1904 – Charles Richard Drew is Born

On June 3, 1904, Charles Richard Drew was born in Washington, D.C. A medical trailblazer, Drew revolutionized the field of blood plasma preservation and storage, saving countless lives during World War II. He directed the “Blood for Britain” program and later became the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Despite his groundbreaking work, Drew resigned from the Red Cross in protest when the U.S. military insisted on racially segregating blood donations. He went on to become a prominent surgeon and educator, mentoring generations of Black physicians at Howard University. Drew\’s innovations in transfusion science remain foundational to modern medicine. His life is a powerful reminder of how Black excellence has often advanced science, even under the shadow of systemic racism. June 3 marks the birth of a man whose contributions continue to impact medicine and ethics globally.