5 Black Inventions Used Everyday That You Probably Didn't Know About

All of us use dozens of inventions created by Black inventors every single day. From the modern traffic light to the home security system, Black inventors have made significant contributions to society. In fact, the scope of Black invention is beyond what we can actually imagine as Black people were often unable to obtain a patent to protect their inventions.

A great example of this theft is Eli Whitney being attributed as the inventor of the Cotton Gin or Cyrus McCormick being attributed as the inventor of the Mechanical Reaper. Ask yourself, who has more incentive to streamline the work, the slave or the slave master?

For Black History Month, we will explore 5 Black inventions that have changed the way we live, work, and play. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at 5 Black inventions used every day that you probably didn’t know about!

Garrett Morgan Taught You When to Pump Your Brakes With the 3-Position Traffic Light ​

The 3-position traffic light is one of the most ubiquitous symbols of modernity and can be found in almost every city in the world. Millions rely on them to navigate the streets but did you know it was invented by a Black American?

Prior to his invention, traffic lights only had 2 manually operated positions "Stop" and "Go". With a 2-position system, drivers and pedestrians are never given clear warning to exit the intersection. To exacerbate the issue, the traffic light officers would not work at night which led many motorists to ignore the signals altogether.

With Morgan's innovation, there was now a third light that would signal traffic to stop in all directions. The pause would give pedestrians and motorists the ability to exit the intersection before the perpendicular traffic started to move. At night, it would serve the equivalent of the blinking red light that means "yield" today.

Morgan received his patent in 1923 and sold it to General Electric for $40,000. He took the proceeds from the sell and created the Wakeman Country Club for Black Americans. Morgan's other notable invention is none other than the Gas Mask.

Frederick McKinley Jones Took "Just Chillin" on the Road​

Frederick McKinley Jones held over 60 patents in refrigeration and was the inventor of mobile mechanic refrigeration. This type of refrigeration technology allowed for perishable items to be safely transported via truck, train, and ship which gave birth to the large supermarket, frozen foods, and the modern day restaurant.

Jones received his patent in 1940 and partnered with entrepreneur Joe Numero to commercialize these products under the name US Thermo Control Company (Themo King Corporation). In addition, to inventing the mobile refrigeration he also invented a prototype of the snowmobile, a movie ticket dispenser, and refrigeration devices that preserved blood, medicine, and food during World War 2. Next time you see refrigerated trucks with the logo Thermo King, know that it was an invention of a Black American.

Many falsely state that Frederick McKinley Jones created the Air Conditioner but that system and patent belongs to Willis Haviland Carrier.

Madam C.J. Walker Helped Black Women Lay Their Edges in the 1900s​

In the the late 1800's most White manufactured hair care products were damaging to Black people's hair. Madam C.J. Walker who suffered from damaged hair saw a void and invented a line of hair care products exclusively for Black hair textures. Her first product "Wonderful Hair Grower" put her on the map which she then expanded into Glossine, Witch Hazel Jelly, and a plethora of other products. Her expansive set of hair care products and care regimen became known as the "Walker System". But her innovativeness didn't end there...

Madam C.J. Walker also invented the direct selling model by building a national network of women to serve as her sales associates. At its height, Madam C.J. Walker enterprises was believed to have over 10,000 employees. Not only did she revolutionize Black haircare she also built the business model that would be copied by companies such as Tupperware, Herbalife, and more. It is no wonder why she was the first Black woman to become a millionaire in the USA.

Lastly, there's a Unilever owned company pretending to be an extension of her legacy, don't fall for it. It's for "people of color".

MADAM by Madam C.J. Walker

Marie Van Brittan Kept Us Safe With a Home Security System​

Do you like your Ring doorbell? Did you know that Marie Van Brittan Brown invented something similar back in 1966? She along with her husband Albert Brown, an electronics technician invented a home security system that consisted of four peepholes on the front door at differing heights, a camera that can slide between the peepholes, and a monitor.

When someone knocked on the door, Van Brittan Brown was able to look out the peepholes via the camera and monitor to see who was at the main door. But not only was the technology able to show who was at the door, it also had a microphone and speaker so that the Browns could speak to whoever was at the front of the house.

But that's not all, there was also an alarm function that could alert the police at the press of a button. Brown's received her patent in 1969 and paved the way for modern home security systems.

Alexander Miles Stopped People From Getting the Shaft With His Automatic Elevator Doors​

Can you believe that there was a time where elevator doors were manually opened and closed? Nowadays, people can't even be bothered to throw away their used K-Cup so we know for a fact they WERE NOT closing the shaft doors before and after using the elevator. As a result many deaths occurred as people fell into an unsecured elevator shaft.

Miles seeing the risk, decided he would fix the problem so he invented automatic elevator doors He was able to create them using a system of levers and rollers that ensured the doors would open at the right time, every time. After reaching much success, he moved to Chicago and created a life insurance company so that Black Americans could get the coverage White-firms were unwilling to provide.

Honorable Mentions​

Alice H Parker for the natural gas based central heating system. She was the first to use natural gas to power a central heating furnace.

J. Ross Moore for inventing the Clothes Dryer.

Lonnie Johnson who invented the Super Soaker.

James West who invented the foil electret microphone while working at Bell Laboratories.

Lewis Latimer invented the carbon filament while working for Thomas Edison which made the incandescent light bulb a reality.

George Speck for inventing potato chips.

Conclusion​

This list is in no way a comprehensive view of the many inventions created by Black Americans, in fact such list is impossible. In 1857, the Dred Scott opinion held that Black Americans could not be citizens of the United States, this resulted in Black inventors not being able to obtain patents. With the law stating that Black people were unable to protect what they invented via the patent system, it was easy for White men to steal their creations.

Unfortunately, the total impact of African American invention is for ever lost to history. But on another note, this touches on the labor vs. commissioner that many like to speak on to diminish the value of Black Americans in the creation of the USA. While Black Americans were the slave labor class, their ingenuity helped streamline, make efficiency, and grow entire industries in the US.

If they were able to file a patent and reap the benefits from said ingenuity the history and present of Black America would be much different. This Black History Month remember the ingenuity of Black people and understand that it is our job to not let the racist patent system or any other anti-Black institution stand in our way.