from three-way traffic signals to security systems and laser cataract surgery many brilliant contributions came from black inventors Who Rose to the top of their fields despite segregation and discrimination school history lessons May typically praise the contributions of white men like Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin but black inventors have also heavily shape the world we live in today with contributions in food medicine and safety these black inventors have helped make our lives healthier safer and easier and are worth everyone knowing during with us as we take a rundown on the list of black inventors that changed the world Thomas Jennings Born Free in 1791 Thomas Jennings is widely regarded as the first African-American to hold a patent Thomas Jennings was an African-American inventor Tradesman entrepreneur and abolitionist in New York City New York he has the distinction of being the first African American patent holder in history he was granted the patent in 1821 for his novel method of dry cleaning Jennings invention along with his business expertise yielded a significant personal Fortune much of which he put into the Abolitionist Movement in the United States he invented a dry scouring process a precursor to Modern dry cleaning Jennings established his own tailor and dry cleaning business and gained a reputation as a respected local Community member using the profits from his business Jennings could purchase the freedom of his wife and children Judy Reed she invented a don meter and roller that revolutionized the baking industry making preparing dough more efficient she was the first African-American woman to receive a US patent for her invention by improving the efficiency of dough preparation her invention made baking easier and enabled the production of more baked goods Judy Reed's Legacy as an inventor and Pioneer in the baking industry has inspired generations of inventors and entrepreneurs Sarah breed of Walker popularly known as Madame CJ Walker is arguably the most well-known African-American woman inventor she revolutionized Hair Care by designing the first hot comb and inventing the idea of Pomade if for the hot comb most African-American women straighten their hair with clothing irons resulting in scalp and facial Burns and damaged hair Walker sold her inventions and helped transform the marketing strategy for cosmetic products she established a large group of sales women known as The Walker clubs as a system later adopted by Mary Kay in 1908 Walker founded lelia College in Pittsburgh to teach women how to sell cosmetic products her Innovative marketing tactics made her the first African-American woman millionaire in the United States despite her wealth Walker remained philanthropic and contributed significantly to various nonprofit groups including the National Association for the advancement of colored persons after World War II many soldiers returned home with permanent injuries at the Veterans Hospital in Chicago physical therapist Bessie blown Griffin treated ues and patients who had lost a use of their limbs determined to improve their quality of life Griffin invented the portable receptacle support a device that enabled patients to eat without assistance the device consisted of a tube attached to a bowl and connected to a brace around the patient's neck though it may seem crude the invention provided greater Independence to those who needed it most Griffin born in Chesapeake Virginia was the first African-American woman to work at Scotland Yard in London England her Innovative spirit and dedication to helping others continue to inspire new generations of inventors and medical professionals alike Granville T Woods was awarded the patent for the steam boiler in 1884 leveraging the communication technology of the late 1800s he invented an apparatus that combined the functions of the teleph phone and the telegraph called telegraphy this groundbreaking system allowed Telegraph stations to send both Voice and text messages over the same line Alexander Graham Bell's company later purchased the Technology's patent Woods also invented the synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph a communication system that enabled railroad workers to determine the precise locations of trains on any given Railway this technology not only improved scheduling but also helped prevent Railway accidents throughout his life which received over 50 patents in various Industries between 1900 and 1907 he was granted 20 patents for electronic devices that controlled trains his numerous inventions earned him the nickname the black Edison in 1953 the Eder instrument company manufactured the Eder Palmer biopsy gastroscope two years later Leon Des Barry invented an attachment for the device that allowed doctors to collect tissue from a patient's stomach without result according to surgical procedures the modified device the Eder Berry biopsy attachment represented a significant advancement in medical technology in 1960 after conducting extensive studies of the stomachs of Alcoholics Dr Barry made a groundbreaking discovery excessive alcohol consumption caused more damage to the liver than to the stomach this discovery revolutionized the treatment of alcoholism Shifting the focus to the liver as the primary organ affected by alcohol abuse Barry's Discovery marked a significant milestone in the medical community's understanding of the harmful effects of alcohol on the body Benjamin bancker a self-taught mathematician demonstrated a natural talent for inventing from a young age in his early 20s he became fascinated with a pocket watch and borrowed it to study its mechanism a year later he created an early version of a chiming wall clock that struck a gong on the hour instead of playing the Westminster Chime Melody Baker's clock kept time for over 40 years Born Free in 1731 Baner never experienced slavery at 61 he completed the first edition of Baker's Almanac and gave it to Thomas Jefferson and then the United States Secretary of State in the 18th century almanacs were essential household items they provided information about the timing of sunrise sunset lunar and solar eclipses moon phases and holidays farmers in Delaware Maryland Pennsylvania and Virginia relied on bancker Almanac as a guide when Baner asked Jefferson to advocate for equal rights for African-Americans and fight against racial Prejudice the Secretary of State acknowledged that black people had talents equal to those of other races Baner passed away in 1806 59 years before slavery was abolished Michael Crossland's invention the Medtech for 100 and revolutionize blood monitoring with its computerized technology before its development medical professionals had to rely on their instincts and the patient's vital signs for diagnosis the mettech 410 eliminated the guesswork providing doctors with accurate and reliable data for making informed treatment decisions crossin also developed a similar device the Medtech for20 which automatically adjusts for surrounding noise and air pressure while monitoring a patients pulse together these inventions have improved the accuracy and efficacy of Medical Treatments demonstrating the power of technological innovation in medicine Elijah McCoy never had to endure life in slavery thanks to the Underground Railroad which helped his parents escape to Canada after being enslaved at 15 McCoy enrolled in a boarding school in Edinboro Scotland to study mechanical engineering despite his education McCoy encountered difficult ulty finding respectable work in the United States mainly due to racial discrimination he eventually secured a position as a fireman for a railroad company where he was responsible for oiling the moving parts of the trains the need for greater efficiency inspired McCoy to invent an automatic lubrication mechanism that reduced the need for labor and kept the Train Running smoothly some attribute the phrase The Real McCoy to the success and efficiency of this mechanism making it an expression of superior ior performance and quality Otis boyin was a brilliant inventor who made significant contributions across various Fields throughout his life he patented 26 devices including the electronic resistors used in guided missiles pacemakers and IBM computers boykin's electronic resistors were widely adopted due to their durability which made them resistant to temperature changes extreme acceleration and shocks in addition to these inventions he held patents for an electronic air filter and a locking mechanism for cash registers buckins numerous Innovations continue to shape and Advance Fields ranging from Aerospace to healthc care and Technology Huff Brown he was committed to improving people's living conditions as an educator with a practical mindset he worked alongside prominent figures like Charles chestnet wbd Boyce and Booker Washington to advance education in addition to his work in education Brown also invented a device combining his knowledge of prototype design engineering to trap sewer water and prevent it from flowing back into homes he was awarded a patent for his prototype design engineering invention in 1890 and his device helped people maintain a civilized living environment George Washington Carver awarded three patents for Cosmetics paints and stains none of them were commercially successful Carver's discoveries were much more important than his invention he discovered that continuous cotton crops in the same piece of land depleted the soil's natural nutrients to avoid the damage he experimented with crop rotation using peanut and sweet potato plants as the intermediates he figured out that the system helped restore nitrogen in the soil making the land healthy again just because someone Works in a post office doesn't mean the person has to deliver mail Shelby Davidson worked for the United States Postal Service specifically in the auditing department where he kept track of schedules and numbers perhaps necessity is after all the mother of all inventions Davidson invented a paper rewinding device for adding machine in 1908 and an automatic fee device in 1911 both inventions made his job much easier and more efficient William Henry Barnes anent doctor at the Frederick dudas Hospital in Philadelphia was not only a Pioneer in the field of medical device design and development but also credited with inventing the hypos scope incorporating his expertise in medical device design and development this Innovative medical instrument was specifically designed to reach the pituitary gland on the brain's Underside this gland secretes hormones into the bloodstream and Barn's invention made it easier for doctors to access it although reaching the gland without any specialized medical device was possible Barn's instrument greatly facilitated the procedure in addition to inventing the hpos scope Barnes improved upon a method to remove tonsils without bleeding refining the process for greater efficiency born in 1848 to formerly enslaved parents Lewis ladimir was fortunate enough to lend a job at a patent law firm after the Civil War where he fought on the union side at the firm he provided valuable invention design help as a draftsman whose drawings of Machinery mechanisms and various inventions determin whether any patent application would be approved or denied a skillful draftsman of his time ladimer was employed by Alexander Graham Bell to draw the draft for the telephone design for which Bell received the patent in 1876 while working as a draftsman and assistant manager for the US electric lighting company he improved the process of making carbon filament for light bulbs so that it might last longer and be cheaper to produce the filament was even more effective than Edison's design and in 1884 he was invited to work with Thomas Edison himself he was the first person of color to be included in the exclusive Edison Pioneers organization ladimer also invented a precursor to the modern air conditioner known as an apparatus for cooling and disinfecting locking umbrellas improved train bathroom design a lamp fixture and a device called book supporter Meredith Charles gine was a pioneering inventor who applied the principles of electrogas DX to create ground breaking devices among his most notable Innovations were the electrod spray gun which simplified painting on challenging surfaces like Metal Frames and the incinerate which reduced air pollution from incinerators gerine was the first to apply electrogas dyx to practical inventions and his contributions extend beyond these devices he also invented an electric car battery a method for repairing potholes using gold car tires a system for extracting oil from from shale rock and a way to remove fog from airport runways throughout his career gerdine earned 25 patents between 1969 and 1996 his Innovative spirit and commitment to improving the world around him continued to inspire inventors and scientists today James foron was born and raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1766 he served in the US Navy during the Revolutionary War and was captured by the British despite being offered Freedom if he agreed to live in England foron refused choosing to remain a prisoner for Liberty rather than betray his country after the war he became an apprentice sailmaker and developed equipment to help handle Ship Sails significantly improving efficiency his invention made him wealthy and he used his wealth to support the abolition of slavery foron passed away in 1842 Jen Ernest matela spent a considerable amount of time creating numerous prototype designs until he he succeeded in building his first shoe lasting machine this machine was designed to make the leather uppers fit flawlessly with the mold ultimately revolutionizing the shoe making industry with his invention shoe making efficiency drastically improved increasing production output from 50 pairs a day by hand to anywhere between 150 and 700 pairs daily introducing easier manufacturing processes and larger production quantities led to a 50% reduction in shoe prices Nationwide additionally Matt saliga is credited with inventing the nailing machine George Washington Murray's inventions were all born from his experience as a farmer and his determination to make labor less arduous having been born into slavery Murray grew up on a rbert cotton Plantation until the Emancipation Proclamation was signed his first three patents of fur opener a marker and a stock knocker cultivator were granted in April 1984 two months months later the US patent office awarded him four more patents including for cotton Chopper and fertilizer distributor devices Murray was also distantly related to Jim cliber a US House of Representatives member from South Carolina John Parker a conductor in the Underground Railroad Network and an American abolitionist dedicated his life to freeing over a thousand enslaved individuals in addition to his heroic efforts Parker was also a success ful businessman and inventor he is credited with the early designs of the tobacco press and Harrow for which he received patents in 1884 and 1885 moreover Parker established a phoenix Foundry in 1890 the largest between Cincinnati and Portsmouth Parker's contributions to society were not limited to his activism he also became one of only 55 Americans to be awarded multiple us patents by 1900 Norbert ru's father was the owner of a vast sugar Plantation after studying in Paris Ru returned to the United States and began inventing sugar production devices focusing on the evaporating process his first patented invention was a vacuum evaporator for the refining process which produce wider and more refined sugar over time this invention was widely used in other Industries including whiskey gelatin condensed milk glue and soap Samuel scoten the inventor of the Dual adjustable mirror on a pole commonly seen in traditional barber shops named his invention the scottron mirror this mirror is positioned so clients can observe their haircut from every angle scottron patented this practical invention in 1868 following his success in the barber shop industry scottron created several commonplace household items including curtain rods adjustable window cornices a pole tip and a supporting bracket he spent approximately 15 years traveling between the United States and Canada to sell these products in addition to his successful career in inventing scoten was also a co-founder of the Cuban anti-slavery Society Lewis Temple a highly skilled blacksmith is credited with inventing an improved whaling Harpoon that revolutionized whaling in 1845 unlike conventional harpoons Temple's Harpoon resembled a fish hook in shape once the hook penetrated the whale it would latch onto the flesh making it exceedingly difficult for the animal to escape this improved design called temples iron became the standard Harpoon in the whaling industry throughout the 19th century despite his invention's success Lewis Temple was not a whaler himself George Peak a soldier in the Revolutionary War invented the conventional handm Mill used for grinding corn he was part of the first settlement in what would become modern day Cleveland Ohio which was largely unsettled until the early 19th century peak's handm Mill consisted of two round Stones each approximately 19 in wide at the time the only tools available for grinding were the traditional mortar and pestle making the hand Mill a more efficient and convenient option although Pig did not file for a patent he received credit for his invention thanks to a publication by the Cleveland Leader newspaper Andrew beard was born into s y but became one of the country's most brilliant inventors even before working for various rail companies he invented a flower Mill several plows and a rotary steam engine however while working for the railroads he developed his most famous invention the Jenny coupler the Jenny coupler automatically linked and locked two train cars as they bumped into each other eliminating the need for workers to manually insert a metal pin and significantly reducing the risk of accidents and deaths before Beard's invention connecting train cars was dangerous work and the Jenny coupler revolutionized Transportation efficiency and safety Henry Blair although often credited as the first black person to hold a US patent that honor belongs to Thomas Jennings who was awarded a patent in 1821 while the US patent office did not typically identify patent holders by race Jenning achievement was remarkable given the racial prejudice and discrimination of the time little is known about Blair except that he was likely not enslaved as enslaved individuals were considered property and unable to hold patents Blair's inventions included a corn planter that combined plowing seeding and soil coverage which he patented in 1834 he was later awarded a second patent for a cotton seed planter in 1836 Taio is a total body fitness program that combines several disciplines including martial arts and aerobics the name is a portmanto of taekwan doe and boxing developed in 1976 by Taekwondo practitioner Billy Banks the program only gained widespread popularity in the United States during the 199s 1 hour of Taio routine is believed to burn up to 800 calories twice as many as a conventional aerobic session this intensive calorie burning program has made it a popular choice among Fitness enthusiast test s looking to achieve rapid weight loss and muscle toning in 1969 George carers invented the far ultraviolet camera and spectrograph that accompanied the Apollo 16 mission to the moon the camera plated in Gold could capture highquality images of Earth from the moon's surface the device provided stunning photographs and helped scientists discover the presence of hydrogen in space and understand the mechanisms of air pollution carther's invention has since led to new theories about the birth of stars and has influenced Global efforts to control air pollution the far ultraviolet camera and spectrograph remain remarkable in space exploration and scientific innovation Walter Lincoln Hawkins born in 1911 in Washington DC was the grandson of a slave he attended ransier poly Technic Institute after high school and was one of only two African American students Hawkins earned his Doctorate from McGill University in 1938 becoming the first black person to hold a technical staff position at Bell Laboratories while at Bell Labs Hawkins developed his most famous invention a weather resistant polymer coating for telephone wires this plastic sheath could withstand extreme temperature changes and last for decades replacing the lead materials previously used to protect telephone cables Hawkins invention revolutionized the Telecommunications industry and significantly impacted everyday life in 1976 six Hawkins retired from Bell labs and was appointed research director by the Plastics Institute of America his groundbreaking work as a scientist and inventor opened doors for future generations of black scientists and helped shape the world we live in today George kther invented the far ultraviolet light camera and spectrograph which captured highquality images of Earth from the Moon in contrast Elmer Samuel Imes was an astrophysicist who improved spectrometers to measure the amount of infrared in the atmosphere his invention was subsequently used in various applications including chemical lasers and Rocket engines im's work helped pave the way for significant advancements in atmospheric and environmental monitoring and space exploration Lonnie Johnson's passion for scientific experimentation began during childhood when he would conduct experiments in his kitchen building robots and making batches of Rocket Fuel after working at Nasa from 1979 to 19 1991 Johnson founded the Johnson research and development company creating three other development companies in Atlanta Georgia while Johnson's work at Nasa focused on high-tech research programs such as a nuclear power source for the Galileo mission to Jupiter and a stealth bomber his passion for inventing toys and everyday tools never faded with around 80 patents to his name Johnson has created a wide range of inventions including compressed air guns digital distance measuring instruments an automatic sprinkler controller and even a wet diaper detector however his most famous invention Remains the Super Soaker a pressurized water gun that revolutionized the toy industry returning to helik Minnesota after World War I Frederick McKinley Jones found work as a movie projectionist and a mechanic Jones natural gift for machines and mechanics led him to invent the first sound synchronization device for Motion Pictures his innovation made made it possible for films to incorporate synchronized soundtracks and it quickly revolutionized the movie industry while sound synchronization was a great invention Jones held no patent his first patent was for a ticket dispensing machine Jones held more than 60 patents but his most famous and significant invention was the refrigerated truck or more specifically the roof-mounted cooling system used on trucks he was awarded the patent for it in 1940 during World War II his Invention played an important role in preserving Food Supplies and blood for the wounded Jones's other inventions include a control device for internal combustion engines a temperature control system and a rotary compressor Margery Stewart Joiner was an African-American businesswoman and Community leader who significantly contributed to the beauty industry she was the supervisor of more than 200 beauty schools under Madame CJ Walker's Network and her clients included prominent figures such as Ethel Waters Marian Anderson and Billy Holiday Joiner held the patent for a permanent hair waving machine revolutionizing the Hair Care industry the machine used a combination of chemicals and heat to curl hair replacing the traditional curling iron and reducing the time and effort required to achieve long lasting curls Joiner was also an advocate for civil rights and an active member of the National Council of negro women perc leavon Julian was a renowned chemist who made many significant inventions one of his Creations was a soy protein coating paper that was a cheaper alternative to milk protein this paper was used in a product called aerofoam which was used to smother fires from burning gasoline and oil during World War II the US Navy also used aerofoam although aerofoam had slow knockdown characteristics it was safe to use as long as it was applied above the burning liquid Julian's most famous inventions were synthetic hormones including fusine and cortisone also derived from soybean plants fos stigmine is still used to treat glaucoma while the cortisone is used for rheumatoid arthritis a Sonic transducer uses sound waves to determine an object's speed distance and other units of measurement John King invented an early warning Sonic transducer in 1972 which could detect potential problems with aircraft engines before takeoff a professional in the Aerospace and safety Industries he also invented an alarm system in 1999 it was not just any other alarm system for home uses but a NASA approved one Garrett Morgan invented the first hair straightening cream albeit by accident however his other two inventions the traffic signal and gas mask resulted from deliberate research and development his gas mask known as the Morgan helmet was identified in the patent application as a breathing device and was adopted by firefighters to help them put out fires without inhaling poisonous air Morgan was awarded the patent in 1912 and soldiers used the gas mask during World War I with the money earned from his inventions Morgan could buy a car while driving near an intersection in Cleveland Ohio he witnessed a terrible accident which inspired him to invent a yield component as an addition to the existing traffic signal the signal was intended to war drivers about an upcoming stop the yield component became one of the world's first three light systems and Morgan was awarded the patent for it in 1924 Morgan's other inventions include the round belt Fastener hat Fastener and friction drive clutch James Parson's Jr held several patents related to metal fabrication methods in 1929 he was awarded a patent for an iron alloy followed by a fabrication method for a silicon iron compound in 19 1931 in 1934 he developed a treatment process for silicon alloy casting and in 1940 he invented a corrosion resistant Ferris alloy these inventions paved the way for the development of stainless steel during World War II Edwin Roberts Russell was one of the chemists working on the Manhattan Project at the metallurgical laboratory of the University of Chicago a secret government funded research to develop the atomic bomb the project eventually led to the develop of two types of atomic bombs known to history as the little boy and fat man used in the bombings of hirosima and Nagasaki in 1945 Russell held 11 patents for nuclear energy including a method for separating plutonium from uranium and I don't exchange absorption for plutonium separation his Works contributed significantly to the advancement of nuclear technology ARL Shaw invented the spin flip ramond tunable laser during his tenure as a a research scientist at Bell Laboratories this device is used to adjust the strength of a laser beam which is particularly helpful when performing delicate Precision required operations working as a print maker during the grade depression doc thrash invented a new technique for etching copper in 1937 his Discovery known as the carborundum process became a standard practice among printers and print makers this process involves using silicon carbide grit which is sprinkled pulled onto the plate before it is printed creating a texture and tone that mimics the look of charcoal or pencil drawings thrash wanted to name the process apograph after his mother ailia until Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 Moses fleetw Walker otherwise known as fleet was among the first black people to play Major League Baseball in the 1880s Walker was also an inventor in 1891 he was granted his first patent for a detach matchable shirt collar he also held three more patents related to methods for loading and changing movie reels in the 19th century Sarah Boon improved the ironing board which had been around for years but often overlooked Boon built a curved ironing board with a narrower width than the original making ironing women's clothing easier her design was patented in 1892 and became the most widely copied iteration of the ironing board it's worth noting that Boon was born into slavery an African-American nurse named Mary van brda Brown spent many nights alone at her home in Queens New York in the 1960s the crime rate was high in the neighborhood making her feel unsafe each time her husband was away in addition the police were largely unresponsive and could sometimes be unreliable in 1966 out of necessity she built a homemade security system comprised of cameras connected to a monitor the camera could mechanically ly slide into several peep holes in the front door and broadcast the image to the screen the design allowed her to survey the neighborhood from the Indoor Comfort of her home and avoid having unwanted guests around Van Brittain Brown continued improving the system by adding a microphone to speak to the person at the door a button to call the police and an unlock mechanism she and her husband were awarded the patent for the system in 1969 modern home security systems feature various elements based on their design in the past riding elevators was complicated and dangerous passengers had to manually shut both the elevator and shaft doors before riding forgetting to shut the doors properly or ignoring them posed a real risk of falling down the shaft when Alexander mil's daughter was almost involved in a catastrophic accident he decided to develop a system to make elevators safer in 1887 he was granted a patent for an automatic opening and closing mechanism for elevator and shaft doors miles design is still used in modern elevators today the vast majority of modern microphones including those in phones and other communication devices are based on the technology invented by James West in 1960 however he was not the only person credited with the invention and West was working alongside Gerard cesler at the Bell Laboratories tasked with creating a compact and sensitive microphone their invention the oil electric microphone was cheaper to produce than the conventional condenser variant it was not until 1964 that they perfected the design and were awarded the patent about 4 years later the technology had already been adopted by manufacturers of telephones tape recorders hearing aids and baby monitors among the 12 people working at IBM to develop the first PC Mark Dean was one of them back then the PC was connected to a monochrome monitor and the computer had very limited processing power Dean began working for IBM in the 1980s as chief engineer in addition to helping develop the IBM PC he was also involved in creating the first color monitor furthermore he led the team that created the first gigahertz chip around 1999 to 2000 it's hard to believe that it was only about 20 years ago now we have supercomputers and artificial intelligence with blazing processing speeds to handle even the most complicated algorithms in Split seconds as a co-creator of the personal computer Mark Dean holds three out of nine patents for the invention in 1995 he became the first African-American IBM fellow Patricia bath was an academic and Opthomologist who invented the process of removing cataracts using a laser beam device known as the larco probe she was born in Harlem in 1942 to an immigrant father from Trinidad and a mother who was a descendant of enslaved a Africans and Cherokee Native Americans bath achieved many impressive milestones in her career she was the first woman appointed to the opthamology faculty at University of California and the first African-American woman to serve as a surgeon staff at the University of California medical center additionally she was the first African-American to be a jeweles steiny Institute member lead a postgraduate Opthalmology training program and complete a residency in Opthalmology at New York University finally she was the first African-American woman to hold a patent for a medical invention Benjamin bordley Was Born Into Slavery around 1830 and taught himself to read and write with the help of his master's children he showed an early talent for invention which led his master to recommend him to the United States Naval Academy in Maryland boley's first job at the Academy was as an assistant in the department of natural and experimental philosophy making him the first African-American to to hold a non-meal position there while working in the department Bley developed the first steam engine on a ship unfortunately due to his status as an enslaved person he could not legally apply for or be granted a patent for his invention as a result ble sold the rights to his invention and used the proceeds to purchase his Freedom From Slavery the save deposit box initially designed as a receptacle for storing and preserving papers was invented by Henry Brown who was awarded the patent in 1886 the metal receptacle came equipped with a locking mechanism making it a simple and effective design that revolutionized safekeeping for centuries ladles and spoons were never meant to be the right tools for serving ice cream Alfred L CR who had only received basic education as a child noticed this while working at a hotel in Pittsburg he went on to develop a purpose build tool for the job known today as the ice cream scoop his invention spread so quickly that nobody knew the creative mind behind the design unfortunately Kel never profited from his idea Mary Jones Delian was among the first black women to be awarded us patents for their inventions receiving her patent in 1896 her invention was referred to Simply as a cooking apparatus in the patent still it was an Innovative device that would become the precursor to the modern steam table commonly seen in food buffets today before Delian invention hot food was often kept warm using chafing dishes which required frequent refueling and could be dangerous Dean's invention utilized steam to keep food at a consistent temperature without an open flame her invention featured several compartments each with its own heating element allowing different dishes to be kept at different temperatures this invention was an important step forward in Food Service technology making it easier and safer to keep food warm and ready to serve while her name may not be as well known as other inventors of her time her contributions to the food service industry have undoubtedly had a lasting impact Ellen Egan born in 1849 was an African-American woman who made significant contributions to the field of laundry and cleaning while working as a housekeeper Egan developed an early mechanical clothes ringer that made it easier for people to ring out clothes after washing them saving time and effort despite the practicality of her invention egund faced significant barriers due to her race and gender she was concerned that her invention would not be taken seriously because of her skin color as a result she sold the patent to a white man named wheeler for a small amount of money which made him the official patent holder for the device in 1888 unfortunately Egan did not receive the recognition she deserved for her invention during her lifetime she died in 189 90 never knowing the true impact of her contribution to the field of laundry and cleaning it was not until years later that her name was finally recognized and she was acknowledged as a Pioneer in the field of laundry technology Sarah good Was Born Into Slavery In 1855 as the second of seven children after the Civil War ended she and her family were finally freed good later moved to Chicago where she met and married a carpenter and stair Builder together they opened a furniture store where good not is that many of their clients lived in small apartments with limited space for furniture to address this problem good design a folding cabinet bed that could be used at night and as a rolltop desk during the day this Innovative design was a precursor to the modern-day wall bed and was particularly useful for small apartments the bed could be easily folded and stored away allowing the space to be used for other activities during the day Goods folding cabinet bed was a huge success and helped establish her reputation as an Innovative and talented Furniture designer despite facing discrimination as a black woman in a male dominated industry good continued to innovate and create new designs including an improved version of the folding cabinet bed her Legacy as a pioneering Furniture designer and inventor continues to this day George Franklin Grant Harvard's first African-American faculty member was born to formerly enslave Saed people in 1846 he began his career as an errand boy for local dentist Dr Albert Smith but thanks to his hard work and performance Dr Smith promoted Grant to laboratory assistant Grant pursued a career in dentistry and enrolled in Harvard dental school where he was one of only two black students at the time while he did not invent any Dental Care devices or products Grant's invention significantly impacted the sport of golf he was an avid golfer and developed an early version of the golf tea using wood and ladex resin before this invention golfers would build a small Mount of sand to place the ball before hitting it Grant's invention revolutionized the game allowing for more consistent and stable ball placement and his design is still used in modern golf today Lloyd Hall an African-American chemist was born in Illinois in June 1894 his grandmother was a formerly enslaved person who came to the city with the assistance of the Underground Railroad holl Leed a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical chemistry in 1916 and worked at Griffith's Laboratories Hall was a brilliant inventor holding 59 us patents and several others in different countries his most significant inventions include a vitamin concentrate an antioxidant salt nitrogen fortified whey concentrate a method for preserving frozen pork a gelatin based coating for food products and an asphalt emulsion his contributions to food preservation and safety have significantly impacted the industry making food safer and more accessible worldwide Betty Harris was born in July 1940 in Louisiana and raised in a large family of 12 children she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry then a master's and finally a PhD in 1973 from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque throughout her career Harris became a leading expert in Hazard water treatment explosives and environmental remediation Harris's most notable invention was the TB spot test a method for identifying explosives she was awarded the patent for this invention in 1984 her test allowed for rapidly detecting explosives in the field greatly improving safety in various Industries Harris was also recognized for her work in Environmental Protection receiving multiple awards for her contributions to the area Benjamin Montgomery's story is similar to that of Benjamin borley as both were born into slavery and taught to read and write by their owner's children later on they became inventors in the field of ship propulsion systems while Bley invented a steam engine for ships Montgomery developed an adjustable propeller that could be operated at different angles allowing boats to navigate shallow Waters Montgomery was a skilled laborer who his master entrusted with the shipping operation of the plantation he also had the opportunity to learn about Drafting and land surveying despite being unable to file a patent for his propeller design due to his slave status Montgomery was determined to commercialize it his master Joseph Davis attempted to file the patent but was denied as he was not the inventor Davis however allowed his slaves to keep the money they earned commercially from the operations Montgomery eventually accumulated enough wealth to purchase his master's Plantation as part of a long-term loan deal he became the first African-American to own and operate a plantation in Mississippi where he implemented Progressive agricultural practices including crop rotation and diversification Montgomery's Innovative spirit and entrepreneurialism inspired many and he left a lasting Legacy in the fields of Agriculture and invention Lida Newman a hairdresser from Manhattan New York City revolutionized the hairbrush industry in the late 1800s hairbrushes of that time were made from animal hair which was too soft to manage to typically thick African-American hair Newman proposed using synthetic fibers to replace animal hair her design closely resembled the modern-day hairbrush with evenly spaced rows of bristles and open slots for cleaning additionally she included a compartment at the back for easy removal of collected debris in 1898 Newman was awarded a patent for her Innovative invention despite her groundbreaking contribution to the beauty industry very little is known about laa Newman Beyond her invention Valerie Thomas was an African-American scientist and inventor who worked for NASA she is known for inventing the illusion transmitter which uses two concave mirrors to create three dimensional images that appear outside the mirrors Thomas was granted the patent for her invention in 1980 which has been used for various applications for instance surgery and television Thomas joined NASA in 196 for and worked there for over 30 years she was involved in developing the lat program which uses satellite imagery to study the Earth's surface she was also part of the team that developed the first satellite to provide images of the polar ice caps Thomas was a Trailblazer for women and minorities in science and engineering and her contributions have impacted the field she retired from NASA in 1995 but her Legacy inspires future scientists and inventors Jo Joseph Winters was a prominent African-American abolitionist who lived in New Bedford Massachusetts during the mid 1800s alongside his activism he was also an inventor and developed a fire escape ladder mounted on a vehicle this invention resulted from observing a firefighter struggling to unload a traditional ladder from a wagon during a fire emergency Winter's fire escape ladder invention was more efficient and safer as it could be deployed quickly and did not require the firefighter to carry it to the building in addition to his work as an inventor Joseph winter was an active member of the Underground Railroad a network of secret routs and safe houses used by enslaved African-Americans to escape to freedom in the north he assisted many enslaved people in their escape providing them with food shelter and directions on their Journey Winter's fire escape ladder invention and his contributions to the Underground Railroad helped save countless lives and made him a significant figure in African-American history in the summer of 1883 George crumb a chef encountered a customer at his restaurant who complained about his plate of french fries saying they were neither crunchy nor thin enough in response crumb sliced a potato into extremely thin pieces fried them until they were crispy and then heavily salted them to make them palatable the customer was delighted with the new dish and the potato chip was was born the popularity of the snack was so overwhelming that crumb opened his restaurant and began serving a basket of potato chips on every table the invention of potato chips created countless jobs worldwide and remains a favorite snack today while crumb did not patent the invention the snack has become a multi-billion dollar industry with most potato chips now mass-produced and sold in bags George alorn is an impressive inventor who had an equally remarkable academic career he earned his bachelor's degree in physics from accidental College then earned a master's degree in nuclear physics from Howard University and a fad in molecular physics from Howard University alorn worked for various prestigious companies and agencies throughout his career including IBM NASA and Perkin Elmer throughout his career alorn was granted eight patents but undoubtedly the most popular and groundbreaking of these was the X-ray spectrometer his invention is used for determining the materials of an object that cannot be broken down for closer analysis the X-ray spectrometer earn alorn the patent in 1984 earning him the NASA inventor of the Year award alcorn's work has had a significant impact on Science and Technology particularly in the fields of space exploration and Material Science his contributions have not gone unnoticed he has been recognized with many awards including the NASA Langley Research Center scientist or engineer of the Year award and the black engineer of the Year president award Charles Drew's research on blood plasma and the invention of blood banks revolutionized the field of Medicine by separating plasma from blood Drew created a way to store and transport blood more efficiently which became critical during World War II Drew's Innovative approach to blood transfusion was instrumental in Saving countless lives on the battlefield and Beyond in addition to his work with blood plasma Drew played a significant role in the desegregation of blood donation centers in the United States he fought against discriminatory practices that prevented African-Americans from donating blood insisting that race should not be a factor in determining a person's eligibility to donate tragically Drew died in a car accident in 1950 but his legacy continues to live on his contributions to the field of medicine have profoundly impacted how we approach blood transfusion and blood ban banking his advocacy for racial equality in health care has helped pave the way for future generations of Health Care Professionals Jane W's contributions to cancer research were groundbreaking she transformed chemotherapy from an experimental method to a proven cancer treatment her work developing Methotrexate for treating skin and breast cancer further cemented her reputation as a leading figure in cancer treatment Wright was the first African-American woman to become a medical college dean serving as the head of the New York Medical College's Department of cancer research she was also the first woman elected the New York Cancer Society president her contributions to cancer treatment have saved countless lives and continue to inspire future generations of scientists and medical professionals Janet Emerson basan pioneered equal employment opportunity management while at an insurance company she proposed an external team to investigate equal employment opportunity but the idea was reject Ed undeterred she founded her own equal employment opportunity management company which became a huge success to make the task of retrieving and storing EO information easier Bashan and her cousin Donnie Moore developed the linkline software this led to her being awarded a US patent for software making her the first africanamerican woman to receive this honor bash's Innovative spirit and commitment to equal employment opportunity continue to inspire many today Leonard Bailey's career began in banking where he helped established a Capital Savings Bank in 1888 and served as its president for a few years however he was also a prolific inventor with several patents Bailey invented a truss and bandage for people with lower body hernas in 1883 which the US Army adopted he also created a folding bed in 1899 designed for Easy Storage additionally his speed Stamper invention was used by the US Postal Service despite not having a background in healthcare Bailey's inventions helped improve many people's lives and his legacy as an inventor continues to inspire today Alisa gusta ball was the first African-American woman to graduate from the University of Hawaii with a degree in chemistry in 1915 she subsequently secured a teaching position at the University Alice ball researched the effects of K mugra oil on patients suffering from leprosy which led to the creation of the first leprosy treatment injection she discovered a method to isolate the fatty acid components and created a water soluble compound from the oil the injection was widely used for over 30 years to alleviate leprosy symptoms until the introduction of sulfone drugs Ball's groundbreaking work helped Advance Medical Research and relieved countless individuals suffering from leprosy Mary beatric Davidson Kenner invented the sanitary belt patented it in 1957 and revolutionized menstrual hygiene before her invention most women were still using cloth pads for menstruation the sanitary belt had a moistureproof pocket and was adjustable to fit any user comfortably Kenner also invented a toilet tissue holder a back washer mounted on the shower wall and a serving tray attached to a walking frame despite her many useful ideas now still widely used Kenner was perhaps one of the most forgotten African-American inv inventors Marian croak is a renowned computer scientist and inventor who has significantly contributed to Modern communication technology in 2013 she was inducted into the women in Technology International Hall of Fame for her achievements with over 200 patents to her name croak is best known for her work in developing voice over Internet Protocol technology she has held several high-profile positions throughout her career including senior vice president of research and development at a TNT and currently serves as the vice president of engineering at Google croaks Innovations have helped shape modern communication technology and continue to impact the industry profoundly Henry Simpson became the first African-American to earn a Fadi in nuclear Engineering in the United States in 1963 he was awarded a patent for a gamma electric cell which converts radiation into electricity the device is used for capturing the radiation in The Shield of a nuclear reactor and transforming it into auxiliary power this technology is used to generate additional power in nuclear reactors Simpson's invention has been significant for the nuclear power industry and has contributed to developing Innovative power sources David Crossett was an accomplished inventor with air conditioning and heat transfer expertise throughout his career crossw secured an impressive 119 patents with 39 of them in the United States he gave gained a reputation by the 1930s because of his numerous inventions including a boiler vacuum pump and thermostat control his most highly respected accomplishments include his heating system designed for New York's iconic Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center crosswits contributions to heating ventilation and air conditioning HVAC continue to inspire and inform new generations of inventors and Engineers the invention of the street sweeper by Charles Brooks in 1896 revolutionized Road cleaning before his invention workers had to rely on rudimentary brooms or manually collect trash making it a difficult and laborious task the street sweeper was essentially a standard road truck equipped with brushes to push dirt and debris off to the side of the road initially people were skeptical of the idea as it did not meet their expectations however as cities grew larger and Technology improved Street sweep ERS became indispensable road maintenance tools Brooks Innovation remains an integral part of Road cleaning technology today Jack Johnson was a professional boxer born in Galveston Texas in 1878 in 1908 he became the first African American World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Tommy Burns in Australia however Johnson lived in the United States when black men were not allowed by law to openly date white women he was later charged with violating the act for transporting his white girlfriend Lucille Cameron across state lines for immoral purposes and sentenced to one year in prison during his time in prison Johnson invented a wrench that could loosen and tighten Fasteners and he was granted a patent for it in 1922 although not his primary claim to fame Johnson's invention of the wrench was significant and contributed to the development of modern tools Joseph Lee born into slavery in Charleston South Carolina in 1848 was an entrepreneur chef and inventor he served as a blacksmith during the Civil War and later worked as a steward in the US Coastal survey for 11 years lean established restaurants and a successful upscale catering company Lee was bothered by the idea of throwing away day old bread so he invented the machine to automate tearing and grinding the bread into crumbs this invention was awarded a patent in 1895 and Lee sold the right to the Royal Worcester breadcrumb Company Lee's invention revolutionized the food industry by providing a way to repurpose what was once considered waste his Innovation still influences the food industry today Lloyd Ray's patent for the dust ban granted on August 3rd 1897 revolutionized cleaning before Ray's invention dust and debris on the floor had to be swept up by hand using a broom or a brush the introduction of the Des span made the process of cleaning more efficient and less labor intensive Ray's design was simple but effective with a metal collection plate attached to a wooden handle it remains largely unchanged to this day a testament to the timelessness and functionality of the original invention the Dustbin has become an essential household tool in homes offices and Commercial establishments worldwide Ray's invention simplified cleaning and paved the way for future Innovations in cleaning technology Joseph Dickinson began his career at the CLA and Warren Oregon Company in Detroit when he was just 17 years old the company was known as one of the largest orgon makers in the world at that time Dickinson designed an organ that impressed critics at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 despite his success in building organs for prestigious customers such as the royal family of Portugal Dickinson is most remembered for inventing the roller mechanism for Sheet Music the roller mechanism enabled pios to play sheet music in forward and reverse modes revolutionizing how people played music this invention made it easier for people to learn new songs and easily switch between different pieces of music while playing Dickinson's roller mechanism became popular and is still used in player pianos in the late 1800s collisions between street cars and other objects on the road were commonplace Matthew Cherry who had witnessed numerous incidents decided to develop a protective Dev Dev that could be fitted onto street cars he invented the fender a metal plate attached to the front of the car designed to absorb shock in the event of a collision Cherry was granted a patent for the fender in 1895 and it soon became a standard safety feature on street cars Miriam Benjamin was awarded a patent in 1888 for her invention the gong and Signal chair for hotels the chair featured a button that signaled a light when pressed allowing the Sur servers to quickly identify which guest required assistance this invention eliminated the need for guests to use hand clapping or verbal cues to call for help making it easier for guests and servers the United States House of Representatives later adopted the design Richard Boe spikes who was almost blind then invented and patented an automatic safety braking system for buses and trucks in 1962 this Innovative system was designed to help prevent accidents by Auto a atically stopping the vehicle if it sensed an obstacle ahead The Invention was quickly adopted by school buses across the United States making them much safer for children spikes also held several other patents during his lifetime including ones for an improved beer tap an automatic gear shift device and directional signals for vehicles while working at the United States Census Bureau Robert pelum invented the pasting apparatus in 1905 and the new tallying machine in 1913 the pasting device was used to attach paper strips containing Census Data onto large sheets making the task quicker and more efficient the new tallying machine pelum invented in 1913 automated counting Census Data resulting in significant time and resource savings both inventions revolutionized the census taking process and helped ensure more accurate and comprehensive data collection a series of Innovations in the manufacturing process of fiber optics LED Thomas Mena to develop a new technique that could deliver 20 m per second output in 1985 previously the fibers were produced at a rate of only 2 - 3 m/s such a massive jump in production efficiency allowed the manufacturers to sell Optical fibers at prices comparable to copper cables based on his work further improvements and Manufacturing methods eventually reached a peak speed of 50 m/s in 19 1986 Mena moved from Corning Glass Works to Bell Laboratories and led a weapon development team for the US Department of Defense his team built the first laser guided missile system men's Innovative spirit and technological contributions have had a significant impact making fiber optic communication a reality and advancing weapon technology Thomas Stewart an African-American inventor from camiso Michigan invented the precursor of the modern mop in 1893 before the invention cleaning floors was a strenuous process that involved manually scrubbing the surface with Rags or brushes Stuart's invention included a clamping device that held the rag attached to a lever allowing the user to ring the water out of the mop after several Strokes although manual labor was still required The Invention made the job easier and more dignified Stuart also co-invented an improved version of the station indicator for Railways the indicator was designed to activate automatically as the train hit a small lever on the side of the track allowing the station to determine the Train's position and track Thomas alkins revolutionized the food preservation industry with his groundbreaking invention in the late 1800s before his Discovery perishable goods were only preserved using large ice blocks often insufficient during a hot summer however ilan's invention of the metal cooling coils was a GameChanger and it effectively preserved food without ice blocks making it a more efficient and cost-effective solution thanks to his Innovation the modern refrigeration industry was born forever transforming how we store and preserve food IL kin's significant contribution was recognized when he was awarded a US patent for his revolutionary invention in 1879 when Willis Johnson invented his mixing apparatus in 1884 he had no idea how it would revolutionize the world of Cook cooking by transforming the slow rotation of a crank into a high-speed whisking motion the machine could easily beat eggs and other ingredients saving valuable time and effort in the kitchen despite being small and easy to use Johnson's invention was powerful enough to impact food preparation significantly his Innovation was so influential that modern rotary egg beers and electric mixers still use the same basic principle today Johnson's invention was a game Cher for home cooks and professional chefs earning him a patent and a place in culinary history John Lee Love who passed away in December 1931 is best known for inventing two simple yet practical products the plasterer hawk and The portable pencil sharpener although not technologically advanced his ideas aimed to make everyday tasks easier before the pencil sharpener people commonly used a knife to sharpen their pencils but Love's invention offered a more straightforward affordable and practical solution in 1890 Henry fauler was granted a US patent for his invention of the ventilated shoe a breakthrough in Footwear technology at that time unlike modern shoes sneakers an athletic Runners made with breathable materials faulconer's design aided by his expertise in prototypes for shoes sneakers and athletic Runners featured an innovative air passage between the material and lining ensuring proper air flow in and out of the shoe to achieve this he fitted perforated inner souls to allow fresh air to enter the shoe without obstruction falconer's design included a rubber bubble under the heel connected to an upward-facing open tube creating an air passage whenever the wearer took a step and pressed a bubble foul air would be forced out allowing fresh air to enter the shoe Albert Richardson from Frankfurt Michigan invented a casket lowering device that was granted US Patent the device was a simple cost effective solution that could be easily attached to a trench or ditch to receive the deceased casket the device was mechanically operated offering safe and stable support to prevent the casket from falling or dirt from spilling off the trench's edge it was constructed using a series of pulleys cloths and ropes providing a secure and balanced descent for the casket in the 1800s fire escapes were primarily available for commercial and multi-story buildings leaving homeowners with few options Daniel McCree solved the problem by designing a lightweight fire escape made of wood that could be easily attached to window sills allowing occupants on the second or third floor to escape in case of fire his invention was awarded a patent in 1890 and modern residential fire escapes are still based on his design in 1931 Benjamin Thornton was awarded a patent for his apparatus for automatically recording telephonic messages an early version of today's answering machine while some sources credit Thornton with inventing the answering machine in 1935 his device was an attachment for telephones that could record messages from callers and time stomped them it also allowed the telephone owner to record messages on the device David fiser an inventor designed two tools that revolutionized carpentry and Cabinetry work and improved Joiner class CL and a Furniture Caster the clamp eliminated the need for workers to pause multiple times to hold two pieces of wood together while applying glue or other Fasteners instead the clamp could mechanically and securely hold pieces of wood together saving time and increasing efficiency fiser patented the invention in April 1875 a year later in March 1876 fiser received a patent for a Furniture caster which featured free turning Wheels roller that allowed cabinet makers to move large pieces of furniture effortlessly there's debate about who invented the spring gun to scare away trespassers while some sources attribute its invention to Edward Lewis the patent he was granted in 1887 pertained to a toy the toy consisted of a metal tube on a wooden support with a wire trigger mechanism that required only a simple motion to activate the trigger release the wire was attached to a holder and the trigger would release when the holder was Disturbed causing the toy to shoot a projectile while louw did not mention using the toy as a booby trap some people may have repurposed it for that use Joseph Hawkins received a patent in 1845 for his invention the grid iron the grid iron was a cooking apparatus with a metal rack attached to a wooden handle it was designed for heating or cooking meals particularly meat and could be placed inside a fireplace or on a campfire however during the early 19th Century the grid iron was not widely used as most people had already switched to using more convenient kitchen stoves Alexander Ashburn Was Born Into Slavery around 1820 in Philadelphia and little is known about his early life however he later gained recognition for his inventions and was awarded several patents including one in 1875 for a spring loaded biscuit cutter about 5 years later Ashburn also received a patent for his techniques for refining and treating coconut oil despite his success as an inventor ashbourne's life story remains largely unknown today in 1879 William Binga was awarded a patent for an apparatus constructed from perforated pipes connected to water mains and attached to sidewalks streets and Roads the invention allowed the existing sprinkler system to reach all surface areas of a street including gutters with excellent efficiency James sweding invention described in the US Patent file 5495 issued in 1897 was a device for easily rolling cigarettes the device comprised a cylindrical Rod holding the tobacco and a mechanism to hold the cigarette paper when used correctly the device would create a perfectly formed cigarette the paper might require dampening along the roller line to prevent the cigarette from unraveling sweding goal was to make it easy for regular cigarette smokers to roll their cigarettes rather than only being accessible to cigarette manufacturers Robert Reynolds with his expertise in custom product packaging design was granted a patent in 1899 for inventing the non-refillable bottle it was designed with valve Stoppers permanently attached to the bottle to prevent unauthorized or misinterpreted use the invention benefited products that needed to maintain their original quality such as medication and food this Innovation prevented consumers from accidentally or intentionally refilling the bottles with other substances that could cause contamination or harm as a result the non-refillable bottle became a standard packaging choice for products requiring High safety and hygiene William pervis patented an improvement to the early design of fountain pens in 1890 before his invention fountain pens did not have an onboard Inc Reservoir and required a separate ink bottle perose design included a small ink storage inside the pen allowing for even ink distribution onto the writing medium peris's invention of the fountain pen with onboard ink storage made handwriting work cleaner and more efficient than the previous method Carrie Holly is a renowned inventor and Technology consultant who has significantly contributed to analytics and systems engineering during his time at IBM Holly has been awarded several patents for his groundbreaking inventions including a system to locate lost mobile devices and a process for maintaining ing functionality in the face of component failure however his most notable invention is the IBM service oriented architecture reference architecture revolutionizing how businesses approached software development and integration Holly was named black engineer of the year in 2003 for his numerous contributions to the technology industry and continues to be a prominent figure in the field John White's invention of the lemon squeezer was a testament to his expertise in in tool design and development this simple yet practical and the tool is now a household staple used by many worldwide unlike Carrie Holly who was awarded patents for complex Technologies White's invention was much more straightforward the lemon squeezer described in his patent application closely resembles the familiar modern design and it also included a container attachment to collect the juice Martin's log design was revolutionary for its time and eventually led to the creation of many other improved locks Martin himself went on to patent several other inventions including an electric motor and an electrical switch his log design was significant not only for its security improvements but also for its impact on the field of locksmithing locksmiths no longer had to rely solely on the ancient bold design but now had access to new and improved log designs eventually leading to more advanced security systems today Martin's log design is still used as the foundation for many modern lock systems Gladis West is a prominent mathematician known for her contributions to the mathematical modelling of the shape of the earth after collecting and analyzing satellite data of the Earth's surface West successfully created a detailed model which resulted in the global positioning system the GPS today the global navigation satellite system can accurately determine our position anywhere in the world James Edward msia West holds over 2504 and in US patents for the production and design of microphones he is also credited alongside his colleague Gerhard M cesler as having developed the electrc transducer technology used in compact electroc costic microphones while working at Bell labs in 1957 today 90% of microphones use their technology including those in Mobile phones laptops baby monitors and hearing aids William Kem kwamba is a among some of the youngest inventors in the world at just 14 years old the malaan innovator built in electricity producing windmill from spare and scrap parts to provide electricity to his home in rural Malawi since then he has built a solar powerered water pump that supplies the first drinking water in his village Williams invention attracted International attention and his personal story has been chronicled in the awardwinning featur length documentary William and the windmill his Audible biography titled the boy who harnessed the wind also received critical Acclaim Arthur Zang is a cameroonian engineer best known as The Man Behind the cardiopad a touchscreen medical tablet the device enables hard examination such as the electrocardiogram ECG to be performed at remote rural locations while the results of the test are transferred wirelessly to hard Specialists who can interpret them cardiopad are distributed to Hospitals and Clinics in Cameroon free of charge and patients pay a yearly subscription invention ideas by black inventors that change the world highlight some of the most significant contributions of black inventors to society in this documentary video the list includes inventors that cuts across various parts of the society these inventions have had a significant impact on our daily lives and have helped shape modern society the list serves as a testament to the Ingenuity and creativity of black inventors and their vital contributions to technology and Innovation I'm Jima thanks for sticking with us through this video documentary on kosimo TV see more