Black Inventors Who Shaped Your Everyday Life (And Why History Forgot Them)
The Everyday Genius You Were Never Taught About
Let’s start with a confession. You probably used something today invented by a Black genius and had no idea.
That coffee you brewed. That elevator you took. That traffic light you sat under while yelling at somebody on Bluetooth. Those everyday moments were touched by Black innovation.
But if your history books were anything like mine, those names were nowhere to be found.
And that is not an accident.
Textbooks have this funny way of highlighting just enough of Black excellence to seem inclusive. You might get a paragraph about George Washington Carver and peanuts or maybe a quick nod to Harriet Tubman if it is Black History Month.
But a full page on Lewis Latimer’s contributions to the lightbulb? Or Marie Van Brittan Brown and her home security system? Silence.
We are here to change that.
We are going to walk through your day from morning to night and show just how much Black inventors have shaped the world around you.
Whether you are sipping iced coffee, ironing a shirt, or dodging traffic, there is a brilliant Black mind behind that convenience. And chances are, you have never heard their name.
That ends today!
So let’s talk about who they were, what they built, and why their stories got left out of the spotlight. Because once you see it, you can't unsee it. And trust me, you will never look at a traffic light or potato chip the same way again.
Why Don't We Know Their Names
Let’s call it what it is. Erasure. Suppression. And good old-fashioned racism wrapped in academic silence.
The truth is, most of these inventors never had a shot at the spotlight. Not because their inventions were not brilliant, but because the system was never built to credit people who looked like them.
Start with the patent system. Getting a patent in the 1800s and early 1900s was already complicated. Now imagine trying to do that while being Black in a country that did not even see you as fully human.
Even when patents were granted, many Black inventors had to list white partners or employers as the official holders. Some inventions were outright stolen or quietly rebranded with someone else's name.
Then there is the invention filter. The unspoken rule about who gets remembered. If you contributed to a major innovation but did not fit the narrative of the genius inventor, white, male, and usually wearing round glasses you were often erased, overlooked, or mentioned as a footnote, if you were lucky.
That erasure did not just cost credit. It cost opportunity. If kids had grown up learning about Lonnie Johnson instead of only Thomas Edison, we might have more young engineers today who see themselves in the work.
If Sarah Boone was taught next to Benjamin Franklin, students might understand that greatness comes from every corner of history.
And let’s not pretend this is just a history issue. This is about the present. Because when we don’t talk about where these inventions came from, we disconnect people from the truth.
And when people do not feel seen in the past, they struggle to imagine themselves in the future.
Giving credit is not just about fairness. It is about building a world where genius is not filtered through bias.
Everyday Innovations That Would Make Your Day a Nightmare If They Disappeared
We are surrounded by inventions that make life easier, safer, and way more convenient. You probably do not even notice most of them until they stop working. But behind many of those everyday comforts are Black inventors whose names got lost somewhere between the classroom and the copyright office.
Let’s break down just a few of the game changers that show up right in your house.
Home Sweet Home: Comfort, Cleanliness, and Convenience
Frederick McKinley Jones
Love fresh produce? Ice cream that is not a soup puddle by the time it hits your kitchen? Thank Frederick McKinley Jones.
The Refrigerator Truck
In the 1930s, he developed a cooling system for trucks that allowed perishable goods to be transported across long distances. Before that, food spoiled quickly and options were limited.
His invention changed the food industry and made year round grocery shopping possible. No refrigerator truck means no frozen section. No fresh fruit in February. No late night pint of your favorite flavor.
You use this every time you eat. You just never knew his name.
Lewis Latimer
Thomas Edison gets all the credit for the light bulb, but if he had not had help from Lewis Latimer, your bulbs would have burned out in minutes.
The Carbon Filament Light Bulb
Latimer was the son of formerly enslaved parents and a brilliant inventor in his own right. He improved the design of the bulb by creating a carbon filament that made it last longer and burn brighter.
That improvement made electric lighting practical for everyday use, not just for wealthy families and research labs.
So the next time you flip a switch and the room lights up, that is Lewis Latimer in action.
Marie Van Brittan Brown
Before smart doorbells and motion sensors, Marie Van Brittan Brown had a problem to solve.
Living in Queens, New York in the 1960s, she felt unsafe and knew police response was slow. So she created the first home surveillance system.
The Home Security System
Her design included peepholes, cameras, monitors, and even a panic button that contacted emergency services. This was decades before modern systems like Ring existed.
Marie’s invention laid the foundation for an entire industry and helped people feel safer in their own homes. That is more than innovation. That is peace of mind.
Alexander Miles
Automatic Elevator Doors
Ever ride an elevator without thinking twice? You can thank Alexander Miles for that smooth, safe experience.
Before his invention, elevator doors had to be opened and closed manually. If someone forgot to shut the door, it could end in disaster. Alexander Miles patented an automatic mechanism that closed the doors safely and reliably, saving lives in the process.
His work became the standard and is the reason elevator rides feel so simple today. Less stress, fewer accidents, more trust in your vertical travel.
On the Move: Getting Around Without Losing Your Mind
Whether you are driving to work, hopping on a train, or just trying not to miss the light at the crosswalk, you are moving through a world shaped by Black inventors.
Some of their work keeps you safe. Some of it keeps machines running. And some of it just makes everything flow a little smoother.
Garrett Morgan
Before Garrett Morgan came along, traffic signals were more like loose suggestions. Accidents were common, and intersections could feel like chaos.
Morgan invented a three light traffic signal that introduced the yellow light as a warning between stop and go.
The Three Light Traffic Signal
That extra moment of caution? It saved lives and created a blueprint for traffic systems around the world.
Morgan’s patent was eventually purchased by General Electric, and his invention became a global standard.
Next time you hit the brakes just in time, you know who to thank.
Elijah McCoy
If you have ever heard the phrase The Real McCoy, you are already talking about this guy.
The Automatic Lubricator
Elijah McCoy was a mechanical engineer who developed a device called the oil drip cup.
It automatically applied oil to moving parts in engines, making trains and factory machines run more smoothly and with fewer breakdowns.
Before his invention, workers had to stop machinery often just to oil the parts. McCoy’s creation meant less downtime, more safety, and a whole lot more efficiency.
His work was so respected that competitors tried to copy it, but buyers kept asking for the real McCoy.
Garrett Morgan
Yes, him again. Garrett Morgan was busy.
Before he revolutionized traffic safety, Morgan also invented an early version of the gas mask. His safety hood was originally designed for firefighters and rescue workers to survive smoke filled environments.
The Gas Mask
It gained national attention when he used it himself to rescue workers trapped in a tunnel collapse. Despite proving its effectiveness, many buyers hesitated when they found out he was Black.
So he had white actors pretend to be the inventor during demonstrations just to get it into the hands of people who needed it.
The gas mask went on to save lives in war zones, fire rescues, and emergency situations around the world.
Food, Fun, and Small Luxuries
Not every invention changed global safety systems or rewrote city infrastructure. Some of them made life just plain better. The kind of better you taste, wear, or soak your cousins with on a hot summer afternoon.
Sarah Boone
If you have ever tried to press the collar on a shirt without a proper ironing board, you know it is not a good time.
Sarah Boone improved the ironing board design in the late 1800s by making it narrower and more curved to better fit sleeves and fitted clothing.
The Modern Ironing Board
Her version made ironing faster, cleaner, and actually possible for modern garments. She took something that most people found frustrating and gave it real function.
If you have ever appreciated a crisp shirt, she is the reason why it came out that way.
George Crum
Yes, really. The most snackable, addictive food of all time was invented by a Black man named George Crum. The potato chip!!
He was a chef in the 1850s, and legend has it that a picky customer kept sending back his fried potatoes for being too thick.
Potato Chips
So Crum sliced them paper thin, fried them until they were crunchy, and salted them generously. The customer loved them. So did everyone else.
A culinary accident turned into a billion dollar industry. And yet, you rarely hear George Crum’s name on a bag of chips.
Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson was not trying to make toys. He was a NASA engineer experimenting with pressurized fluid systems. But one of his experiments in 1989, turned into a powerful water blaster, and the Super Soaker was born.
The Super Soaker
It changed summer fun forever. The toy went on to earn hundreds of millions of dollars and became a cultural icon. Johnson used the profits to fund new tech ventures and inspire kids in STEM fields.
The Super Soaker is fun, sure. But it is also proof that creativity and innovation can come from anywhere, even your backyard.
Why Their Stories are Hidden and Why We Should Fix That
Let’s not dance around it. The reason most people have never heard these names is because the people writing the history books never intended to include them.
Black inventors were left out of the spotlight on purpose. Some were denied access to patents. Others had their work credited to white supervisors or business partners.
Some were simply ignored. And over time, those omissions snowballed into silence.
When you erase someone from the past, you erase their influence on the future.
This is not just about missed credit. It is about the opportunities that never came. The inventions that never got funded.
The children who never saw themselves in science, in labs, in engineering roles because no one showed them it had been done before.
And when these stories do show up, they are usually framed as side notes or trivia. Not center stage. Not celebrated.
Fixing this starts with telling the truth. In schools. In media. At the dinner table. These inventors were not just part of the story. They were essential to it.
You do not build a brighter future by ignoring the brilliance that already existed.
Kevin Smiley
This is just the beginning. Read Part Two: Black Brilliance Part 2: More Everyday Inventions You Didn’t Know Came From Black Minds and keep giving credit where it’s been due all along.
Quick Facts and Flashcards: Do Not Forget These Names
Need a cheat sheet? Want to win trivia night or just drop knowledge mid-conversation? These are the names and inventions to keep handy and to make sure never get left out again.
Frederick McKinley Jones
Invented the refrigerated truck. His design changed how food, medicine, and perishable goods are transported worldwide.
Lewis Latimer
Created the carbon filament that made the lightbulb practical and long lasting. He also worked on early telephone designs and electric power systems.
Marie Van Brittan Brown
Designed the first home security system with cameras, audio monitoring, and emergency alerts. Her blueprint paved the way for modern surveillance systems.
Alexander Miles
Patented the automatic mechanism that opens and closes elevator doors, making elevators safer for everyone.
Garrett Morgan
Invented the three position traffic signal and an early version of the gas mask. Both saved lives and became models for future innovations.
Elijah McCoy
Created the automatic lubricator for train engines and machinery. His work was so respected that buyers demanded the real McCoy.
Sarah Boone
Improved the ironing board to better fit curved and fitted garments. Her design is the foundation for what we still use today.
George Crum
Credited with inventing the potato chip. What started as a kitchen experiment turned into one of the most beloved snacks in the world.
Lonnie Johnson
NASA engineer and inventor of the Super Soaker. His creativity turned a science experiment into one of the top selling toys of all time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Inventors
Who are some other Black inventors I should know about
There are so many more than what made it into this post. People like Otis Boykin, who improved the pacemaker.
Madam C J Walker, who created a hair care empire and became one of the first self made female millionaires in America.
Mark Dean, who helped invent the color PC monitor. Black innovation spans centuries and industries. We have only scratched the surface.
Were any of these inventors recognized in their own lifetimes
Some were, but many were not. Garrett Morgan received some attention for his traffic signal and gas mask, but he still faced racism that limited his reach.
Others, like Marie Van Brittan Brown and Elijah McCoy, had their contributions overlooked or claimed by others. Recognition often came late, if at all.
Be honest how many of these names had you actually heard before today?
How did racism affect their ability to get patents or credit
Racism affected every part of the process. Some inventors could not file for patents under their own names because the system was not built to protect them. Others had to rely on white partners or employers to act as intermediaries. Even when they did get patents, their work was often ignored by manufacturers or denied proper funding and publicity.
Did any of these inventors work together or influence each other
Many worked independently, but some were part of overlapping communities or movements. For example, Lewis Latimer worked with both Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, bridging multiple areas of innovation. Others, like Elijah McCoy, became legends in their own time and influenced inventors who came after.
How can I learn more about Black inventors and their inventions
There are some great books, documentaries, and museum exhibits focused on this history. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has excellent online resources. Books like Black Inventors in the Age of Segregation or Hidden Figures give powerful insight into both the inventions and the systems that tried to bury them.
Are there modern Black inventors making waves today
Absolutely. People like Lisa Gelobter, who helped develop early animation and streaming technology.
Dr Hadiyah Nicole Green, who is pioneering cancer treatment using lasers.
Lonnie Johnson is still innovating and funding STEM education through his foundation. Black inventors are still out here changing the game.
Why are these stories not taught in schools
That is the million dollar question. It comes down to who controls the curriculum, what stories are prioritized, and the historical resistance to centering Black excellence. The good news is that change is possible. It starts with awareness, then pressure, then rewriting the story the way it should have been told all along.
You Are Surrounded by Black Brilliance Every Day
Look around you. The lights overhead. The food in your fridge. The streetlights outside. The water blaster your kid will probably sneak attack you with this summer. These everyday moments were made possible by Black inventors who were brilliant, strategic, and visionary.
And yet, most of their names are still missing from the textbooks. That is not just a problem of the past. It is a problem we live with every time credit is denied, innovation is overlooked, and genius goes unrecognized.
These inventors were not rare exceptions. They were part of a long line of Black excellence that kept pushing forward even when the world pushed back. They were creators. Solvers. Builders. And they changed the world without waiting for permission.
So now you know their names. Say them. Share them. Teach them to your kids. Bring them up at brunch. Shout them out at trivia night. Put some respect on their legacy and give credit where it has always been due.
And next time your elevator works or your sandwhich comes with chips, give a silent nod to these unsung heroes. Or say it out loud. Make it weird. It is worth it.
Read more About Black History They Didn't Teach You
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Black History in Living Color
Black History You Didn't Learn In School
