Ever since high school, we have all been made aware of black accomplishments with each occasion of black history month in February. There was Harriet Tubman’s railroad and Rosa Parks’s bus seat, but most memorable of all, was George Washington Carver who invented the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which was a mainstay of kid’s lunches until nervous white mothers had it banned from schools.
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Apart from those recollections, I have not given much thought to the cultural legacy of blacks, except for their music, dance, and comedy. However, around the time of George Floyd, I started to hear a common refrain that blacks had built this country. The authors of the New York Times 1619 project made that clear to everyone who read their article. I got to thinking that maybe I missed something in high school during black history month. It was then that I ran on internet search on black accomplishments, and I was astounded to discover that I had overlooked quite a few. I never realized that black folks had invented so many useful things that we take for granted today.
Topping the list of 50 inventions by black people is the traffic light by a black man named Garrett Morgan. Invented in 1923, Morgan’s three-position traffic signal made roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. Technically, it was only the yellow light that he invented, but it still counts. Interestingly, white and black people construe the meaning of the yellow light differently. Whites are more inclined to exercise caution approaching a yellow light while black people take it as a cue to speed up before the light changes red.
In the number three spot is Garrett Morgan again with his invention in 1912 of a gas mask that helped protect workers and soldiers from smoke and hazardous gases. It seems that Garrett was the first black serial entrepreneur.
I am going to skip ahead to the number eight spot with the invention of the modern ironing board by Sarah Boone. Boone’s 1892 design made ironing easier by improving its shape and stability. Apparently, not stable enough because I have witnessed them tip over several times when a curious infant grabs onto its legs, but let’s give her some credit anyway for trying.
At number 12 and 13, we have the invention of the dustpan and self-wringing mop. What a tragedy that black creativity and innovation seem to be a relic of the past.
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Coming in at number 29 is George Crum’s invention of the potato chip. George has probably done more to bring happiness to countless generations of the workforce who have potato chips and a coke as a snack during their work and leisure time. Hats off to you, George Crum.
Black women also owe a lot of thanks to number 34, Christina Jenkins, who invented a synthetic hair weave technique in the 1950s, revolutionizing the black beauty industry. Except for a period during the black power era with the brief ascendancy of the Afro hair style, the hair weave has been an integral part of black women’s fashion.
At number 41, we have my all-time favorite black inventor, Lonnie Johnson, who came up with the idea for the Super Soaker. However, there are probably female readers among us with a not so fond memory of being drenched from one wielded by a younger brother.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, here is another that includes the doorknob. All of us, black and white, should be thankful for the contribution that blacks have made to our modern way of life.
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