Black History Month celebrates black excellence and the impact African Americans have made in the world. The way this annual observance in February is celebrated varies, as individuals have different perspectives about what black history means to them.
“Black history for me is the appreciation and respect behind what represents African Americans,” Danielle Walker, a junior fine arts major, said. “It showcases the deeper meaning behind the culture and what ancestors created for our beneficial future.”
The month is primarily focused on honoring African Americans that have made significant impacts and sacrifices for civil rights and equality. However, the month also focuses on the impact and contributions all African Americans have made in an array of different areas, including the areas of science and technology.
Many inventions and discoveries were made by African Americans, but these inventors and scientists often go unnoticed.
Garrett Morgan, an inventor and businessman, invented several things, most notably the smoke hood (an early version of the modern day gas mask) and the first three-position traffic signal.
Ernest Everett Just, an educator and biologist, was a Charleston, South Carolina native. He discovered his interest in biology after reading a paper on fertilization and egg development. Just later became known for his work in the physiology of development which included his pioneering work on the areas of fertilization, hydration and cell division. In 1915, Just won the NAACP’s first Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by a black American. His research has become a major component of biological principles, according to biography.com.
Marie Van Brittan Brown was an inventor who, along with her husband, invented the first version of what is now the modern home security system in 1966. Her reasoning behind pursuing this invention was that she was feeling unsafe because of her neighborhood’s high crime rate. The system included a camera which projected images and recordings to her TV, a two-way microphone to communicate to guests without opening the door and a panic button to alert the police in case of emergencies.
Elijah McCoy, an inventor and engineer, is notable for his 57 U.S. patents, which include his inventions of the lawn sprinkler and the ironing board. He invented the ironing board because his wife was having a difficult time ironing clothes on uneven surfaces. Later, in 1892, Sarah Boone innovated the board to make it more adaptable to ironing ladies’ clothing as well.
Although many of these names go unnoticed or forgotten, their inventions and contribution have made a huge impact on society, one that will be remembered for generations and generations to come.
Graphic: Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian
