Down through history, black people have been making contributions to our society. Unfortunately, most of the time, you will not find their inventions listed in the history books. I was surprised when I read this list. I recognized quite a few of the names on it, but there were many more that I had never heard of.

This page is in honor of those black men and women whose names are largely unrecognized.








This list is by no means complete, it's just a sampling of the many wonderful things that have been invented and when.


BLACK INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS
PRODUCT INVENTOR DATE
Air Conditioning Unit Frederick M. Jones July 12, 1949
Almanac Benjamin Banneker Approx. 1791
Auto Cut-off Switch Granville T. Woods January 1, 1839
Auto Fishing Device G. Cook May 30, 1899
Automatic Gear Shift Richard Spikes February 28, 1932
Baby Buggy W. H. Richardson June 18, 1899
Bicycle Frame L. R. Johnson October 10, 1899
Biscuit Cutter A. P. Ashbourne November 30, 1875
Blood Plasma Bag Charles Drew Approx. 1945
Cellular Phone Henry T. Sampson July 6, 1971
Chamber Commode T. Elkins January 3, 1897
Clothes Dryer G. T. Sampson June 6, 1862
Curtain Rod S. R. Scratton November 30, 1889
Curtain Rod Support William S. Grant August 4, 1896
Door Knob O. Dorsey December 10, 1878
Door Stop O. Dorsey December 10, 1878
Dust Pan Lawrence P. Ray August 3, 1897
Egg Beater Willie Johnson February 5, 1884
Electric Lampbulb Lewis Latimer March 21, 1882
Elevator Alexander Miles October 11, 1867
Eye Protector P. Johnson November 2, 1880
Fire Escape Ladder J. W. Winters May 7, 1878
Fire Extinguisher T. Marshall Octobr 26, 1872
Folding Bed L. C. Bailey July 18, 1899
Folding Chair Brody & Surgwar June 11,1889
Fountain Pen W. B. Purvis January 7, 1890
Furniture Castor O. A. Fisher 1878
Gas Mask Garrett Morgan October 13, 1914
Golf Tee T. Grant December 12, 1899
Guitar Robert F. Flemming, Jr March 3, 1886
Hair Brush Lydia O. Newman November 15, 18**
Hand Stamp Walter B. Purvis February 27, 1883
Horseshoe J. Ricks March 30, 1885
Ice Cream Scoop A. L. Cralle February 2, 1897
Improved Sugar Making Norbet Rillieux December 10, 1846
Insect-Destroyer Gun A. C. Richard February 28, 1899
Ironing Board Sarah Boone December 30, 1887
Key Chain F. J. Loudin January 9, 1894
Lantern Michael C. Harvey August 19, 1884
Lawn Mower L. A. Burr May 19, 1889
Lawn Sprinkler J. W. Smith May 4, 1897
Lemon Squeezer J. Thomas White December 8, 1893
Lock W. A. Martin July 23, 18**
Lubricating Cup Elijah McCoy November 15, 1895
Lunch Pail James Robinson 1887
Mailbox Paul L. Downing October 27, 1891
Mop Thomas W. Stewart June 11, 1893
Motor Frederick M. Jones June 27, 1939
Peanut Butter George Washington Carver 1896
Pencil Sharpener J. L. Love November 23, 1897
Record Player Arm Joseph Hunger Dickenson January 8, 1819
Refrigerator J. Standard June 14, 1891
Riding Saddles W. D. Davis October 6, 1895
Rolling Pin John W. Reed 1864
Shampoo Headrest C.O. Bailiff October 11, 1898
Sparkplug Edmond Berger February 2, 1839
Stethoscope Imhotep Ancient Egypt
Stove T. A. Carrington July 25, 1876
Straightening Comb Madam C. J. Walker Approx. 1905
Street Sweeper Charles B. Brooks March 17, 1890
Phone Transmitter Granville T. Woods December 2, 1884
Thermostat Control Frederick M. Jones February 23, 1960
Traffic Light Garrett Morgan November 20, 1923
Tricycle M. A. Cherry May 6, 1886
Typewriter Burridge & Marshman April 7, 1885








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