Google honors the Black inventor who likely inspired the phrase 'the real McCoy'

Pull up Google on Monday, and you'll see a doodle of a Black man next to a stack of patents, gazing at an old-fashioned train.

Pull up Google on Monday, and you'll see a doodle of a Black man next to a stack of patents, gazing at an old-fashioned train.

That's Elijah McCoy, the revolutionary Black inventor who was born 178 years ago today.

That's Elijah McCoy, the revolutionary Black inventor who was born 178 years ago today.

McCoy's parents escaped slavery in Kentucky on the Underground Railroad and settled in Canada, where they gave birth to their son in 1844.

McCoy's parents escaped slavery in Kentucky on the Underground Railroad and settled in Canada, where they gave birth to their son in 1844.

At age 15, McCoy traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to study mechanical engineering. But when he returned home to his family –

At age 15, McCoy traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to study mechanical engineering. But when he returned home to his family –

now living in Ypsilanti, Mich. – he couldn't find a job as an engineer because of his race, according to the Detroit Historical Society.

now living in Ypsilanti, Mich. – he couldn't find a job as an engineer because of his race, according to the Detroit Historical Society.

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