Things That Wouldn't Exist Without Black People
From Traffic Lights To Hot Combs: Things That Wouldn’t Exist Without These Black Inventors
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Unless this is your first Black History month, you probably already know that George Washington Carver was known as “The peanut man.” But a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t the only thing we have to thank African-American inventors for. Lots of the items we use and take for granted every day were brought to us by Black inventors.
From hair styling tools and products that we can’t live without to medical procedures that keep our loved ones around, these inventions and innovations have been some of the most important. With that being said, let’s take the time to be thankful to not only for the great George Washington Carver but a whole host of talented people for the following inventions that changed the world as we know it.
But speaking of delicious snacks, can you guess what other global food favorite was brought to us by an African-American inventor? After you scroll through, leave us a note in the comment section if you managed to guess right!
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More Time With Our Loved Ones
Inventor Otis Boykin gave us the control unit in the pacemaker.
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Warm and Cozy Rooms
Alice Parker invented the gas-fueled heating furnace that changed the way the world warmed up homes.
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A Sense of Security
A Black woman, Marie Van Brittan Brown, patented the first home security system.
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Lush Green Lawns
We have two Black inventors to thank: John Albert Burr, who patented the rotary blade lawnmower, and Joseph H. Smith who revolutionized the lawn sprinkler.
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Potato Chips
Snackers around the world can thank George Crum, who all signs and stories point to as the man behind everyone’s favorite salty treat.
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Straight Edges
Without inventor Walter Sammons, we wouldn’t have the hot comb.
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A Clear Route To Work
We owe that to Garrett Morgan, the black man who created one of the first traffic lights.
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Trolleys
Commuters in major cities like San Francisco have relied heavily on trolleys for more than 100 years. And Elbert R. Robinson invented the first electric railway trolley.
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Grocery Store Goodies
Without refrigeration units in trucks, brought to us by Black inventor Frederick McKinley Jones, keeping perishables cool over long distances would be a struggle for your favorite grocery stores.
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Laundry Done In A Hurry
We might still be hanging clothes on the line if it weren’t for African-American inventor George T. Sampson who patented the first mechanical clothes dryer.
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Super-Soaked Summer Memories
Inventor Lonnie G. Johnson gave us one of our favorite memories from childhood, the Super Soaker water gun.
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Crisp Clothing
Sarah Boone patented the first ironing boards to help keep your clothes wrinkle-free.
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A Smooth Ride
Can’t drive a stick? Thank African-American inventor Richard Spikes for his innovations with the automatic gear shift device.
