15 Groundbreaking Inventions By People Of Color

History often highlights a select few inventors, but countless minds have contributed to our world in ways that go unnoticed. Here, we’re shining a spotlight on incredible inventions from people of color that have profoundly shaped our lives. Their legacy deserves not just to be remembered but to be revered. Swipe to find more.

Sarah Boone 

In 1892, Sarah Boone changed the game with her innovative ironing board design. Her patent (US patent 473,563) featured a narrow, curved wooden board that made ironing sleeves a breeze. Following Judy Reed, Boone was the second African-American woman to receive a patent.

Garrett Morgan

Observing the increasing congestion on city streets, Morgan recognized the need for an effective traffic control system. His design, built on the basic concepts of stop-and-go signs, introduced a signal that could efficiently manage the flow of traffic at intersections. That is how the three-way traffic signal was born.

Frederick McKinley Jones

Frederick McKinley Jones, the “Father of Refrigerated Transportation,” patented a roof-mounted cooling system in 1940 that kept goods fresh on trucks. He held over 60 patents and co-founded Thermo King, which became important for preserving supplies during World War II.

Alexander Miles

Before automatic doors, elevator rides were risky as riders had to manually close both shaft and elevator doors, often leading to accidents. After his daughter nearly fell down a shaft, Alexander Miles created an automatic door mechanism in 1887. This design, which opens and closes doors automatically, is still used in elevators today.

Lewis Howard Latimer

While Thomas Edison perfected the light bulb, Lewis Latimer improved it with a carbon filament that made bulbs last longer. Lewis initially worked in patent law and co-invented an improved train bathroom. His 1880 patent for a carbon filament improved bulb durability, and then he joined the Edison Electric Light Company.

Thomas L. Jennings

The first African American patent-holder, Thomas L. Jennings, was awarded his patent in 1821 for a revolutionary dry cleaning method. As a tailor, Jennings created “dry scouring” to remove stains without harming fabrics. This innovation addressed common issues with clothing damage and earned him his patent in 1821.

Philip Emeagwali

The linked supercomputer system, which paved the way for modern IT technologies, was developed by Nigerian computer scientist Philip Emeagwali. Inspired by how bees work together, Emeagwali conceived the idea of connecting multiple microprocessors to boost computing power, which led to the invention in 1989.

Patricia Bath

Imagine the relief of cataract surgery transformed by innovation. Patricia Era Bath, an American ophthalmologist, made it happen. After research in Paris and Berlin, she developed the laser phaco probe, revolutionizing cataract removal. She was the first African-American woman to receive a medical patent.

Valerie Thomas

Prominent for her work, Thomas is best known for inventing the illusion transmitter, a breakthrough technology she patented in 1980. Her innovative contributions extended to the early digital media formats that were vital for the image processing systems used in NASA’s Landsat program.

Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown

In 1966, a nurse and her electronics technician husband, Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown, were determined to improve their safety amidst a high crime rate and slow police response in their neighborhood. They created an audio-visual home security system that became a solution, which led to the birth of today’s CCTV.

Otis Boykin

Otis was a prolific inventor, securing patents for as many as 26 devices. His most famous contributions include electronic control devices used in guided missiles, IBM computers, and pacemakers. One of his early creations was an improved wire resistor, designed with a special wire arrangement to reduce inductance and reactance.

Mary Kenner

Born on May 7, 1912, in Monroe, North Carolina, Mary Kenner was a true innovator. She invented practical solutions like the sanitary belt, which was an early version of the maxi pad. Kenner also created a serving tray attached to walkers and a toilet paper holder designed to keep the loose end easy to reach. 

Charles R. Drew

An American surgeon and medical researcher, Charles R. Drew, improved the field of blood transfusions with his advancements in blood storage techniques. During World War II, he leveraged his expertise to establish large-scale blood banks, a critical innovation that helped medics save thousands of Allied lives.

Onesimus

Do you know where today’s smallpox vaccination roots trace back? It owes it to Onesimus, an enslaved man who, in 1716, shared knowledge of smallpox inoculation with Cotton Mather. Mather, who had purchased Onesimus a decade earlier, used this method with a local doctor during a Boston smallpox outbreak in 1721.

Jo Anderson

Jo Anderson is considered a key contributor to the design and creation of the mechanical reaper alongside his owner, Robert McCormick. This invention improved American agriculture by enabling crops to be harvested mechanically instead of by hand, accelerating the harvest process.