For Black History month, we tend to focus on the biggest game changers of society. We think of the Rosa Parks and the Martin Luther Kings. Although they are a few of the most prominent ones within the Civil Rights Movement (a large part of African American History), they are not the only ones who made a significant difference in the world that we live in. Many other African Americans made sacrifices for the Black community. But, there are much more categories by which we should think of within this month. We should focus on African Americans in the realm of education, medicine, engineering, art, fashion, and many other major realms of society. So, In the spirit of Black History month, here are five Black inventors whose inventions have dramatically changed and affected the society that we live in today.
1. George Crum
George Crum was born on July 22, 1824, and is the inventor of the potato chip. Crum was a chef and came up with the invention of the potato chip in response to an angry customer's complaints. Due to this, the potato chip is now the most commonly eaten snack eaten in the United States.
2. Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert Brown
Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert Brown were the inventors of the closed-circuit television security system. More plainly said, they were the inventors of the modern day camera-based security system, a major player in the criminal justice system and police investigations.
3. Dr. Charles Richard Drew
Percy L Julian is the creator of the process of synthesis. Synthesis is critical to the medical industry because it gave scientists the ability to create chemicals that were a rarity. This led to the creation of the birth control pill and improvements in cortisone.
For the month of February, I urge you to think beyond African American men and women and the rights that they have gained. Educate yourself and learn about the many African American inventors, artists, musicians, doctors and other major categories in which African Americans have drastically affected society.
