they use an iron board to press out the work clothes; since the room is pretty warm, they turn on the air conditioner to cool off; After using a hair brush in order to get ready for work, they go downstairs, open the refrigerator door to make some eggs. Then they use an egg beater to make some scrambled eggs. After breakfast, they leave for work after getting their cell phone and use the key on their key chain to lock the back door. So what does an iron board, air conditioner, hair brush, refrigerator, egg beater, cell phone key chain and lock have in common? All of those just mentioned products were created by African Americans.
This article will focus on African-American Inventors who made products that we used almost every single day. These inventors created some amazing products that a lot of people didn't know, but sadly in the era of Jim Crow, they never received the credit or for that matter reap in the fortune that they richly deserve. In some case, these inventors created the product and without providing a patent for their invention, told people about their new creation. Since the product was not patented, these people would go somewhere to steal... I mean ...make their own product, slap their name on it and gain instant fame. While doing research in this topic, it is truly amazing to find out that each inventor made their product with very primitive material, unlike the technology that we have in today's world.
Here's the list. You will be surprised by what is on the list!
Inventor Invention Date of Invention
A.P. Ashbourne Biscuit Cutter November 30, 1875
Benjamin Banneker Almanac 1791
Patricia Bath updated a device to 1988
remove cataracts
Miriam Benjamin "Gong and Signal" chair 1888
for hotels
Edward Berger Spark Plug February 2, 1839
Henry Blair Seed Planting Device October 14, 1834
Henry Blair Cotton Planting Device 1836
Sarah Boone Iron Board December 30, 1897
Bordy and Surgwar Folding Chair June 11, 1889
Otis Boykin Control Unit for Pacemaker 1961
Benjamin Bradley A Steam Engine for 1856
steam-powered warships
Henry Brown Fire/Burglar Resistant Safe November 2, 1886
L.A. Burr Lawnmower May 19, 1889
Charles Brooks Street Sweeper March 17, 1890
Lee Burridge & Typewriter April 7, 1885
Newman Marshman
T.A. Carrington Stove July 25, 1876
W.C. Carter Umbrella Stand 1885
George Washington Carver Peanut Butter 1839
M.A. Cherry Tricycle May 6, 1886
G. Cook Auto Fishing Devise May 30, 1899
A.L. Cralle Ice Cream Scooper February 2, 1897
David Crosthwaut, Jr. Heating System 1934
(for Radio City Music Hall)
George Crum Potato Chip 1853
Mark Dean Led his team to create 1st 1999
gigahertz computer procesor chip
O. Dorsey Door Stop December 10, 1878
Paul Downing Mail Box October 27, 1891
Charles Drew Blood Plasma Bag 1945
T. Elikins Chamber Commode January 3, 1897
Henry Faulkner Ventilated Shoe 1890
O.A. Fisher Furniture Caster 1878
Robert Flemming Jr. Guitar March 3, 1866
Sarah E. Goode Folding Bed July 14, 1885
T. Grant Golf Tee December 12, 1899
William S. Grant Curtain Rod Support August 4, 1896
Blessie Blount Griffin An elctronic feeding device 1951
for amputees
Michael C. Harvey Lantern August 19, 1884
Joseph Hawkins Metal Oven Racks 1800's
L.R. Johnson Bicycle Frame October 10, 1899
Lonnie Johnson Super Soaker November 13, 1989
P. Johnson Eye Protector November 2, 1880
Willie Johnson Egg Beater February 5, 1884
Frederick M. Jones Movie Ticket Dispenser June, 1939
Frederick M. Jones Motor June 27, 1939
Frederick M. Jones Air Condtioning Unit July 12, 1949
Lewis Latimer Electric Lightbulb March 21, 1882
Joseph Lee Bread Crumbling Machine June 4, 1895
Automatic Bread Making Machine
F.D. Loudin Key Chain January 9, 1894
J.C. Love Pencil Sharpener November 27, 1897
W.A. Martin Lock July 23, 1889
Alexander Miles Elevator October 11, 1867
Garrett Morgan Gas Mask October 13, 1914
Garrett Morgan Traffic Light November 20, 1923
Lydia O. Newman Hair Brush November 15
Robert Pelham Tabulation Device 1905
Tallying Machine for U.S. Census 1913
W.B Purvis Fountain Pen January 7, 1890
Walter Purvis Hand Stamp February 27, 1883
Lawrence P. Ray Dust Pan August 3, 1897
John W. Reed Rolling Pin 1864
A.C. Richard Insect Destroyer Gun February 28, 1899
W. H. Richardson Baby Carriage June 18, 1889
J. Ricks Horseshoe March 30, 1885
James Robinson Lunch/Dinner Pail 1887
G. T. Sampson Clothes Dryer June 6, 1862
Henry Sampson Cell Phone July 6, 1971
S.R Scratton Curtain Rod November 30, 1889
J. Standard Refrigerator June 14, 1891
Thomas Stewart Mop June 11, 1893
Benjamin Thornton A Precursor to the Answer Machine 1935
Madame C.J. Walker Straightening Comb 1905
J. Thomas White Lemon Squeezer December 8, 1893
Daniel Hale Williams 1st Successful Open Heart Surgery July 9, 1893
J.W. Winters Fire Escape Ladder May 7, 1878
Granville T. Woods Auto Cut-off Switch January 1, 1839
Granville T. Woods Phone Transmitter December 2, 1884
It's a shame that the majority of theses inventors did not live enough to gain the recognition
that they deserve. The goal of this article is to shed light on these great people and
their contributions to society.
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