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28 Days of Black History: 10 Black Inventors Who Revolutionized Everyday Life

From space-saving furniture to safer elevators, these Black innovators revolutionized how we live and work.

From safely crossing a bustling intersection to feeling secure in our homes, many innovations we take for granted were created by Black inventors who refused to let the challenges of their time stifle their genius. 

Garrett Morgan gave us the traffic light, a lifesaving system that keeps our roads organized and safe. Mary Van Brittan Brown revolutionized home safety with the invention of the first home security system, a concept that has evolved into the modern devices we trust today. And let’s not forget Alexander Miles, whose design of automatic elevator doors drastically improved safety and efficiency in buildings worldwide. 

These inventors and their groundbreaking contributions have shaped our world, but their names often go unmentioned in history books. 

That’s why we’re celebrating 10 Black inventors whose creative brilliance forever changed how we navigate daily life. Please keep reading to get ready to be inspired by their ingenuity, resilience, and lasting impact.

  • Garrett Morgan / The Traffic Light

    Garrett Morgan - Garrett Morgan was compelled to improve stop-and-go traffic safety after witnessing an accident between an automobile and horse-drawn carriage — subsequently creating the nation's first three-position traffic.(Photo: LOC) 
    Garrett Morgan - Garrett Morgan was compelled to improve stop-and-go traffic safety after witnessing an accident between an automobile and horse-drawn carriage — subsequently creating the nation's first three-position traffic.(Photo: LOC) 

    Imagine navigating the roads without traffic lights. In 1923, Garrett Morgan invented the first three-position traffic signal, revolutionizing transportation safety worldwide. His work saved countless lives and laid the foundation for modern traffic systems.

    He’s also credited for inventing the gas mask and a zigzag attachment for sewing machines. 

  • Sarah E. Goode - The Folding Cabinet Bed

    Sarah E. Goode - The folding cabinet bed was the genius invention of Chicago furniture storeowner Sarah E. Goode, the first African-American woman to receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark office. Designed to replace full-size beds that couldn’t fit in cramped apartments, Goode's space-conscious model served as a desk, stationary shelf and bed.(Photo: Courtesy of The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers)
    Sarah E. Goode - The folding cabinet bed was the genius invention of Chicago furniture storeowner Sarah E. Goode, the first African-American woman to receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark office. Designed to replace full-size beds that couldn’t fit in cramped apartments, Goode's space-conscious model served as a desk, stationary shelf and bed.(Photo: Courtesy of The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers)

    As the first African American woman to receive a U.S. patent, Sarah E. Goode designed the folding cabinet bed in 1885. Her innovative space-saving furniture was a game-changer for small apartments everywhere.

  • Granville T. Woods / The Induction Telegraph

    Granville T. Woods, 1887. Inventor Granville Tailer Woods, the first African American mechanical and electrical engineer after the Civil War. Invented the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph which sent messages between train stations and moving trains. From "Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising" by William J. Simmons. Creator: Unknown.

    Dubbed the “Black Edison,” Granville T. Woods invented the induction telegraph, enabling trains to communicate with stations and avoid collisions. His contributions to electrical engineering were instrumental in improving transportation safety. 

    Throughout his life, Woods secured over 50 patents for various inventions, such as an automatic brake and an egg incubator, and advancements to existing technologies, such as the safety circuit, telegraph, telephone, and phonograph.

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  • Alexander Miles / Automatic Elevator Doors

    Before Alexander Miles’ invention, elevator users had to manually close doors, which was inconvenient and dangerous. In 1887, he patented automatic elevator doors, greatly enhancing elevator safety. Nearly 90 years after he died in 1918, the Ohio native was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

  • Mary Van Brittan Brown / The Home Security System

    Mary Van Brittan Brown invented the first home security system in 1966. Her system, with cameras, monitors, and a two-way microphone, laid the groundwork for today’s advanced security technologies.

  • Patricia Era Bath / Laser Cataract Surgery

    National Library of Medicine

    Harlem native Dr. Patricia Bath was a pioneer in ophthalmology. In 1986, she discovered and invented the Laserphaco Probe, a machine that revolutionized cataract surgery and restored sight to countless individuals worldwide.

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  • Alice H. Parker - The Gas Heating Furnace

    Alice H. Parker invented a central heating system using natural gas in 1919. Her work paved the way for modern heating systems that keep homes warm during the cold season.

  • Shirley Ann Jackson / Telecommunications Breakthroughs

    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Honoree Shirley Ann Jackson attends the 150th Annual Urban Visionaries Award Dinner at 7 World Trade Center on November 2, 2009 in New York City.

    Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson’s theoretical physics research led to telecommunications innovations, including portable fax machines, touch-tone telephones, solar cells, fiber optic cables, caller IDs, and call waiting. Her work has influenced how we communicate globally.

  • Elijah McCoy - The Automatic Lubricator

    Known for his “real McCoy” invention, Elijah McCoy created the automatic lubricator for steam engines in 1872. This innovation drastically improved machine efficiency and is still celebrated today.

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  • Lewis Latimer - The Carbon Filament

    An inventor and patent draftsman, Lewis Latimer, is best known for improving the light bulb by inventing a carbon filament, making electric lighting more practical and affordable for everyday use.

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