Many of the products people use everyday were created by African Americans. Things such as stop lights, hair products, and peanuts are just a few things African Americans created.
Here is a list of a few African American inventors:
Marie Van Brittan Brown
Marie Van Brittan Brown created a system to alert her that a stranger was at her door and to immediately call police.
In 1966, Brown designed a closed-circuit security system that monitored visitors with a camera and showed the image on a television monitor.
Brown's design was the groundwork for the modern closed-circuit television system used for surveillance footage.
Charles Drew
Charles Drew was a physician, surgeon, and medical researcher who worked with the Red Cross.
In World War II, Drew helped create blood banks and blood plasma programs.
While Drew worked for the Red Cross, the Red Cross did not acknowledge all blood to be equal, leading him to resign.
Garret Morgan
Garret Morgan patented many inventions such as, an improved sewing machine and traffic signal, a hair straightening product, and a device that would serve as the blueprint for WWI gas masks.
With Morgan's inventions, a warning light was added to stop lights, allowing drivers to know when to approach a stop.
Lewis Latimer
The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison, but the invention of longer lasting light bulb with a carbon filament was from Lewis Latimer.
Latimer worked in a patent law firm where he recognized his talents for drafting patents. During this time Latimer also co-invented an improved bathroom for trains.
