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Many industries and individuals benefit from the inventions of Black people, especially Black women. These brilliant minds gave us amazing inventions we still use today, from components of common electronics to essential home systems. You could argue they pushed society and progress forward thanks to their trailblazing creations. Below are some life-changing inventions created by Black women.
Home Video Security Systems
Marie Van Brittan Brown worked long and late hours as a nurse in Queens, New York, becoming concerned about her safety when she came home. So, she and her husband, Albert Brown, put their heads together and created the first video home security system in 1966. The couple patented their trailblazing product in 1969, paving the way for modern home security systems like Ring doorbell cameras.
Sanitary Napkins
Before we had tampons and menstrual pads, Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner invented a "sanitary belt" that would become to precursor to such items. While she faced financial issues and racism from both companies and officials, she eventually got her patent for the revolutionary product. Anybody who's ever needed something during their time of the month can thank her.
HVAC System
You can thank Alice H. Parker for heating systems in homes, businesses, and other buildings today. The Howard University student and New Jersey native lived in cold climates, so she patented a central heating system using natural gas in 1919. Her invention laid the foundation for modern HVAC systems and allow you to stay warm during the winter.
Fiber-Optic Cables
Phone calls and the internet wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Dr. Shirley Jackson, the first Black American to graduate with a doctorate in particle physics. This scientist was behind major telecommunications research, leading to touch-tone dialing, caller ID, call waiting, and most notably, fiber-optic cables. If you're not familiar with fiber optic cables, they're the cords that transmit data at light speeds. It basically facilitates corded phone calls and broadband Internet, marking huge changes in communication technology as we know it.
Ironing Board
While ironing seems to be going out of fashion, there was a time when it was a necessary thing to do. As such, ironing boards became essential home products. Enter Sarah Boone, a freed slave and dressmaker looking to make the ironing process much easier. Her improved ironing board kept clothes in place, made it so no impressions were left on the board from the iron, and featured foldable legs for easy storage. Boone earned a patent for the product in 1892.
Clothes Wringer In Washing Machines
You know how washing machines spin out the excess water that seeps into your clothes during a spin? It's thanks to Ellen F. Eglin that we don't have to worry about that kind of thing. The invention, created in the 1860s, made doing the laundry easier as you could quickly hang clothes to dry. Because of times, however, Eglin sold her work to Wringer Company and never saw money from the revolutionary addition.
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