Note: It is my belief that Black History should not be relegated to one month but a part of the everyday curriculum.
Since we are in the midst of Black History Month, I thought it would be a great idea to highlight a few Black inventors who have created inventions that have made life easier, safer and in one case fun.
Lonnie Johnson, a NASA engineer, created a mega water gun in his spare time. That mega water gun became known as the Super Soaker. It earned over a billion dollars in retail sales, according to Forbes magazine in 2017.
Mark Dean is the co-inventor of the IBM personal computer. He also invented the color monitor and his technology enabled printers, keyboards and mice to be plugged into computers, allowing them to communicate, making life a lot easier for users.
Shirley Jackson, a theoretical physicist, used her knowledge in physics to foster advances in telecommunications. While she isn’t credited with a specific invention, her work advanced the field and allowed others to invent everything from fiber optic cables to touch tone phones, portable fax machines, call waiting and caller i.d. She is the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Marie Van Britten Brown, who was a nurse by trade, created the first home security system. Patented in 1969, her original design included a camera, two-way microphone, a peephole and monitors, serving as a foundation for today’s home security systems. She is also credited for inventing the first closed circuit television system.
Garett Morgan used his skills to create two products in particular that helped save lives. His first patent came about in response to car accidents caused by two light traffic signals. He designed a three-position traffic signal, inserting a yellow “caution” light to regulate crossing vehicles more safely than previous signals. He also patented his “Breathing Device” in 1912, which would be the pre-cursor to gas masks.
Madam C.J. Walker became a self-made millionaire by creating a hair product line for black hair. Her first product, Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower came out in 1905 and lead to the creation of her empire. You can learn more about her in the Netflix series Self Made.
This is only a sampling of the multitudes of Black inventors that have changed the world with their ideas. They are inspiring and I raise a glass to all.
My Lemons My Lemonade 