African-American Achievements
How many do you know?
Mary Van Brittan Brown
1st Home Security System
Elijah McCoy
Automative lubricators that improved the safety and efficiency of train engines; invented the ironing board; invented the lawn sprinkler
Lewis Latimer
The carbon filament that allowed the lightbulb to stay on long (Edison’s filament only allowed the light to stay on for 2-3 days ); Latimer’s bulb was immediately contracted for use in NYC, Philadelphia, and Canada at the time of its invention
Granville Woods
Invented the induction telegraph that allowed messages to go between trains ;Improved steam boiler furnace; improved telephone transmitter; improved automatic airbrakes
Garrett Morgan
Invented the Gas Mask; Invented Automated Street Signal Lights used today
Frederick McKinley Jones
1st Truck refrigeration system used to transport foods to restaurants today as well as blood products to hospitals; ticket dispensing machine
Charles Drew
Developed the method of separating and preserving blood for transfusions and helped set up the 1st blood plasma bank
Meredith Gourdine
Invented an EGD Generator-produced energy at low cost and with no moving parts; Incineraid, a machine that decreased pollution from incinerator smoke
Ernest Wilkins, Jr.
Invented a shield against gamma rays
James C. Evans
Developed a method that prevents icing on planes
Dr. Robert Bayless
Invented carbonless paper
James Parsons, Jr.
InventedCorrosion-resistant alloy steel
Isaac R. Johnson
Invented a Bicycle Frame that could be taken apart
John Albert Burr
Rotary Lawnmower
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams.
First open-heart surgery
Lincoln Hawkins
Co-inventor of anti-oxidizing agents that are the basis of long-lasting plastic ( Duration, 70 years)
Dr. Benjamin Carson
1st separation of siamese twins joined at the head
Alexander Miles
Automatic elevator doors used today
James E. West
Co-inventor of the compact microphone used for recording, cellphones, hearing aids etc.
Alice H. Parker
Invented the central heating furnace that uses natural gas
Mark Dean
Invented Gigahertz processor, co-invented the PC and ISA bus, developed the color monitor for computers
Thomas Jennings
Dry scouring, a dry-cleaning process for delicate clothing
Dr. Patricia Bath
Invented the laser cataract treatment device known as The Laserphaco Probe used to remove cataracts less invasively than surgery
Katherine Johnson
was the brains behind the first manned spacecraft and moon landing
Gladys West
The genius mathematician whose calculations led to the invention of the GPS system that we use today
Shirley Jackson
Played a lead role in development of caller ID and call waiting, touch-tone telephone, fax , fiber optic cables
Annie Easley
Her mathematical genius led to the development of the technology behind the shuttle space and satellite launches
Kizzmekia Corbett
A key player in the development of the Covid-10 vaccine
Dr. Louis Thompkins Wright
Invented the neck brace that is worn today and neck injuries; invented a unique blade plate for the surgical treatment of knee fractures
Percy Julian
First to produce synthetic Physostigmine, a drug then used to treat Glaucoma; invented Aero Foam to put out oil fires; developed synthetic hormones, which led to the development of BCP’s; developed synthetic cortisone used for the treatment for arthritis/ inflammatory conditions, asthma
Kerrie Holley
Inventor of system that locates mobile devices using location and presence
Mary Jones DeLeon
Invented a cooking apparatus that was the predecessor of today’s buffet warming system
Sarah Goode
Invented the folding cabinet chair
Judy W. Reed
Invented the dough kneader and roller
Sandra Johnson
Along with her team,Invented the IBM system that beat Kasperov at chess
George Crum
Invented potato chips
George Washington Carver
Multiple inventions using the peanuts
Lonnie George Johnson
Inventor of the Super-Soaker
George Edward Alcorn
Imaging Xray Spectrometer
Benjamin Banneker
Responsible for the surveying of Washington,D.C which led to its present layout; he also wrote many almanacs
Otis Boykin
Invented the Artificial Pacemaker control unit
Norbert Rillieux
Invented a process that revolutionized the production of sugar from cane. Today this method continues to be used to produce sugar as well as soap glue, gelatin (jello), and condensed milk
George Carrothers
Inventor of the UV camera and spectrograph used to launch the Apollo 16 rocket
Charles Chappelle
Invented the long-distance flight airplane
David Crosthwait
Heating, ventilation and air conditiong engineer with 40 patents in this field
- Don Sarreals
Key player in development of the first radio weather station; CEO of Nexrad, the system used for evaluating weather by radar
“Skip” Clarence Ellis
Invented Office Talk software
Bessie Blount Griffin
Invented the Amputee self-feeding device
Matthew Henson
Along with Robert Peary was the were the 1st to reach the North Pole
Joseph Lee
Invented a machine that made bread into breadcrumbs for restaurants and others; invented a mixing and kneading machine for making bread
Ernest Just
Revealed the structure of the cell membrane
Jerry Lawson
Invented the fist programmable video game console (ROM cartridge-base)
Raphael Carl Lee
Invented therapies for scar treatment, and protective garments
Archia Ross
Invented the garment hanger, broom holder, trouser stretcher, bag closure device, stoop runner
Walter Sammons
Invented the hot comb
Dawn N. Ward
Invented chemical treatment for Hepatitis C
Jane C. Wright
Pioneered treatment of breast cancer with the drug Methotrexate
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENTS. Now, it’s up to you to stir up the gift that God has placed inside of you, to use it for His glory, and to be a blessing to mankind!