Are there any famous black inventors? Technology, not civil rights or politics etc.?

Question

Technology, not food

Answer 1

Plenty. Another way to ask it is: "Who are some of the most famous African-American inventors?," or "What are some examples of the diversity of African-American inventors?"

Here are some:

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. He also invented air-brakes for trains, and an automatic train coupler.

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 new incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881).

Garrett Augustus Morgan (March 4, 1877 - August 27, 1963), was an African-American inventor and businessman. He 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. Morgan was also the first person to patent a traffic signal.

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).

The idea of a blood bank was pioneered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950). Dr. Drew was an African-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.

George Washington Carver (1865?-1943) was an American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. Carver developed hundreds of products made 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.

The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was an African-American/Native 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!

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 # 462,096).

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).

Madame C. J. Walker (December 23, 1867 - May 25, 1919) was an African-American inventor, businesswoman and self-made millionaire. She developed many beauty and hair care products that were extremely popular. Madame Walker started her cosmetics business in 1905. Her first product was a scalp treatment that used petroleum and a hot comb. Sarah later invented a system for straightening hair. She added Madame to her name and began selling her new "Walker System" door-to-door. Walker soon added a hair-growing ointment and other 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.

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.

Answer 2

Famous Black Inventors

Answer 3

The guy in you class is stupid and doesn't know much about being Latino. I am Latino, and I never compare our struggle to the African-American struggle. It is different, and was not as publisized as the Black struggle. BUT I do have to say that most people don't know that both blacks and Latinos (Mexican people in theis case) have had their land taken away from them: Blacks were enslaved and sold to the Americas while the entire western part of the USA (which was then all of Mexico) was signed off the the white man. They kicked us out of our own land, and did lynch our people in the southwest aswell as Native americans. Of course, African-American Civil Rights Movement had loose ties with the Chicano walkouts, but each has its own history in this country. Both Blacks and Latinos have deep roots in the United States, but comparing the two is wrong because they are not the same. While blacks have had people calling them inhuman, Latinos had people calling them the exact same thing. Signs like NO DOGS OR MEXICANS where posted all the way up until the 1960's. You even said that you don't much about you Latino side, well maybe you should look it up. It isn't fair to say Blacks had it the worst because how do you know other racial groups struggle in America? Asian Americans, Blacks, and Latinos should be friends, because all have gone through struggles in their history in America. Though comparing the hardships isn't right and no one can take your history away from you.

Answer 4

Yes there are famous black inventors. Civil Right and Politics are
categories, and the blacks who are known for those things, aren't
really inventors, just people who got famous for their contributions in those particular areas.

Answer 5

Peanuts are for elephants. Check this dude out.

Dr. Vivien Theodore Thomas (August 29, 1910–November 26, 1985)

Without any education past high school, Thomas rose above poverty and racism to become a cardiac surgery pioneer and a teacher to many of the country's most prominent surgeons.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivien_Thomas

Answer 6

The most famous is probably George Washington Carver.

Amazingly creative man. Here's a link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver

Another good site with lots of links is:

www.black-scientists.com

Good question.

Answer 7

Of course there are!
George Washington Carver. There is a lot more just research online.

Answer 8

One man that comes to mind is a black man by the name of McCoy who invented the automatic train coupler and air brakes for trains. The expression,"the real McCoy" refers to him and his inventions.

Answer 9

There are plenty of them. Unfortunately, so much of "black history" is simply made up, it is difficult to tell who they are. This is extremely disrespectful to those with real accomplishments. It's highly inappropriate.

Answer 10

george washington carver....peanuts...peanut butter, etc. WHY WOULDN'T YOU CONSIDER THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD AS BEING TECHNOLOGY? YOU NEED TO EXPAND YOUR SCOPE OF THINKING THERE DEAR.