Most of us have heard about George Washington Carver and his remarkable development of the peanut, (how many peanut butter sandwiches have you made?) but may not realize that he also developed hundreds of other products too. Some of us have heard that Dr. Charles Drew pioneered the idea for the first blood bank. But did you know that his project was the model for The Red Cross’ system of blood banks, and that he was the first director?

Unfortunately, there are many other African American inventors that are unknown to most of us. Born of necessity, or years in the laboratory, these inventions have made our modern life more convenient, efficient and safe. Some would have been the “As Seen On TV” items of their day, had there been such a thing. Others were advancements in the medical and technological fields so great that they are still being used today.

Did you know that African-Americans created, or further developed these products?:

• potato chips, shoe dye, gas mask, traffic signal, folding cabinet bed,
• pencil sharpener, fire escape ladder, truck refrigeration, player piano,
• fountain pens, roller coaster, lawn sprinkler, typewriter, golf tee, hair brush,
• ironing board, air conditioner, clothes dryer, lawn mower, cellular phone,
• helicopter, guitar, range oven, mop, shoe lasting, double plow, seed planter
• sugar refiner, wooden clock, ticket dispenser, reed organ, dustpan, wrench
• eggbeater, street sweeper

Parents, learn with your children the outstanding contributions of African American inventors I’ve listed a couple of websites and some reference books:

• The Black Inventors On Line Museum
• Scholastic Top Ten African American Inventors
• Books: African American Inventors by Otha Richard Sullivan, Black Inventors by Nathan Aaseng, 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History by Chrisanne Beckner

That’s Bingzy! by Arlene Richards is a book designed for all children, to promote better self-esteem through eight ‘Builder-Uppers’ including being creative. Most of these inventors displayed all eight Builder-Uppers in their efforts to achieve. Let’s help future generations do the same.

With new appreciation for African-American Inventors,

Mary Taylor, www.theschoolmarm.com