Inventors of the Past: Black History Edition

By Mark Love ‘16

In honor of Black History month, people tend to venerate the African-Americans who have fought for civil rights. We constantly hear about the activism and valor of the famed Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. But there are an innumerable amount of Black people who have helped benefit lives for posterity in other essential ways. I feel that the protestors, orators, and national leaders have overshadowed the inventors of the past. Black people have hand-crafted appliances we use daily. Below is a list of a few Black inventors who’ve made our lives a lot easier.

Thomas W. Stewart

You can thank this man for making your childhood chores a bit easier. Kalamazoo native Thomas W. Stewart constructed the modern-day mop in 1893.

John Lee Love

This guy here patented the one of the most essential tools for elementary students across the globe: the portable pencil sharpener. A carpenter from Fall River, Massachusetts, Love invented this grade school gem in 1897, and dubbed it “The Love Sharpener. Oh, and we share the same last name, so he’s automatically awesome.

Alexander Miles

As college students, we endure many obstacles throughout each day: lectures, work study jobs, and study sessions at Leavey Library. With that said, once we finally head home to get those precious hours of sleep, we don’t feel like taking the dreaded stairs. Well, we must pay tribute to Mr. Miles here for creating the idea of the electric elevator.

Henry Sampson

I’m sure you all enjoy those phone conversations with your parents, friends, and your significant other, or “others” for the players out there. Well, this Jackson-born engineer patented the cell phone. Now, I’m not telling you to think of this guy whenever you’re on the phone, but just know he made our social lives that much better.

Sarah Boone (There’s no record of any picture of her)

Don’t think for a second that Black women didn’t contribute their crafts to benefit society today. Domestic crooner Sarah Boone concocted the diagram of the modern-day ironing board. Because of her, we can rock the button-downs and pants without wrinkles ruining your look.

Of course the list doesn’t end here. I can probably write a book with a list of Black inventors that have graced the world with their brilliance, but I’ll just let you guys ponder on this list for now. Fight on, and happy Black History Month!