Black Brilliance Part 2: More Everyday Inventions You Didn’t Know Came From Black Minds
When I wrote about Black inventors and the everyday things we use because of them, I knew the list would be long. But what I didn’t expect was how many people responded with the same two reactions:
“I use these things every day and had no idea.”
“Why didn’t anyone teach us this in school?”
Black Inventors You Still Haven’t Heard Of But Use Every Day
If you missed Part One, you should probably go back and check that out first. 👉 Black Inventors Who Shaped Your Everyday Life
But if you are caught up, welcome to Part Two because we barely scratched the surface.
You are still surrounded by Black brilliance. Every room you walk through, every time you open your mailbox, dry your clothes, or even scoop your ice cream, you are experiencing the impact of a mind that history tried to bury.
This is not about shock value. This is about truth. These inventors were not lucky guesses or one time geniuses.
They were consistent, strategic, and often way ahead of their time. And the only reason you may not know their names is because a system was built to make sure of that.
So let’s keep shining light where it belongs. Let’s talk about the innovations. The people. The legacy. And why we have a responsibility to name names and tell the truth.
Why We Are Still Uncovering These Stories
You would think with all the technology and access to information we have now, we would know everything about the people who built the world around us. But when it comes to Black inventors, we are still digging.
That is not because their contributions were small. It is because their names were buried on purpose.
Many of these inventors created at a time when the system was not just unfair, it was built to keep them out. Patent offices, media outlets, history books, and even school curriculums worked together to protect a narrative where innovation only came from white people.
“This erasure isn’t in the past, it’s happening right now. We’re still being shut out, still being written out like we don’t matter.”
Kevin Smiley
This is the ripple effect of erasure.
When someone does not get credit, their story does not get told.
When the story is not told, it does not get taught.
And when it is not taught, the next generation never even knows what is missing.
This same cycle is why we rarely hear about the full truth of Black Wall Street.
It is why resistance movements like the Black Panthers are remembered more for their outfits than their community programs.
It is why Harriet Tubman is famous, but the other women of the Underground Railroad are barely mentioned.
And it is why we are here again, naming names and telling stories that should have never been erased.
Because history did not erase them.
People did.
Overlooked Black Inventors Who Shaped Everyday Life
We are going beyond lightbulbs and traffic signals this time. These are the inventors who made your daily life smoother, safer, and a whole lot cooler—literally and figuratively.
Alfred L Cralle
Next time you hear that satisfying click of an ice cream scoop releasing the perfect ball into your bowl, remember Alfred L Cralle.
The Ice Cream Scoop
In 1897, he patented the first one handed mechanical ice cream scoop. Before that, scooping ice cream was clumsy, messy, and required two hands or multiple tools.
Cralle’s invention allowed ice cream shops and restaurants to serve more efficiently and hygienically. And yes, your late night pint digging session runs smoother because of him.
George T Sampson
Before automatic dryers, laundry had to be hung up outdoors or near fires to dry.
George T Sampson developed an early clothes dryer that used heat safely indoors, making laundry less weather dependent and far more efficient.
The Clothes Dryer
It may not sound flashy, but his invention changed everyday home routines in a big way. Especially for colder climates and city living where outdoor drying was not always possible.
Philip B Downing
Ever dropped your rent check or birthday card into a blue street mailbox?
The Mailbox
That design traces back to Philip B Downing, who patented a secure, accessible street letterbox in the 1890s. Before this, mail systems were less convenient and far less secure.
Downing’s invention helped build the modern postal system and allowed mail to be picked up without someone being home to hand it off.
Alice H Parker
Alice H Parker saw a problem most homes used wood or coal to heat small areas, but nothing existed to heat entire homes efficiently.
The Gas Heating Furnace
In 1919, she patented a design for a natural gas powered furnace that could be adjusted and distributed throughout a building.
Alice's concept laid the groundwork for central heating systems we still use today. And yes, that cozy winter warmth you feel when the heater kicks in? That started with her blueprint.
Charles B Brooks
Imagine a time when city streets were cleaned by hand, broom by broom, day after day. Charles B Brooks saw that and said there had to be a better way.
The Street Sweeper
In 1896, he patented a self-propelled street sweeper with rotating brushes, making it the first of its kind in the United States.
His invention made cities cleaner, safer, and more sanitary. Modern versions still follow the same basic concept Brooks introduced over a century ago.
Thomas W Stewart
Thomas W Stewart knew people needed a better way to clean floors. In 1893, he patented an improved version of the mop that included a wringer mechanism.
The Improved Mop
This made mopping faster, easier, and less physically demanding.
It was a huge leap forward in home and commercial cleaning, and honestly, a gift to anyone who has ever had to clean up a kitchen mess.
Lyda D Newman
Lyda D Newman was not just an inventor. She was a voting rights activist and advocate for Black women. But her most famous contribution? A game changing improvement to the hairbrush.
The Hairbrush
Her 1898 design made the brush more durable, easier to clean, and more effective at separating hair. It was especially valuable for thick and textured hair.
Her design became the foundation for countless modern brushes we use today.
Newman used her platform to speak out for women’s rights, making her a powerhouse both in and outside the salon.
Granville T Woods
Known as the Black Edison, Granville T Woods was a brilliant inventor with dozens of patents.
One of his most significant was a telegraph system that allowed trains to communicate with each other while in motion.
The Railway Telegraph
This system reduced collisions, improved scheduling, and made rail travel safer across the country.
Woods’ inventions were so advanced that large corporations often tried to discredit or steal his work, but he kept pushing forward and defending his patents.
Black Brilliance Is Everywhere
You can walk through your whole day using things made better by Black inventors without ever hearing their names.
That is not because they were not important. It is because someone decided they were not worth remembering.
But knowing who built the things you use changes the way you see the world.
It changes how you talk to your kids about science and engineering. It changes how students imagine their future. It changes who gets invited into the room, funded, believed, or seen as capable.
This is not about trivia. It is about power.
Kevin smiley
Erasure is not just historical. It is active. When these names are left out of the story, genius remains marginalized. When their contributions are omitted or ignored.
Society loses valuable perspectives and insights by not acknowledging these contributions.
They have make it easier to overlook the next breakthrough because the last one was never acknowledged.
But naming names? That is how we shift the narrative.
That is how we remind people that Black brilliance has always been here. In the mail you drop off.
In the warmth of your house. In the scoop of ice cream you give your kid after dinner. It is not rare. It is not surprising. It is the standard. You just were not told.
Quick Facts and Flashcards
If someone ever tries to tell you they just cannot think of any Black inventors, hand them this list.
Alfred L Cralle
Invented the one handed ice cream scoop in 1897. His design is still used in homes and ice cream shops around the world.
George T Sampson
Patented an early clothes dryer that made it possible to dry laundry indoors, even in cold weather.
Philip B Downing
Designed and patented a secure street letterbox. His invention made mail drop off safe, private, and convenient.
Alice H Parker
Created an early natural gas heating system in 1919. Her work helped shape the foundation of modern central heating.
Charles B Brooks
Invented the first self propelled street sweeper with rotating brushes. His design improved sanitation in growing cities.
Thomas W Stewart
Improved the mop by adding a wringer system and detachable parts, making cleaning faster and more hygienic.
Lyda D Newman
Patented a durable, easy to clean hairbrush in 1898. She was also a voting rights activist and advocate for racial justice.
Granville T Woods
Known as the Black Edison. He held over 50 patents, including a railway telegraph system that made train travel safer.
Frequently Asked Questions About These Inventors
Why are not these inventors better known
Because the systems built to track and share innovation were never made for them. Patent offices, media, school curriculums, and even museums have historically favored white inventors. A lot of these names were left out intentionally or credited to someone else entirely.
Did any of these inventors get recognition in their time
A few did, but most had to fight for even a fraction of the credit they deserved. Granville T Woods had to go to court several times to prove his inventions were actually his. Garrett Morgan had to hire white actors to present his gas mask because buyers refused to trust a Black man. Recognition came late—if at all.
Are their inventions still used today
Absolutely. Ice cream scoops, gas heating, letterboxes, hairbrushes, and mops are part of daily life. Some inventions have been updated over time, but the foundation is still theirs. They shaped how we live, work, clean, and connect.
Were these inventors working in isolation
Some were, but many were part of communities that encouraged creativity and resourcefulness. What is more common is that they were working without access to networks that could amplify or protect their work. That is why so many patents were lost or credited to others.
How do we make sure their stories do not get erased again
Start by saying their names. Teach them. Write about them. Share their stories with kids. Support museums and educators who are telling the truth. And keep asking questions. When something makes life better, find out who made it possible. Then tell somebody.
The Everyday Impact of Black Inventors and Why We Must Keep Their Names Alive
You have read the names. You have seen the inventions. And if you are honest, you probably used at least three of them today without realizing it.
That is the whole point.
Black inventors have always been part of the blueprint. They have shaped everything from how we keep food cold to how we mail letters to how we survive a cold winter night. But the credit? The celebration? The space in the history books? That was stolen.
These names should not feel new. They should feel foundational.
This is not a nostalgia trip. It is not just about fixing what was left out. It is about building a culture where Black innovation is recognized, funded, and passed on. Because every time we say these names, we open the door a little wider for the next one.
So share this. Drop one of these facts at brunch. Text your group chat with a quick did you know. Use your voice to do what the textbooks never did—tell the truth.
Because the world we live in was built by more than just the names we memorized in school.
And next time you scoop your ice cream, flip on the heat, or brush your hair? Say their names. Then say them again.
Read more About Black History They Didn't Teach You
The Hidden History of Black Wall Street
Black History in Living Color
Black History You Didn't Learn In School
