Many things and services that people in the United States take for granted were created by African-Americans. This includes everything from the three-light traffic signal and refrigerated trucks to automatic elevator doors and color monitors for desktop computers, as well as the design of the modern ironing board and clothes wringer, blood banks, laser treatment for cataracts, and home security systems. These famous inventions by African Americans were honored for their contributions, but there have been numerous more who share their heritage and deserve the same recognition.
Inventor Of Potato Chip: George Crum (1824-1914)
In the summer of 1853, Crum, a cook, and restaurateur, is supposed to have accidentally invented the potato chip. They were created after a consumer complained that the fried potatoes they had ordered were too thick and were turned back. Despite Crum never patenting the crisps, they became an instant smash, and chips are today widely considered to be one of the most popular foods in the world.
Inventor Of Clock: Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)
If it weren’t for Benjamin Banneker, we might not have clocks. Banneker, who was 22 years old in 1753, had only seen a sundial and a pocket watch in his whole life. Thus Banneker, who was essentially self-taught, built the first clock in the United States out of wood using his designs and calculations.
Inventor Of Black Hair Products: Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)
In the early 20th century, Madam C.J. Walker became the first African American lady to earn a million dollars solely via the sale of her products for Black hair.
Inventor Of Blood Pressure Monitor: Michael Croslin (1933-1989)
Michael Croslin (born in 1933) created the Medtek 410 and 420, two electronic devices that measure blood pressure and pulse. The Medtek 410 eliminated guesswork in patient monitoring, improving the accuracy of medical diagnoses and treatments. Helicopters equipped with the Medtek 420 have been certified for use in critical care transport.
Inventor Of Home Security: Van Brittan Brown (1922-1999)
Van Brittan Brown, a nurse, frequently worked late shifts and returned home to an empty house since her electronic technician husband kept odd hours. After being terrified when home alone at night, Marie set out to find a way to make her residence more secure. Van Brittan Brown and her husband Albert Brown created the first home security system in 1966.
They had four peepholes, a sliding camera that could take pictures of persons of varying heights, television monitors, two-way microphones that allowed them to interact with the person outside, a remote that could unlock the door, and an emergency alarm button that called the police. Also, they had a button that notified the police in the event of an emergency.
The Contributions Of These Inventions
Could the human race survive without the contributions of these famous inventions by African Americans to the globe? Achievements made by black people in the disciplines of science, mathematics, and technology are deserving of respect and celebration daily because of the magnitude of these contributions.
Also Read: What Is The Greatest Invention Of All Time?