One of the science biographies in Sixth grade is about Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975), the chemist and inventer who, among other things, developed synthetic cortisone to treat arthritis pain.
From Biography.com: Percy Julian was a pioneering chemist who was not allowed to attend high school but went on to earn his Ph.D. His research at academic and corporate institutions led to the chemical synthesis of drugs to treat glaucoma and arthritis, and although his race presented challenges at every turn, he is regarded as one of the most influential chemists in American history.
