How Have Black American Inventions Changed the World?

Thank black American inventor Garrett Morgan for the gas mask.

Black Americans have developed inventions for hundreds of years; their contributions include many everyday items and also many more important yet obscure inventions that the general public knows little about.

Types

Black American inventors created devices and machines of all types. Their inventions revolutionized agriculture, medicine, cosmetics, mechanics and countless other fields, playing important roles in all aspects of American culture.

Benefits

Dr. Patricia Bath invented a laser to remove cataracts. Dr. George Carruthers made advances in astronomy by creating a device to measure electromagnetic radiation, and Lohhnnie Johnson advanced toy technology when he created the Super Soaker.

Historical Ties

George Washington Carver may be the most famous black American inventor, developing hundreds of agricultural products and advances in crop rotation. Benjamin Banneker constructed the first American clock, and Garret Morgan created many inventions, including the gas mask and the modern traffic light.

References

• The Black Inventor Online Magazine: Home Page
• The Great Idea Finder: George Washington Carver
• The Garret A. Morgan Association: Biography