February is a month that is all about Black History, ranging from black singers and songwriters to black athletes, black writers, and more. The title was also built with the help of black men and women from historians and inventors; the inventors ranged from healthcare inventors, safety inventors, and beauty inventors.
Mary Van Brittan Brown
Around 94 million US households use some type of home security systems, from cameras to alarms, and about 50% of homes have at least one security camera. There are dozens of home security brands, such as ADT, Ring Alarm, SimpliSafe, etc., but none of those are the very first. The very first home security system was created by Mary Van Brittan Brown. Brown was born October 30th, 1922, and died February 2nd, 1999. Her invention of the security system has created safer homes and a safer society.
Garrett Morgan
In many places in the world, as you drive or are being driven somewhere, you have encountered a traffic signal/light. The traffic signal/light was created by Garrett Morgan. Morgan was born on March 4th, 1877, and died on July 27th, 1963. His invention has saved countless people driving on the roads, and though it can’t be guaranteed people will listen to the traffic lights, most do, giving us organization and order and a better chance of staying safe.
Cops, firefighters, military personnel, and many other people have used gas masks to protect themselves from deadly or non-deadly gases. The gas mask was another invention that was made by Garrett Morgan–a clear sign he liked making things to protect people.
Madam C.J. Walker
Millions in the US and most likely billions worldwide struggle with hair loss, whether it’s from alopecia, age, medical issues, or more–people struggle with hair loss, and it’s something Madam C.J. Walker had. Born on December 23rd, 1867, and died on May 25, 1919, Walker developed her line of black hair care products and straighteners. She started her line because she was struggling with dandruff, balding, and other scalp ailments, and she wanted to help herself and others.
Michael Croslin
When you go to the doctor’s office or a hospital, every doctor has a blood and pulse monitoring device that they are required to hook patients up to. This device was created by Michael Croslin (born in 1933 and died in 1989). It measures blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels; Croslin’s device helps doctors attain baseline information about their patients’ health.
Patricia Bath
Cataract surgery removes a cloudy lens known as the cataract from your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens. A tool to help with the surgery is called a Laserphaco, and this brilliant device was created by Patricia Bath. Bath was born on November 4th, 1942, and died on May 30, 2019. She made the Laserphaco to help with the process of eliminating the cataracts from the eye.
Charles Drew
Many people around the world have needed blood, donated blood, and even both–but believe it or not, Blood banks were an invention. Blood banks were invented by Charles Drew. Drew was born on June 3rd, 1904, and died on April 1st, 1950. Blood banks have saved countless lives, rising in popularity during the World War II era.
