The other day a poster criticized A16Z's Cultural Leadership Fund targeting African American entrepreneurs because a majority of the LPs were of the entertainme

The other day a poster criticized A16Z's Cultural Leadership Fund targeting African American entrepreneurs because a majority of the LPs were of the entertainment business (athletes, musicians, actors). I've seen this criticism of the black community many times: "Why are all your icons in entertainment? Why not scientists, engineers, etc.?" Well, this one story helps to illustrate why. This guy was obviously talented enough to influence steamboat design but could not capitalize on his work by getting a patent because of institutional racism. Imagine what his life would have been like if he got this patent? Maybe he would've started an engineering firm, maybe he would've gone on to study at a formal college or teach? Who knows what influence he may have had? The opposite to this story is that for many reasons, including the fact that white elites liked to view black artists as entertainment, many successful black people in the 19th & 20th centuries had to make their way out through entertainment or sports. When you have a history of segregated schools (PS. they are still segregated), school values tied to home prices, and other factors, its not hard to see why there are not as many intellectual African Americans at the forefront of American society.