Blacks conceived major inventions benefiting mankind

Jet, Feb 16, 2004

Do you realize that many of the devices you use on a daily basis were invented by Blacks? Their names may not be recognizable at first, but their unique creations have helped make life simpler for all races.

The next time you're at a traffic light waiting for it to turn green, remember that it was a Black man, Garrett A. Morgan, who came up with that invention. Today traffic lights throughout the world work on his red-amber-green pattern.

Getting those stubborn wrinkles out of your clothes can be quite a chore. Thanks to Sarah Boone's improvement to the ironing board, that task is no longer a pressing issue.

Writing a letter by hand was made easier when W. B. Purvis created the fountain pen. The design eliminated carrying around a bottle of ink and revolutionized office work.

Benjamin Banneker, a self-taught astronomer and mathematician, published the first almanac written by a Black. He also participated in surveying the federal territory that is now known as Washington, D.C.

Summer days are more bearable with the help of the air-conditioning unit created by Frederick M. Jones. He is also credited with inventing the automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks, which eliminated the problem of food spoilage.

One of the best ways to learn more about the contributions that Blacks have made to society is to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC) scheduled to open this summer in Cincinnati.

The Center celebrates the historic efforts of the Underground Railroad, a system of cooperation among Black slaves, freed Blacks, Whites and Native Americans that helped slaves escape from the South to the North.

This collaborative effort and others throughout history have changed America by opening up the possibilities for Blacks to become an instrumental part in shaping our nation.

In conjunction with the new Center, Procter & Gamble, maker of the major household brands Tide, Bounty, Pantene, Crest, Charmin, Pampers and Luvs, is the primary sponsor of the Teaching Personal Freedoms Tour.

The tour is a traveling multimedia production of music and dramatic skits featuring performer Denise Thimes, portraying historic Black women and celebrating the legacy of courage, cooperation, perseverance and triumph all America shares because of them, Black inventors, and others making contributions to a free society.