Day 5 - Inventions, Patents & Contributions
FBA Brilliance
Foundational Black Americans - those whose lineage in the United States predates the 20th century - have a long history of intellectual property creation, often secured under extreme legal and social duress. Their contributions to modern industry and daily life are immeasurable.
Patents Under Duress
In the early 19th century, enslaved individuals were legally barred from holding patents. However, free FBA citizens began securing intellectual property as early as 1821. The inventions and patents listed below were achieved despite extraordinary obstacles - from outright legal exclusion to systematic theft of intellectual property.
More inventions and patents will be added as research continues.
Early Pioneers & Legal Milestones
Free FBA citizens began securing intellectual property as early as 1821, despite being legally barred for most of American history.
Industry
1821
Dry Scouring (Precursor to Dry Cleaning)
Thomas Jennings
First African American patent holder
The first African American to receive a patent. He invented "dry scouring," a precursor to modern dry cleaning.
Agriculture
1834 & 1836
Seed Planter & Cotton Planter
Henry Blair
Listed as "free man of color" on patent applications
The second Black man to receive a patent. He invented a seed-planter (1834) and later a cotton-planter (1836).
Industry
1843
Multiple-Effect Evaporator
Norbert Rillieux
U.S. Patent 3,237
Revolutionized the sugar refining process by making it safer and more efficient through the use of steam.
Industrial & Mechanical Inventions
During the Reconstruction era, FBA inventors significantly impacted the American industrial revolution.
Engineering
1872
Automatic Lubricator for Steam Engines
Elijah McCoy
U.S. Patent 129,843
Allowed trains and ships to run continuously without stopping for manual oiling. His quality led to the phrase "the real McCoy" to distinguish his product from imitations.
Technology
1881
Carbon Filament for Light Bulbs
Lewis Latimer
U.S. Patent 247,097
Patented a method for manufacturing carbon filaments for incandescent light bulbs. His invention made light bulbs more durable and affordable, aiding the widespread adoption of electric light.
Industry
1883
Shoe Lasting Machine
Jan Matzeliger
U.S. Patent 274,207
Automated the process of attaching the sole to the upper shoe, which previously could only be done by hand. It cut shoe production costs in half and made footwear affordable for the masses.
Home & Living
1885
Folding Cabinet Bed
Sarah Goode
First Black woman to receive a U.S. patent
First Black woman to receive a U.S. patent. Precursor to the modern sofa bed.
Engineering
1887
Automatic Elevator Doors
Alexander Miles
U.S. Patent 371,207
Made elevators safe for public use, shaping modern architecture.
Transportation
1887
Induction Telegraphy System
Granville T. Woods
Multiple patents
Often called "The Black Edison," he patented the induction telegraphy system, which allowed moving trains to communicate with each other and stations, significantly reducing rail accidents.
Safety & Public Utility
FBA inventors created systems and devices that protect lives and serve communities to this day.
Home & Living
1892
Improved Ironing Board
Sarah Boone
U.S. Patent 473,653
Improved the ironing board with a curved, narrow design specifically intended for ironing the sleeves and bodices of women's garments.
Public Safety
1914
Gas Mask (Breathing Hood)
Garrett Morgan
U.S. Patent (1914)
Patented an early gas mask (breathing hood) that saved countless lives in fires and chemical emergencies.
Public Safety
1923
Three-Position Traffic Signal
Garrett Morgan
U.S. Patent (1923)
Introduced the "caution" or "yellow" light, creating an interval that allowed traffic to clear before the opposite side moved - a design still used globally today.
Security
1966
Home Security System
Marie Van Brittan Brown
U.S. Patent 3,482,037
Invented the first home security system with closed-circuit TV monitoring.
Scientific & Chemical Breakthroughs
Pioneers in medicine, chemistry, and agriculture whose discoveries changed the course of human health and food production.
Medicine
1916
The Ball Method (Leprosy Treatment)
Alice Ball
Chemical breakthrough (uncredited in her lifetime)
Developed the first successful chemical treatment for leprosy (Hansen's disease) using injectable esters from chaulmoogra oil. She died before her work was fully credited.
Medicine
1935
Synthetic Cortisone & Physostigmine
Percy Julian
Multiple pharmaceutical patents
A pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. He synthesized physostigmine for treating glaucoma and later developed a method for the large-scale production of synthetic cortisone and progesterone.
Agriculture
Early 1900s
300+ Uses for Peanuts, Sweet Potatoes & Soybeans
George Washington Carver
Rarely patented (believed they were gifts from God)
While he rarely patented his inventions, believing they were gifts from God for the public good, he discovered over 300 uses for peanuts and hundreds more for sweet potatoes and soybeans, fundamentally changing Southern agriculture.
Medicine
1940
Blood Bank / Blood Plasma Storage
Dr. Charles Drew
Pioneering medical research
Developed methods for storing blood plasma, saving millions of lives worldwide.
Medicine
1988
Laserphaco Probe
Patricia Bath
U.S. Patent 4,744,360
Revolutionary laser device for cataract surgery, restoring sight to the blind.
Modern Innovation & Culture
From refrigeration to personal computing to the music that defines American culture.
Industry
1940
Refrigerated Truck
Frederick McKinley Jones
U.S. Patent 2,303,857
Transformed the food and medical supply industries globally.
Electronics
1959
Improved Electrical Resistor
Otis Boykin
U.S. Patent 2,972,726
Critical component in computers, radios, TVs, and guided missiles.
Technology
1980s
Personal Computer Architecture
Mark Dean
Three of IBM PC's original nine patents
Co-created the IBM PC and held three of its original nine patents.
Music & Culture
Ongoing
Blues, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Hip-Hop
The FBA Community
Cultural legacy
Created the foundational American music genres that shaped global culture.
Opening Doors for the World
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Civil Rights Movement, led by Foundational Black Americans, did not only advance our own rights. It exposed the hypocrisy of America's discriminatory systems on a global stage. As FBA leaders challenged the nation to live up to its ideals of freedom and equality, the racist immigration quota system became an international embarrassment.
In 1965, President Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act, abolishing the discriminatory national origins quota system that had heavily favored Northern and Western Europeans while severely restricting entry for people from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This was a direct result of the moral momentum created by the FBA civil rights struggle.
Acknowledging Our Allies
We honor the non-FBA allies - of all backgrounds - who have stood for justice alongside us throughout history. From abolitionists who risked their lives on the Underground Railroad to those who marched beside us during the Civil Rights era, we recognize that solidarity across lines of difference has been essential to progress. Our fight created pathways for millions who came after - this is not a grievance, but a testament to the far-reaching power of the FBA legacy.
References
Clark, J. (2017). In 1914, Garrett A. Morgan patents a breathing mask. WSQ: Women's Studies Quarterly, 45(3), 349-350.
Cook, L. D. (2003). Lewis Latimer's carbon filament and the advancement of electric light. Historical Review of Technology.
Cook, L. D. (2014). Violence and economic activity: evidence from African American patents, 1870-1940. Journal of Economic Growth, 19(2), 221-257.
Gomes, S. S. W., & Francisco Junior, W. E. (2024). Alice Ball: An African-American woman to foster education in chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 101(11), 5231-5239.
Johnson, K. (2016). Assessment of potential long term health effects on Army human test subjects. Defense Technical Information Center.
Kryder-Reid, E. (n.d.). Dirty laundry: The toxic heritage of dry cleaning in Indianapolis, Indiana. Taylor & Francis eBooks.
Liang, H. (n.d.). Be a legendary servant-leader. STLE.
Webb, J. (2022). What's happening. Northern Oklahoma College.
Our people did not just survive -
we created, we innovated,
we transformed the world.
More to Come
This list continues to grow as we research and document the full breadth of FBA brilliance. More inventions and patents will be added.