February

[Homicidalheathen]

African-American Inventors

A Sampling of African-American Inventors and Their Inventions<BR clear=all>BLOOD BANK

The idea of a blood bank was pioneered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950). Dr. Drew was an American medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long term preservation of blood plasma (he found that plasma kept longer than whole blood). His ideas revolutionized the medical profession and saved many, many lives. Dr. Drew set up and operated the blood plasma bank at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, NY. Drew's project was the model for the Red Cross' system of blood banks, of which he became the first director.CARVER, GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington Carver (1865?-1943) was an American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. Carver developed hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans; his discoveries greatly improved the agricultural output and the health of Southern farmers. Before this, the only main crop in the South was cotton. The products that Carver invented included a rubber substitute, adhesives, foodstuffs, dyes, pigments, and many other products. For more information on Carver, click here. For a cloze (fill-in-the-blank) activity on Carver, click here.

CRUM, GEORGE

The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. The customer, surprisingly enough, was happy - and potato chips were invented! For more information on George Crum and potato chips, click here.

DORTICUS, CLATONIA JOAQUIN

Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus was an African-American inventor who received many patents. He invented an apparatus for applying dyes to the sides of the soles and heels of shoes (patent # 535,820, March 19, 1895), a machine for embossing (contouring the paper of) photographs (patent # 537,442, April 16, 1895), a device that helped develop photographs (patent # 537,968, April 23, 1895), and a leak stopper for hoses (patent # 629,315, July 18, 1899).DOWNING, PHILIP B.

The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor, patented his new device on October 27, 1891 (US Patent # 462,093).DREW, CHARLES RICHARD

Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was an American medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long-term preservation of blood plasma (he found that plasma kept longer than whole blood). His ideas revolutionized the medical profession and have saved many, many lives. For more information on Dr, C. R. Drew, click here.

GAS MASK

The gas mask was invented by Garrett Morgan, an African-American inventor. Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army. For more information on Garrett Morgan, click here.GOODE, SARAH S.

Sarah E. Goode was a businesswoman and inventor. Goode invented the folding cabinet bed, a space-saver that folded up against the wall into a cabinet. When folded up, it could be used as a desk, complete with compartments for stationery and writing supplies. Goode owned a furniture store in Chicago, Illinois, and invented the bed for people living in small apartments. Goode's patent was the first one obtained by an African-American woman inventor (patent #322,177, approved on July 14, 1885).LATIMER, LEWIS H.

Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1928) was an African-American inventor who was a member of Edison's research team, which was called "Edison's Pioneers." Latimer improved the newly-invented incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881). For more information on Lewis Howard Latimer, click here.

MAILBOX

The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor, patented his new device on October 27, 1891 (US Patent # 462,093).McCOY, ELIJAH

Elijah McCoy (1843 or 1844-1929) was a mechanical engineer and inventor. McCoy's high-quality industrial inventions (especially his steam engine lubricator) were the basis for the expression "the real McCoy," meaning the real, authentic, or high-quality thing. For more information on Elijah McCoy, click here. For a cloze activity on McCoy, click here.

MORGAN, GARRETT

Garrett Augustus Morgan (March 4, 1877 - August 27, 1963), was an African-American inventor and businessman. He was the first person to patent a traffic signal. He also developed the gas mask (and many other inventions). Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army. For more information on Morgan, click here.

POTATO CHIPS

The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. The customer, surprisingly enough, was happy - and potato chips were invented! For more information on George Crum and potato chips, click here.

RILLIEUX, NORBERT

Norbert Rillieux (March 17, 1806-October 8, 1894) was an African-American inventor and engineer who invented a device that revolutionized sugar processing. Rillieux's multiple effect vacuum sugar evaporator (patented in 1864) made the processing of sugar more efficient, faster, and much safer. The resulting sugar was also superior. His apparatus was eventually adopted by sugar processing plants all around the world. For more information on Rillieux, click here.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL

Garrett Augustus Morgan (March 4, 1877 - August 27, 1963), was an African-American inventor and businessman. He was the first person to patent a traffic signal. He also developed the gas mask (and many other inventions). Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army. For more information on Morgan, click here.

WALKER, MADAME C. J.

Madam C. J. Walker (December 23, 1867 - May 25, 1919) was an inventor, businesswoman and self-made millionaire. Sarah Breedlove McWilliams C. J. Walker was an African-American who developed many beauty and hair care products that were extremely popular. Madam Walker started her cosmetics business in 1905. Her first product was a scalp treatment that used petrolatum and sulphur. She added Madam to her name and began selling her new "Walker System" door-to-door. Walker soon added new cosmetic products to her line. The products were very successful and she soon had many saleswomen, called "Walker Agents," who sold her products door to door and to beauty salons. For <A href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/w/walker.shtml" target=_top>more information on Madame C. J. Walker, click here

http://www.history.com/content/blackhistory

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/black.shtml

[Engine]

I don't believe there needs to be a specific month to hail the great deeds of African American people. You hear it for February and how awesome their exploits were. For February. That's it. When I was in high school we learned about Garrett Morgan who made some pretty interesting shit, but February ended. I wasn't done learning about him or even a few other people, however, it wasn't black history month anymore, so nobody gave a shit. Obviously I went out and checked out books to figure more out, but this was a black teacher in a predominantly black school(Robichaud High School) that just stopped teaching about these people because her curriculum called for only so much of black history and she didn't feel like elaborating.

in before racist.

[Homicidalheathen]

well I for one, had no idea who started the whole blood bank thing...or the gas mask...

[Raev]

I'm with engine. Instead of bhm, can we teach kids about great things done by all people, regardless of race, color or social status? Sticking countless great achievements into one month is a disservice. To both the importance of the deeds and to the children's education.

[Rev.Reverence]

I am all for BHM...but, where's NAIHM? (Native-American-Indian-History-Month)

[StormKnight (1)]

I'm still waiting on a dedicated Hawaiian History Month (HHM.)

[Tyger]

I'm with engine. Instead of bhm, can we teach kids about great things done by all people, regardless of race, color or social status? Sticking countless great achievements into one month is a disservice. To both the importance of the deeds and to the children's education.

Agreed.

[Joey Deadcat]

And Chicanos have done their part.

[KatRN05]

I don't believe there needs to be a specific month to hail the great deeds of African American people. You hear it for February and how awesome their exploits were. For February. That's it. When I was in high school we learned about Garrett Morgan who made some pretty interesting shit, but February ended. I wasn't done learning about him or even a few other people, however, it wasn't black history month anymore, so nobody gave a shit. Obviously I went out and checked out books to figure more out, but this was a black teacher in a predominantly black school(Robichaud High School) that just stopped teaching about these people because her curriculum called for only so much of black history and she didn't feel like elaborating.

in before racist.

Agreed.

I'm with engine. Instead of bhm, can we teach kids about great things done by all people, regardless of race, color or social status? Sticking countless great achievements into one month is a disservice. To both the importance of the deeds and to the children's education.

Agreed.

I am all for BHM...but, where's NAIHM? (Native-American-Indian-History-Month)

Fuck yes, where is Native-American Indian History Month?

I'm still waiting on a dedicated Hawaiian History Month (HHM.)

Agreed.

And Chicanos have done their part.

Agreed.

Edited February 19, 2010 by KatRN05

[pomba gira]

And Chicanos have done their part.

Y'all have a month too... well not specifically Chicano but Latin in general.

But I do agree, we should be teaching about everyone's contributions, all the time. Some districts do, but not nearly enough. Until we get to that point, one month is better than nothing... which is what you got before the '80s or thereabouts.

[torn asunder]

agreed about teaching *everyone's* history, all the time.

i think having a "black history month" is racist in itself. as long as we keep things separate, we're never going to move beyond race. it annoys me.

[candyman]

Lets just have people time and be done with it...if you want a month that badly go nuts but its an odd idea. Well, at least they get a month and don't endure the crap that mothers and fathers have...they only get one damn day!

If people could actually bring themselves to teach a proper history course we wouldn't even need this shit...it all comes in its due time. Not to sound like an ass but I have met people that can talk about Black History month and the early Women's Rights movements...but then their brains take a shit when you ask them about some of the most basic and important events in the history of the world. Good job American history people...you have officially created a mess.

I do have to say that this month is fun though...I get to go hang out with the people from my old grade school again...where I was only one of two white kids in the whole place...damn the food is AWESOME!

[Hellion]

agreed about teaching *everyone's* history, all the time.

i think having a "black history month" is racist in itself. as long as we keep things separate, we're never going to move beyond race. it annoys me.

blame guilty white liberals for this,of course George Carlin said it a lot better

[Slogo]

I'm all for a CIGEIFS month (Canadian-Italian-German-English-Irish-French-Scottish)

My family got around

[Raev]

edit.

nevermind.

I don't know how to phrase what I wanted to say adequately.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Raev

[Soulrev]

Hey you know what? When is it anyone else's responsibility to teach any history? The way I see it, nobody is responsible for teaching anything. All the responsibility lies within the one who is learning. Teachers can teach till their blue in the face. It's all in vain if you don't WANT to learn it.

[Soulrev]

I'm all for a CIGEIFS month (Canadian-Italian-German-English-Irish-French-Scottish)

My family got around

fuck that! I want a German-Italian-Bohemian-Cherokee history month!! Damn it! Heh..