Black Inventors | Excelling While Black

EWB

Excelling While Black

Inventors

Honoring the innovators who dared to reimagine what's possible

Patricia Era Bath

Inventor, Ophthalmologist, Humanitarian at American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness

Invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment, U.S. Patent No. 4,744,360
First African American female doctor to receive a medical patent

Otis Frank Boykin

Inventor, Electrical Engineer at Various Electronics Companies

Invented an improved electrical resistor used in computers and pacemakers, U.S. Patent No. 2,972,726
Developed the control unit for the artificial cardiac pacemaker

Marie Van Brittan Brown

Inventor, Nurse at Independent Inventor

Invented the first home security system with closed-circuit television, U.S. Patent No. 3,482,037
Created the foundation for modern video security systems used in homes and businesses worldwide

Lonnie George Johnson

Inventor, Aerospace Engineer at Johnson Research & Development Co.

Invented the Super Soaker water gun, one of the world's bestselling toys
Developed the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC) for efficient solar energy conversion

Lewis Howard Latimer

Inventor, Electrical Engineer, Patent Draftsman at Edison Electric Light Company

Invented and patented the carbon filament for light bulbs, U.S. Patent No. 252,386
Drafted patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone

Garrett Augustus Morgan

Inventor, Businessman at G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company

Invented the three-position traffic signal, U.S. Patent No. 1,475,024
Created the Morgan safety hood (early gas mask), U.S. Patent No. 1,113,675

Valerie LaVerne Thomas

Inventor, Physicist, Data Analyst at NASA

Invented the illusion transmitter, a 3D imaging technology, U.S. Patent No. 4,229,761
Developed Landsat digital image processing systems used by NASA

Sarah Breedlove Walker

Inventor, Entrepreneur at Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company

Created specialized hair care system for Black women, including the 'Wonderful Hair Grower'
America's first female self-made millionaire

George Washington Carver

Inventor, Agricultural Scientist, Educator at Tuskegee Institute

Developed over 300 derivative products from peanuts and 118 from sweet potatoes
Created crop rotation methods that revolutionized southern agriculture

Granville Tailer Woods

Inventor, Electrical Engineer at Woods Electric Company

Invented the induction telegraph system for communicating with moving trains, U.S. Patent No. 373,915
Created the third-rail electrical system used in subway systems worldwide