Black History . . . American History. . . Our History!

Some Inventions Made by African Americans:

• air conditioning unit: Frederick M. Jones; July 12, 1949
• almanac: Benjamin Banneker; Approx 1791
• auto cut-off switch: Granville T. Woods; January 1,1839
• auto fishing devise: G. Cook; May 30, 1899
• automatic gear shift: Richard Spikes; February 28, 1932
• baby buggy: W.H. Richardson; June 18, 1899
• bicycle frame: L.R. Johnson; October 10, 1899
• biscuit cutter: A.P. Ashbourne; November 30, 1875
• blood plasma bag: Charles Drew; Approx. 1945
• cellular phone: Henry T. Sampson; July 6, 1971
• chamber commode: T. Elkins; January 3, 1897
• clothes dryer: G. T. Sampson; June 6, 1862
• curtain rod: S. R. Scratton; November 30, 1889
• curtain rod support: William S. Grant; August 4, 1896
• door knob: O. Dorsey; December 10, 1878
• door stop: O. Dorsey; December 10, 1878
• dust pan: Lawrence P. Ray; August 3, 1897
• egg beater: Willie Johnson; February 5, 1884
• electric lamp bulb: Lewis Latimer; March 21, 1882
• elevator: Alexander Miles; October 11, 1867
• eye protector: P. Johnson; November 2, 1880
• fire escape ladder: J. W. Winters; May 7, 1878
• fire extinguisher: T. Marshall; October 26, 1872
• folding bed: L. C. Bailey; July 18, 1899
• folding chair: Brody & Surgwar; June 11, 1889
• fountain pen: W. B. Purvis; January 7, 1890
• furniture caster: O. A. Fisher; 1878
• gas mask: Garrett Morgan; October 13, 1914
• golf tee: T. Grant; December 12, 1899
• guitar: Robert F. Flemming, Jr. March 3, 1886
• hair brush: Lydia O. Newman; November 15,18--
• hand stamp: Walter B. Purvis; February 27, 1883
• horse shoe: J. Ricks; March 30, 1885
• ice cream scooper: A. L. Cralle; February 2, 1897
• improve sugar making: Norbet Rillieux; December 10, 1846
• insect-destroyer gun: A. C. Richard; February 28, 1899
• ironing board: Sarah Boone; December 30, 1887
• key chain: F. J. Loudin; January 9, 1894
• lantern: Michael C. Harvey; August 19, 1884
• lawn mower: L. A. Burr; May 19, 1889
• lawn sprinkler: J. W. Smith; May 4, 1897
• lemon squeezer: J. Thomas White; December 8, 1893
• lock: W. A. Martin; July 23, 18--
• lubricating cup: Ellijah McCoy; November 15, 1895
• lunch pail: James Robinson; 1887
• mail box: Paul L. Downing; October 27, 1891
• mop: Thomas W. Stewart; June 11, 1893
• motor: Frederick M. Jones; June 27, 1939
• peanut butter: George Washington Carver; 1896
• pencil sharpener: J. L. Love; November 23, 1897
• record player arm: Joseph Hunger Dickenson January 8, 1819
• refrigerator: J. Standard; June 14, 1891
• riding saddles: W. D. Davis; October 6, 1895
• rolling pin: John W. Reed; 1864
• shampoo headrest: C. O. Bailiff; October 11, 1898
• spark plug: Edmond Berger; February 2, 1839
• stethoscope: Imhotep; Ancient Egypt
• stove: T. A. Carrington; July 25, 1876
• straightening comb: Madam C. J. Walker; Approx 1905
• street sweeper: Charles B. Brooks; March 17, 1890
• phone transmitter: Granville T. Woods; December 2, 1884
• thermostat control: Frederick M. Jones; February 23, 1960
• traffic light: Garrett Morgan; November 20, 1923
• tricycle: M. A. Cherry; May 6, 1886
• typewriter: Burridge & Marshman; April 7, 1885

Other things invented by Blacks People
o Break Dancing
o Chess
o Jazz
o Blues
o Rap
o Reggae, Ska
o Rock and Roll
o Super Water Blaster
o Fiber Optics

“Black History Month ~ is a remembrance of important people and events in history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of October.”

“The remembrance was founded in 1926 by United States historian Carter G. Woodson as “Negro History Week”. Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.”

Side Bar: I tell ya B’wood always knew were such an awesome race of people and made major contributions. However, many of these inventions I never knew were invented by African Americans. (i.e. stethoscope, mail box, cellular phone, stove).

Doesn’t it just make you beam with joy and cause you to delve into the exploration of our Black History.