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Did you know that we go through our everyday lives using ingenious inventions made by African American inventors? To celebrate Black History Month this year, we are going to learn about some of these inventors and innovators who have contributed so much to making our lives both easier and safer.

  • Alexander Miles of Circleville, Ohio, invented the closed shaft elevator, which he patented in 1867. This is essentially the version of the elevators we use today and was not only a major contribution to convenience but also a major step forward in helping buildings to be more accessible to all.

  • William H. Richardson, who was born just down the road in Baltimore, Maryland, developed an updated version of a baby buggy (stroller) in 1889. Though strollers had existed previously, Richardson’s update made it so that the wheels on buggies could actually turn and change direction. Prior to this, people would have to lift the stroller and physically turn it to change its direction. 

  • John Stanard of Newark, New Jersey, patented his creation of the refrigerator in 1891. The importance of this household staple goes without saying, but to give you an idea of just how big a leap this was, picture this scenario: all you have to keep your perishables from going bad is a cooler. And you have to constantly replace the ice in that cooler to keep it cold.

  • Are you a fan of golf? You can thank George F. Grant from Oswego, New York, for the golf tee, which he patented in 1899.

  • Garrett A. Morgan of Paris, Kentucky, developed the traffic/stop light, which he patented in 1923. Prior to this, traffic was usually directed by traffic police, so having traffic signals invented and implemented was a major step forward in both technology and driving safety measures. 

  • Lonnie Johnson from Mobile, Alabama, created the Super Soaker water gun in 1989. And it was supposedly made completely by mistake! Kids, you’re welcome. 

  • Home security systems were developed and patented by Marie van Britten Brown in 1969. She was from Jamaica, New York, and developed her security system with her husband. This system included CCTV, two-way microphones, peepholes, as well as some other bells and whistles!

  • Frederick Jones from Covington, Kentucky, invented the portable refrigerator, now known as the fridge truck. This is a very significant creation because it not only allows us to transport food long distances without it spoiling, but allows us to transport necessities like pharmaceuticals as well.

  • Lewis H. Latimer from Chelsea, Massachusetts, developed and patented the electric lamp, or incandescent lightbulb, in 1881. Yes, Thomas Edison is largely given credit for this invention, but what was created still needed improvement to be functional and sustainable in the long term. Latimer, along with his partner Joseph V. Nichols, refined the lightbulb by making a better carbon filament that lowered production costs and allowed the bulbs to burn longer.

This list is just a few of the very many who have dedicated themselves to helping the improvement of technology and machinery in our society. We also exist in the unfortunate reality of not being able to truly know how many inventions were made by African Americans, especially during the time of slavery. But I certainly hope this blog has sparked your interest and desire to learn more on your own! To dig a little deeper, try out these resources provided to you by CCPL that were used in the creation of this post (and then some):

To dig a little deeper, try out these resources provided to you by CCPL that were used in the creation of this post (and then some):

Books

Black Inventors: Crafting Over 200 Years of Success by Keith C. Holmes

No description provided.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit of African American Inventors by Patricia Carter Sluby

This book not only documents the valuable contributions of African American thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs past and present, but also puts these achievements into context of the obstacles these innovators faced because of their race. After patenting over 40 innovations in the research chemistry field while working at the Glidden Company, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian decided to establish his own company, Julian Laboratories, Incorporated in Chicago during the turbulent, racist climate of the 1950s. Over his lifetime, Julian received more than 130 chemical patents. Julian is just one of many, mostly unknown, African American inventors and entrepreneurs.

Black Inventors by Sidney Wallace

This book not only documents the valuable contributions of African American thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs past and present, but also puts these achievements into context of the obstacles these innovators faced because of their race. After patenting over 40 innovations in the research chemistry field while working at the Glidden Company, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian decided to establish his own company, Julian Laboratories, Incorporated in Chicago during the turbulent, racist climate of the 1950s. Over his lifetime, Julian received more than 130 chemical patents. Julian is just one of many, mostly unknown, African American inventors and entrepreneurs.

African American Inventors by Otha Richard Sullivan

No description provided.

African American Women Scientists and Inventors by Otha Richard Sullivan

Author Otha Richard Sullivan once headed Detroit’s program to infuse African American history into the public school curriculum. Here he profiles 25 black American woman who have made significant contributions to science and technology, explaining that many, many more are utterly unknown because first of legal bans on granting patents to slaves and later because of social constraints on women. His message to black schoolgirls is that just because they have not heard of black women scientists does not mean that the profession is closed to them. Countless African American women have made important contributions to science that impact the way we live, work, and think today. Too often their accomplishments have gone unrecorded. African American Women Scientists and Inventors introduces you to some of these outstanding women and their achievements. Here are lively profiles of both unsung and legendary heroines spanning three hundred years of American history. For example, find out how Madame C.J. Walker emerged from a heritage of slavery to develop the “Walker System” of hair care that allowed her to employ thousands, fund foundations and scholarships to help young African Americans and become the first woman millionaire. Bessie Blount Griffin, a physical therapist, invented a device to help the disabled feed themselves. Angela D. Ferguson, M.D., discovered a way to detect sickle cell anemia in newborns. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in physics, became a leader in her field. She was the first African American to become president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where she teaches today. Meet African American women of science and invention from the early years to modern times.

African American Inventors by Stephen Currie

No description provided.

Databases

Gale: Diversity Studies Collection

African American Experience: the American Mosaic

Reference Collection (in library use only):

African Americans In Science, Math, and Invention by Ray Spangenburg

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