BLACK INVENTORS
Meet Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman doctor in the U.S.
Meet Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, a pioneering African American physician who broke barriers as the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Born in 1831 in Delaware, she overcame significant social and racial obstacles, pursuing a career in medicine at a time when few women, especially women of color, could […]
Meet Lewis Latimer, inventor who improved the electric light bulb.
Meet Lewis Latimer, an African American inventor and draftsman whose contributions to electric lighting and telecommunications were instrumental in shaping the modern world. Born to formerly enslaved parents in 1848, Latimer faced early struggles, but his talent and perseverance led him to make groundbreaking advancements in electric light technology. The Journey to Innovation Latimer began […]
Meet Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel the art of Tennessee whiskey
Meet Nearest Green, affectionately known as “Uncle Nearest,” the first African American master distiller and a pioneering figure behind Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. His expertise, specifically in charcoal mellowing—a filtering process that smooths the whiskey—was integral to what became the Jack Daniel’s brand. While Green’s contributions went unrecognized for more than a century, recent research […]
Meet Garrett Morgan, inventor of the traffic light and gas mask.
Meet Garrett Morgan, a pioneering African American inventor whose groundbreaking innovations have saved countless lives and continue to impact the modern world. Morgan is best known for creating the three-position traffic light and the safety hood—a precursor to the modern gas mask. His life’s work is a testament to ingenuity, resilience, and the drive to […]
Meet John Amanam, the Nigerian sculptor who creates dark-skin prosthetics for Black amputees.
John Amanam is a Nigerian sculptor and former special effects artist who has pioneered the creation of hyper-realistic prosthetics tailored for individuals with darker skin tones. His journey into prosthetics began in 2018 when his younger brother lost several fingers in an accident. Confronted with the lack of prosthetic options that matched his brother’s skin […]
Meet Sarah Boone, the Black Woman Who Transformed the Ironing Board
Sarah Boone: Innovator of the Modern Ironing Board In 1892, Sarah Boone, a dressmaker born in 1832 in North Carolina, became one of the first Black women to receive a U.S. patent. Her invention? An improved ironing board, designed to help women press clothes more easily and efficiently. The Challenge of Pressing Clothes Before Boone’s […]