SOME FACTS ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH & INVENTIONS

HISTORY:

2 a: a chronological record of significant events (as affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes;

4 a: events that form the subject matter of a history. 

As a citizen of the United States of America, I would take pride in the accomplishments and/or contributions made by any citizen that would impact my life, other citizens or the overall state of the nation in a positive way. Sadly, the contributions made by Black (coloreds centuries ago) or African-American citizens were not acknowledged or considered significant by the Majority (Anglo-Saxons); therefore Black people decided to make sure that no contribution made by their ancestors would go unnoticed or undocumented in the annals of United States history. Because, U.S. history was deplete of these important accomplishments; the study of Black history became important to African-Americans many years ago ( since 1915). It was crucial that men, woman and children were educated about their heritage and ancestors.  



  

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

I invite you to peruse an A – Z listing of Black inventions, which were documented as early as the mid-1800s with the exception of one recorded in the 1700s. Aside from the color of their skin, the inventors were just like other citizens of the United States. 

Their desire was to improve the quality of human life with essential items, machines or appliances that could used for business, personal, medical and household needs with convenience.

 

BLACK INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTION LIST
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
phone transmitter	Granville T. Woods		December 2, 1884
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
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