resonance for contemporary inventors who come from backgrounds that have historically been underrepresented in the culture of invention.

The structural barriers that Kenner faced have changed in some ways and persist in others.

Explicit racial discrimination in commercial negotiations is no longer legally permissible in the United States, and the cultural climate has shifted toward at least nominal commitment to racial and gender equality in professional contexts.

These changes are real and meaningful.