While Thomas Edison is rightfully famed for the invention of the light bulb, its real potential was realized by a black inventory named Lewis Latimer. The son of runaway slaves, Latimer found work as an office boy in a US patent office. Due to his cleverness and skill at drawing, he ended up being hired by Edison as the only black inventor on his team. Edison’s original light bulbs lasted only a few days, making them incredibly expensive. Latimer developed the filament system that made them last far longer and cost less to produce. Latimer is also credited with drafting the necessary drawings required to receive a patent for Bell's telephone. Having lived and ultimately died in Flushing, there are many parks and buildings named after him in the neighborhood.