Black Inventions
Lonnie Johnson accidentally created this high-pressure, 1-billion-dollar water g*n while experimenting with an eco-friendly heat pump in his bathroom.
What is a super soaker?
A pioneer who overcame a childhood stutter to find one of the world's most iconic voices, he won Tony Awards for The Great White Hope and Fences and famously provided the basso profondo for a certain Sith Lord and a Pride Rock king.
Who is James Earl Jones?
In 1987, this 'Respect' singer became the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; 32 years later, she was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation
Who is Aretha Franklin?
In 1984 and 1988, this 'Rainbow Coalition' founder broke racial barriers by running for president, and in 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton.
Who is Jesse Jackson?
On Veterans Day 2024, this Maryland-born 'conductor'—who never lost a passenger—was posthumously awarded the rank of one-star general in the Maryland National Guard for her Civil War service
Who was Harriet Tubman?
John L. Love simplified the workday for students and artists alike by patenting this portable, hand-cranked device in 1897.
What is the portable pencil sharpener?
In 2024, this ageless star of 9-1-1—who famously portrayed Tina Turner and Queen Ramonda—finally 'did the thing' by receiving an honorary Academy Award for her legendary five-decade career
Who is Angela Bassett?
Known as the 'Pavarotti of Pop,' this R&B titan—who once led a fan club for Patti LaBelle—won eight Grammys, including a posthumous Song of the Year for a 2003 tribute to his late father.
Who is Luther Vandross?
A 2020 posthumous Pulitzer recipient, this 'Princess of the Press' published the 1895 exposé A Red Record and will be the first 2025 honoree on the U.S. Mint's American Women Quarters.
Who is Ida B. Wells?
In 2025, this world-renowned astrophysicist and 'StarTalk' host traded the cosmos for the buzzer, competing on Celebrity Jeopardy and finishing in a surprising second place behind actor Jackie Tohn.
Who is Neil deGrasse Tyson?
In 1853, George Crumb, a Black and Native American chef, invented this crispy snack out of spite after a customer complained his fries were too thick.
What are potato chips?
After famously playing the suspender-wearing neighbor on Family Matters, this actor transitioned into game show hosting with Flip Side and recently released his memoir, Growing Up Urkel.
Who is Jaleel White?
In 1986, this Nigerian-born 'Smooth Operator' made history as the first-ever artist from her home country to win the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Who is Sade?
In February 2026, the U.S. House renamed its press gallery for this 'North Star' editor, exactly 150 years after he became the first Black member of the congressional press corps.
Who is Frederick Douglas?
In 1953, this Harlem-born author debuted with the semi-autobiographical Go Tell It on the Mountain, exploring the religious and racial tensions of his youth
Who is James Baldwin?
In 1892, Sarah Boone—who was born into slavery—received a patent for her reversible, curved, and collapsible device specifically designed to streamline the ironing of sleeves and fitted bodices.
What is an ironing board?
A Chicago-born 'King of Comedy' who vowed to make his mother laugh during her battle with cancer, he later famously broke the 'fourth wall' to address 'America' about the trials of raising his sister's three children.
Who is Bernie Mac?
A former Navy aircraft mechanic who didn't find fame until age 32, he gave us timeless hits like 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'Lovely Day' before walking away from the music industry for good in 1985.
Who is Bill Withers?
In June 1966, this SNCC chairman electrified a crowd in Greenwood, Mississippi, by introducing a two-word slogan that shifted the movement from nonviolent reform to self-determination: Black power?
Who is Stokely Carmichael?
Nine months before Rosa Parks, this 15-year-old student was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus.
Who is Claudette Colvin?
"Richard Spikes, a prolific inventor with a knack for automotive safety, received a $100,000 payout in 1932 for his patent of this system that eliminated the need for manual clutching between gears.
What is the automatic gear shift?
In 1964, this Bahamian-American trailblazer made history as the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field.
Who is Sidney Poitier?
A 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, this 'Let's Stay Together' singer experienced a 1974 spiritual awakening after a pot of boiling grits was poured on him by an ex-girlfriend.
Who is Al Green?
A lifelong friend of Dr. King, he took over as president of the SCLC in 1968 and led the Poor People's Campaign to Washington, where he famously constructed a hut city on the National Mall.
Who is Reverend Ralph David Albernathy?
In 1960, this Texas-born choreographer debuted his masterpiece Revelations, a tribute to his 'blood memories' of growing up in the African American church.
Who is Alvin Ailey?