15 Things Invented By Black People
1. Refrigerated Trucks
Perishable foods used to be transported in trucks filled with ice. Federick McKinely is responsible for making and patenting a cooling system inside trucks so that anything can be transported. The next time you see a big semi truck hauling food, you’ll know it’s McKinely’s work.
2. Blood Bank
Charles Richard Drew was an African American physician, surgeon, and researcher. In the 1940’s he researched and created the blood bank which allows for proper storage and transport of blood plasma.
3. Street Letter Box aka Mail Box
In 1891, Philip Downing created the street letter box that eventually evolved into the metal letterboxes we see on our street corners today.
4. The Traffic Light
Garrett Morgan created the traffic light in 1923 after witnessing a car crash at a Cleveland intersection.
5. The Laser Cataract Surgey
Patricia Bath a Howard University graduate created the laserphaco probe in 1986 for laser cataract surgeries. With this device, Bath was able to restore the sight of several individuals who had been blind for over 30 years. Bath was also the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
10. Sundial Clock
After taking a pocket watch apart and studying its components, Benjamin Banneker made a fully functioning sundial clock out of carved wooden pieces. From this invention in the 1750’s Banneker was able to start his own watch and clock repair business.
11. Peanut Products
Though often only credited for inventing peanut butter, George Washington Carver invented over 300 peanut-related products. As a child, he was called the “plant doctor” because of his interest in plants. He’s responsible for peanut oil which he believed could cure polio.
12. Connection Machine (World's Fastest Computer in 1989)
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Philip Emeagwali is responsible for creating the worlds fastest computer in 1989. The computer he created was capable of performing 3.1 billion calculations per second.
15 Things Invented By Black People was originally published on ioneblackamericaweb.staging.go.ione.nyc
