15 Things Invented By Black People

Black people have been changing the game since, well…forever—but so many of our contributions don’t get the shine they deserve. From life-saving inventions to everyday things we can’t live without, black inventors have pushed boundaries, solved problems, and made life better for everybody. Despite the societal obstacles, they still managed to create things that shaped the world as we know it today. It’s easy to overlook the brilliance and creativity of black minds, even though they led to creative innovations we use on a daily basis. These stories aren’t just about the past—they’re about inspiring all of us to dream bigger and believe in what we’re capable of

“I think I’ve had more failures than successes, but I don’t see the failures as mistakes because I always learned something from those experiences. I see them as having not achieved the initial goal, nothing more than that.” –James West (co-inventor of electret microphones)

RELATED: 14 Year Old Naya Ellis Designs Stroke-Detecting Device That Could Save Many Lives RELATED: TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year Heman Bekele’s Invention Could Treat Skin Cancer RELATED: Mirror Running Glove: BeBe Winans Adds Inventor to His Resume So, let’s take a moment to give props where they’re due and celebrate some amazing inventions by black people that changed the game for good…

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1. Refrigerated Trucks

Perishable foods used to be transported in trucks filled with ice. Federick McKinely is responsible for making and patenting a cooling system inside trucks so that anything can be transported. The next time you see a big semi truck hauling food, you’ll know it’s McKinely’s work.

2. Blood Bank

Charles Richard Drew was an African American physician, surgeon, and researcher. In the 1940’s he researched and created the blood bank which allows for proper storage and transport of blood plasma.

3. Street Letter Box aka Mail Box

In 1891, Philip Downing created the street letter box that eventually evolved into the metal letterboxes we see on our street corners today.

4. The Traffic Light

Garrett Morgan created the traffic light in 1923 after witnessing a car crash at a Cleveland intersection.

5. The Laser Cataract Surgey

Patricia Bath a Howard University graduate created the laserphaco probe in 1986 for laser cataract surgeries. With this device, Bath was able to restore the sight of several individuals who had been blind for over 30 years. Bath was also the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

6. The Super Soaker

There a ton of memories with this awesome toy and what’s even better is that it was created by an African American! Former NASA engineer Lonie Johnson created this toy in his spare time back in the 90’s. After several patenting attempts he came up with the name “Super Soaker” and pulled in $200 million dollars in 1991!

7. Identifying Explosives Spot Test

Dr. Betty Harris was a known expert in the chemistry of explosives. She is responsible for creating and patenting a spot test for identifying explosives in a field environment.

8. Illusion Transmitter

In 1980, NASA employee Valerie Thomas invented the Illusion transmitter. This device used concave mirrors to create images that appear to be real, or in front of a mirror itself. This technology was used by NASA and has been used in surgery rooms and for television movie screen productions.

9. Electret Microphone

Dr. James West was an American inventor and professor responsible for creating the electret transducer or microphone in 1962. He created an inexpensive, highly sensitive, compact microphone that is now used in anything from the microphones on your phone to tape recorders, camcorders, baby monitors and so much more.

10. Sundial Clock

After taking a pocket watch apart and studying its components, Benjamin Banneker made a fully functioning sundial clock out of carved wooden pieces. From this invention in the 1750’s Banneker was able to start his own watch and clock repair business.

11. Peanut Products

Though often only credited for inventing peanut butter, George Washington Carver invented over 300 peanut-related products. As a child, he was called the “plant doctor” because of his interest in plants. He’s responsible for peanut oil which he believed could cure polio.

12. Connection Machine (World's Fastest Computer in 1989)

Born in Nigeria, Dr. Philip Emeagwali is responsible for creating the worlds fastest computer in 1989. The computer he created was capable of performing 3.1 billion calculations per second.