Charles Drew was a prominent African American surgeon and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the field of blood transfusions and blood banking. He was born in Washington, D.C. in 1904 and faced many challenges due to racial discrimination during his career.

Drew is perhaps best known for developing techniques to process and store blood plasma, which greatly improved the viability of blood transfusions. His work during World War II helped save many lives on the battlefield and laid the groundwork for the modern blood banking system.

Despite his groundbreaking contributions to medicine, Drew faced segregation and discrimination in his professional life. He ultimately resigned from his position at the American Red Cross in protest of their racially discriminatory blood donation policies.

Charles Drew's legacy lives on as a pioneer in the field of blood banking and a symbol of perseverance and achievement in the face of adversity. His work has had a lasting impact on the medical community and has helped save countless lives.