From traffic lights that guide our commutes to the security systems that protect our homes and the first digital cake stand that keeps our treats warm, Black inventors have influenced our daily lives in multiple ways. Their innovations are not just relics of the past, but are living legacies that have defined our evolution, influencing how we move, connect and create.
This Black History Month, we’re celebrating this legacy and shining a spotlight on these breakthroughs with a non-exhaustive round up of the inventions that remind us that Black innovation has always been (and continues to be) central to progress.
Automatic elevator door system - Alexander Miles
In the early days of elevators, people had to manually shut both the shaft and doors before moving between floors. If either was left open, it sometimes led to injuries or even death. Thanks to the mechanism designed by Alexander Miles, which used a flexible belt system that triggered the elevator’s levers and rollers, automatically opening and closing the doors, elevator usage became easier, more convenient and safer.
Golf Tee - Dr. George F. Grant
Before the introduction of the golf tee, golfers would carry buckets of sand from hole to hole, building sand mounds to prop up their golf balls. Seeking a more practical and consistent alternative to this, Dr. George Franklin Grant, a pioneering Black dentist, patented the first wooden golf tee. His design featured a small peg that could be pushed into the ground, with a slightly curved top to cradle the ball.
Three-Way Traffic Light - Garrett Morgan
Before the three way traffic system that we know today existed, early traffic lights only had two signals - stop and go. In 1923, inventor and entrepreneur Garrett Morgan patented a three-position traffic signal that introduced a third warning - “caution.” This third signal was the precursor to today’s yellow light, improving road safety around the world.
Modern home security system - Marie Van Brittan Brown
Long before there was Ring, there was Marie Van Brittan Brown’s security system. Concerned about rising crime in her Jamaica, Queens neighborhood, Brown, along with her husband, invented a security system that was ahead of its time. It featured peepholes, a sliding camera, television monitors and a two-way microphone. The system also included an alarm button that to contact the police and a remote that could unlock doors from a safe distance. This laid the groundwork for modern CCTV security systems, and her patent has been cited in over 30 other U.S. patents.
Mobile refrigeration - Frederick Mckinley Jones
If you use Instacart and Amazon Fresh to have groceries delivered to your door, you could thank Frederick McKinley Jones. In the 1930s he developed the first successful system for mobile refrigeration, transforming how perishable goods were delivered. His company, Thermo King Corp., was critical during WWII, manufacturing refrigeration units that transported blood and medicine to the front lines.
Super Soaker - Lonnie Johnson
What started as an experiment became one of the most iconic toys in history. In 1982, aerospace engineer and entrepreneur, Lonnie Johnson, invented what would become the number one selling toy in the world - the Super Soaker water gun. The idea came to him while he was working on an environmentally friendly heat pump at home. After attaching nozzles to his bathroom sink, he accidentally shot a stream of water across his room, sparking the idea for the iconic water gun.
Ice Cream Scoop - Alfred L. Cralle
Ice cream lovers owe a debt of gratitude to Alfred L. Cralle. While working as a porter, he noticed how difficult it was to serve ice cream cones with one hand. So, in 1897, he decided to improve this. He patented an ice cream mold and disher that featured a thumb grip and scraping tool that kept food from sticking to the scoop, making it easier to scoop cream with one hand.
Caller ID - Shirley Ann Jackson
Thanks to theoretical physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, we know when to pick up our phones and when to let them ring. While she didn’t invent caller ID specifically, her work in telecommunications research paved the way for its development. Her work also laid the groundwork for the development of fiber optic cables, which are the backbone of high-speed internet and telecom networks.
Central Heating - Alice H. Parker
For those who have had to contend with this colder-than-usual winter, thank Alice H. Parker for keeping the warmth in and the cold out. In 1919, inspired by the cold New Jersey winters, she patented a groundbreaking natural gas-powered central heating system. At a time when most homes relied on fireplaces or coal stoves, her design introduced a more efficient way of distributing heat and played a key role in developing the heating systems that we have today.
Digital cake stand - Cortrell Winfield
And, the innovations continue today. At just 25 years old, Cortrell Winkfield introduced the world to the first digital cake stand. The stand has a built in hot plate that keeps all dishes warm, as well as an adjustable temperature dial that goes up to 180 degrees and a timer of up to four hours. It can operate on battery power or be plugged directly into a wall for use throughout the day, making it ideal for extended gatherings.
