In celebration of Black History, it’s only right we recognize some of the amazing contributions African Americans have made to society. Here are 5 awesome things you probably had no idea were invented by black people.
Lonnie Johnson
The reason my summers were lit as a kid , super soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson #blackhistorymonth pic.twitter.com/cawqKn1sT5
— .Yeeskii. (@itsmikelarrry) February 2, 2018
Lonnie Johnson, a nuclear engineer, stumbled upon the technology for the Super Soaker while working on a completely different project that involved a cooling device that ran on water instead of freon.
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Thomas Elkins
Thomas Elkins of Albany NY patented a chamber commode 145 years ago today, toilet, bureau, mirror, book-rack, tablehttps://t.co/yggaV6xlVn pic.twitter.com/scNkz1iTQI
— Rick Brutti (@Rbrutti) January 9, 2017
We can thank Thomas Elkins for the modern day toilet as we know it.
Lewis Latimer
Born in 1848 to runaway slaves, Lewis Latimer doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his contributions towards the invention of the telephone and the light bulb.
James E. West
James E. West invented the first practical electret microphone, which uses a charged material instead of needing a polarized power supply. #CTEMonth #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/xY1h0tGgbq
— BOCES of New York (@BOCESofNYS) February 1, 2018
If you’ve ever used a microphone, chances are you’re using James E. West’s technology.
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Marie Van Brittan Brown
Day 2: Marie Van Brittan Brown -Marie Van Brittan Brown was an African American inventor, becoming the originator of the home security system in 1966, along with her husband Albert Brown, a patent was granted in 1969. #HappyBlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/VTfnW9sd7c
— CAL (@NorthsideCAL) February 2, 2018
Where would we be without Marie Van Brittan Brown? Thanks to her, we have the home security system. While working as a nurse, Brown created a system that would alert her if strangers were at her door and then contact relevant authorities if necessary.
Culled from globalgrind.cassiuslife.com