YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

What do the hairbrush, the stop light, a fountain pen, automated elevator doors, cell phone technology and the incandescent light bulb have in common?

Yes, common everyday items, like the hairbrush and the fountain pen were invented by African Americans. Check the Scholastic.com website for some engaging learning opportunities for people of all ages to explore and learn about inventions created by African Americans that have shaped our world. Photos and information below are from Scholastic.com

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Latitia McCree

Yes, common everyday items, like the hairbrush and the fountain pen were invented by African Americans. Check the Scholastic.com website for some engaging learning opportunities for people of all ages to explore and learn about inventions created by African Americans that have shaped our world.

Photos and information below are from Scholastic.com

Lyda D. Newman invented the hairbrush in 1898
Henry T. Sampson, an aerospace engineer is credited with inventing the technology that allows us to use cellphones
Mark E. Dean is the co-creator of the IBM personal computer
Marie Van Brittan Brown invented the first home tv security system in 1966
Otis Boykin invented a technology in 1959 called “wire precision resistor” that ushered in improvements for the efficiency of pacemakers

Lewis Latimer invented the incandescent light bulb in 1881, making lighting affordable for the average household
Garret A. Morgan invented the traffic light in 1923
W.B. Purvis invented the fountain pen in 1890
Alexander Miles invented automatic doors for elevators in 1887

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