Black Excellist: 10 Black Women Inventors
Summary
TLDRThis video highlights the contributions of 10 African-American women inventors whose innovations transformed the world. It celebrates pioneers like Patricia Bath, who revolutionized eye surgery with her laser technology, and Marie Van Brittain Brown, creator of the first home security system. Other inventors include Miriam Benjamin, Sarah Good, and Marjorie Stewart Joiner, whose inventions ranged from hotel signal chairs to folding beds and beauty tools. Through these stories, the video emphasizes the ingenuity, resilience, and impact of Black women on both the past and present.
Takeaways
- π©ββοΈ Patricia Bath was a pioneering ophthalmologist who invented the Laserphaco Probe, becoming the first African-American female doctor to patent a medical device.
- π Marie Van Brittain Brown developed the first home security system with a camera, two-way microphone, and remote control doors, laying the foundation for modern surveillance systems.
- πΊ Miriam Benjamin invented the Hotel Signal Chair, which allowed hotel guests to summon waiters with a button and light signal, enhancing customer service in the hospitality industry.
- ποΈ Sarah E. Good, the first African-American woman to receive a patent, created the folding cabinet bed, a space-saving innovation for small living spaces.
- πββοΈ Marjorie Stewart Joyner revolutionized the beauty industry with her Perfect Wave Machine, which allowed for multiple hair sections to be curled simultaneously, speeding up the hair straightening process.
- π Judy Reid's Dough Kneader and Roller improved the process of making bread by evenly mixing dough and keeping it clean, though her authorship as the first African-American female patent holder is disputed due to her signature with an 'X'.
- π Sarah Boone enhanced the ironing process with her curved ironing board, designed specifically for the sleeves and waist seams of women's garments, making ironing easier and more efficient.
- π Ellen Craft's Clothes Ringer made wringing out wet clothes less labor-intensive by using a roller mechanism, though she sold her patent for a minimal sum due to racial concerns at the time.
- πͺ L. Newman's innovative hairbrush design featured evenly spaced bristles and a compartment for debris, promoting hygiene and efficiency in hair care.
- π₯ Alice H. Parker's central heating system using natural gas was a safer and more efficient way to heat homes, reducing the need for wood and lowering the risk of house fires.
Q & A
Who is Patricia Bath and what is her significant invention?
-Patricia Bath was a pioneering ophthalmologist who invented the Laserphaco Probe in 1986, a device that uses laser technology for a less painful and precise treatment of cataracts. She was the first African-American female doctor to hold a patent for a medical device.
What was Marie Van Brittain Brown's contribution to home security?
-Marie Van Brittain Brown invented the first home security system, which included a camera, monitors, a two-way microphone, and an alarm button to contact the police. Her invention laid the foundation for modern surveillance systems.
Why did Miriam Benjamin invent the Signal Chair?
-Miriam Benjamin invented the Signal Chair to allow hotel guests to summon waiters without having to leave their seats or call out loudly. It featured a buzzer button and a light signal to alert waitstaff.
How did Sarah Good's Folding Cabinet Bed address space constraints in small apartments?
-Sarah Good's Folding Cabinet Bed was designed to maximize space in small apartments by providing a bed that could be concealed within a rolltop desk, thus serving dual purposes and saving space.
What was Marjorie Stewart Joyner's innovation in the field of cosmetology?
-Marjorie Stewart Joyner invented the 'Perfect Wave Machine,' a device that used multiple rods to create curls or waves in hair simultaneously, revolutionizing the hair straightening process for African-American women.
What problem did Judy Reid's Dough Kneader address, and how did it improve the process?
-Judy Reid's Dough Kneader improved the process of mixing dough by evenly distributing the ingredients through two rollers with corrugated slats, making it easier and more efficient than traditional kneading methods.
How did Sarah E. Goode's invention of the improved ironing board make ironing easier for women?
-Sarah E. Goode's improved ironing board was designed with a narrow and curved shape to fit the sleeves and bodies of women's garments, making it easier to iron these curved and slim areas.
What was the purpose of Ellen Craft's Clothes Ringer, and how did it change laundry practices?
-Ellen Craft's Clothes Ringer was a machine with two rollers that pressed water out of clothes, making the laundry process more efficient and less labor-intensive than traditional hand-wringing methods.
What was the innovative feature of L. Newman's hairbrush design?
-L. Newman's hairbrush featured evenly spaced bristles with open slots to guide debris away from the hair into a compartment, and a back that could be opened for cleaning, promoting both efficiency and hygiene.
How did Alice Parker's central heating system using natural gas revolutionize home heating?
-Alice Parker's central heating system used natural gas to heat air, which was then distributed through ducts to individual rooms, providing a more efficient and safer heating method compared to traditional fireplaces or coal-based systems.
Outlines
π Black Women Inventors: Celebrating Excellence
The video script introduces a presentation from Black Excellence, a platform dedicated to showcasing the achievements of African-Americans, with a focus on the ingenuity and creativity of black women inventors. The video aims to inspire viewers by highlighting the contributions of these women, who are often overlooked in history books. The presentation features 10 African-American women inventors whose inventions have had a significant impact on the world.
π©ββοΈ Patricia Bath: Pioneer in Ophthalmology
The first inventor featured is Patricia Bath, a pioneering ophthalmologist. Born in Harlem, New York, in 1942, Bath was encouraged by her parents to pursue academic interests. She earned her bachelor's degree from Hunter College and her medical degree from Howard University. Bath's research at Columbia University led to the discovery of racial disparities in blindness and glaucoma, motivating her to invent the Laserphaco Probe, a medical device for cataract treatment using laser technology. She became the first African-American female doctor to hold a patent for a medical device in 1988. Bath also pioneered community ophthalmology and co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.
π Marie Van Brittain Brown: Pioneer in Surveillance Systems
Marie Van Brittain Brown, born in Queens, New York, in 1922, was a nurse and the wife of an electronics technician. Concerned about the high crime rate and slow police response times, Brown invented the first home security system, which included a camera, monitors, a two-way microphone, and an alarm button. This invention laid the foundation for modern surveillance systems. Brown and her husband filed for a patent in 1966, and it was granted in 1969. Her invention earned her recognition from the National Scientist Committee and an interview with the New York Times.
πΊ Miriam Benjamin: Inventor of the Signal Chair
Miriam Benjamin, born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1861, invented the Gong and Signal Chair for hotels. The chair featured a buzzer button and a light signal to alert waiters without the need for guests to call out or ring a bell. Benjamin received a patent for her invention in 1888, making her the second African-American woman to receive a patent in the United States. Despite her success, her invention was later copied without proper credit, and she became a solicitor of patents, advocating for innovation.
ποΈ Sarah Goode: Inventor of the Folding Cabinet Bed
Sarah Goode, born enslaved in 1850, invented the folding cabinet bed to address the space constraints faced by working-class people living in small apartments. The bed could be concealed within a rolltop desk, providing both sleeping and writing spaces. Goode was granted a patent for her invention in 1885, making her the first African-American woman to receive a patent for an invention. Her folding cabinet bed is considered the predecessor to the modern Murphy bed.
πββοΈ Marjorie Stewart Joyner: Pioneer in Cosmetology
Marjorie Stewart Joyner, born in 1896, was a cosmetologist who invented the permanent wave machine, which allowed for multiple hair sections to be curled simultaneously. Joyner's invention revolutionized hair straightening and was used widely in salons. Despite her contributions, she did not receive substantial compensation for her inventions, which were assigned to Madame C.J. Walker. Joyner continued to innovate in the beauty industry and was also a women's rights activist.
π Judy Reid: Inventor of the Dough Kneader and Roller
Judy Reid, born during the time of slavery, invented an improved dough kneader and roller in 1884. Her device featured two rollers with corrugated slats and a covered receptacle for even dough mixing and protection. Reid's invention was patented, but due to her inability to write her name, she signed with an 'X'. This technicality has led to some debate over her recognition as the first African-American female patent holder.
π Sarah E. Goode: Improver of the Ironing Board
Sarah E. Goode, born in 1832, invented an improved ironing board to make the ironing of female garments easier. Her design featured a narrow, curved board that fit the shape of a female sleeve and was reversible for ironing both sides. Goode's invention was patented in 1892, and her ironing board design is considered a precursor to modern ironing boards.
π Ellen Craft: Inventor of the Clothes Ringer
Ellen Craft, born in 1849, invented the clothes ringer, a machine that used rollers to wring water out of clothes, making the washing process more efficient. Craft sold her patent to a white person for $18, fearing that her race would deter potential buyers. Despite this, her invention is still in use today and was featured in 'Woman Inventor' magazine.
πͺ L. Newman: Inventor of a New Style Hairbrush
L. Newman, born in 1885, was a hairdresser and women's rights activist who invented an improved hairbrush design. Her hairbrush featured evenly spaced bristles with open slots for debris and a compartment for easy cleaning. Newman was granted a patent for her invention in 1898 and continued to advocate for women's rights throughout her life.
π₯ Alice Parker: Inventor of Central Heating Using Natural Gas
Alice Parker, born in 1895, invented a central heating system using natural gas, which was more efficient and safer than traditional methods. Her system drew cool air into the furnace, heated it, and distributed it through ducts to individual rooms. Parker's invention, patented in 1919, paved the way for modern natural gas heating systems and contributed to energy conservation.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Black Excellence
π‘African-American Women Inventors
π‘Patricia Bath
π‘Marie Van Brittain Brown
π‘Community Ophthalmology
π‘Signal Chair
π‘Home Security System
π‘Folding Cabinet Bed
π‘Permanent Wave Machine
π‘Central Heating
Highlights
Introduction to the presentation highlighting 10 black women inventors.
Mission of Black Excellence to inspire and enlighten about African-American contributions.
Importance of recognizing the impact of black women pioneers, entrepreneurs, and inventors.
Patricia Bath, a pioneer in Ophthalmology, invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment.
Marie Van Brittain Brown, known for creating the first home security system.
Miriam Benjamin's invention of the Signal Chair for hotels improved customer service.
Sarah E. Good, the first African-American woman to receive a patent, for her folding cabinet bed.
Marjorie Stewart Joyner's invention of the permanent wave machine revolutionized cosmetology.
Judy Reid's improved design of the dough kneader and roller patented in 1884.
Sarah Boone's innovative ironing board design made ironing easier and more efficient.
Ellen Craft's clothes ringer invention made the laundry process more efficient.
L. Newman's hairbrush design improved hygiene and efficiency in hairdressing.
Alice Parker's central heating system using natural gas was a significant innovation in home heating.
The presentation concludes with a call to like and subscribe for more inspiring content.
Transcripts
[Music]
hello and welcome back in this black
excellis presentation we will highlight
10 black women inventors welcome to
Black excellence.com the site where we
share black Excellence opulence and
affluence our mission is to inspire you
as we Enlighten you we here at black
excellus specialized in Illuminating the
experience and contributions of
African-Americans which is the
foundation of our Channel we are
particularly keen on pointing out the
Ingenuity Innovation and creativity of
black women who have transformed this
world in ways that few can believe it is
essential for the black community as
well as White America to understand the
impact of black women Pioneers
entrepreneurs and inventors from our
past our aspiring grade school student
will not read much about these women in
the history books so we hope you take
the time to celebrate these trou Blazers
who may Inspire them and help Propel
their dreams forward in this original
black excellus video we will be
featuring 10 African-American women
whose inventions changed the world so
without further Ado let's get started
number one Patricia baath Pioneer in
Opthalmology Patricia Bath's name is
associated with many amazing feats and
pioneering works from childhood till her
death in 2019 baath was born to rert
Bath and Gladis bath on November 4th
1942 in Harlem New York although her
parents were not rich they encouraged
her to pursue academic interests and
explore new cultures her interest in
science peaked when she got a chemistry
set as a gift she worked hard in her
academic Pursuits and made discoveries
that earned her the madel's magazine
Merit award in
1960 Beth earned her bachelor's degree
from Hunter College in 1964 and her
medical degree with honors from Howard
University in
1968 Beth began to pursue a fellowship
in Opthalmology at Colombia University
during the course of her studies there
she discovered that African-Americans
were twice as likely to suffer from
blindness and eight times more likely to
suffer from glaucoma these findings
motivated her to invent devices and
systems to change the outcomes one of
her brilliant inventions is the laser
Foo probe for which she became the first
African-American female doctor to hold a
patent for a medical device the device
which was completed in 1986 provided a
less painful and precise treatment of
cataracts using Laser Technology and she
received the patent for it in 1988 with
the device bath was able to restore the
sight of people with about 30 years of
blindness thus pionering laser eye
surgery is known today she also
pioneered Community Opthalmology Clinic
during her residency years and
co-founded the American Institute for
the prevention of blindness in
1976 which established that eyesight is
a basic human right Beth won many
prestigious Awards in her lifetime and
continued to advocate for Innovation and
tele medicine number two Marie Van
Brittain Brown Pioneer in surveillance
systems Brown was born in Queens New
York on October 22nd 1922 she worked as
a nurse and was married to Albert Brown
an Electronics technician the crime rate
in their neighborhood was high and
police response time was slow coupled
with the unfixed hours of the police
force pushed Marie to look for ways to
increase the level of personal security
in her home she needed to create a
system that would allow her to know who
was at her home and contact relevant
authorities as quickly as possible that
idea birthed the invention of the first
home security system and the Bas of
modern surveillance systems remote
control doors and push button alarms
Brown security system comprised of PES a
camera monitors a two-way microphone and
an alarm button that could be pressed to
contact the police immediately the pee
Poes were placed at three levels on the
front door the top one for tall persons
the middle one for people of average
height and the bottom one for children a
camera was mounted at the opposite side
of the door with the ability to slide up
and down through the pee Poes and
project the image on a monitor through a
wireless system the microphone was to
enable her to speak to the person at the
door and the person could speak back if
the person was perceived as an intruder
the alarm button will alert the Police
at once but if the person was a friend
the door could be opened by remote
control Marie and Albert Brown filed for
a patn on August 1st 1966 under the
title home security system utiliz in
television surveillance and it was
granted on December 2nd 1969 Brown's
invention gained her well-deserved
recognition including an award from the
national scientist committee and an
interview with the New York Times on
December 6th 1969 Brown resided in New
York with her family of three until her
death on February 2nd
1999 number three Miriam Benjamin
inventor of the signal chair Miriam
Benjamin was born as a free person on
September 16th 1861 to parents Francis
and Eliza Benjamin in Charleston South
Carolina her family moved to Boston
Massachusetts with a hope for better
schooling she attended High School in
Boston then moved to Washington DC where
she worked as a school teacher and a
federal clerk she later enrolled into
Howard University law school while
Miriam worked as a school teacher she
invented the Hong and Signal chair for
hotels she thought thought of a way to
get the attention of the waiters in a
hotel from the comfort of your chair the
chair had two components a buzzer button
and a light signal when the button is
pressed it would Buzz at the waiter
station and a light on the chair would
let the waiter know who wanted service
in her patent notes she said the chair
would serve to reduce the expense of
hotels by decreasing the number of
waiters and attendance to add to the
convenience and comfort of guests and to
obviate the necessity of hand claing or
calling aloud to obtain the services of
pages Miriam received patent for her
invention in 1888 making her the second
African-American woman to receive a
patent in the United States she lobbied
to have her chair adopted by the United
States House of Representatives but they
eventually installed a copycat version
of hers that she didn't get credit for
Miriam became a solicitor of patents and
moved back to Boston in 1920 to live
with her mother and work for her brother
Edgar Pinkerton Benjamin a noted
attorney Benjamin's invention was the
precursor to the flight attendant call
Button a key tool for customer service
in the airline industry number four
Sarah good inventor of the folding
cabinet bed Sarah good was born enslaved
in 1850 and received no form of formal
education while growing up after
receiving her Freedom at the end of the
Civil War good moved to Chicago with her
husband archal who was a carpenter she
became an entrepreneur and together with
her husband they owned a furniture store
Sarah realized that many of her
customers were workingclass people who
lived in small apartments and didn't
have enough space for many Furniture
sometimes including beds she thought of
her way to utilize such small space
while providing the comfort of a bed as
well thus she invented the folding
cabinet bed the folding cabinet bed
comprised of a bed which could be
concealed when not in use to serve as a
rolltop desk with compartments for
stationer and other writing supplies
this invention made her customers have
both the comfort of a bed in their home
and the luxury of a desk for writing
activities the bed attached to the
cabinet was wide enough to accommodate
two adults or an adult and two children
the folding cabinet bed was a timely and
satisfying invention and is the
predecessor to the modern-day Murphy bed
good was granted a patent for her
invention on July 14th 1885 by the uned
United States patent and trademark
office this made her the first
African-American woman in history to
receive a patent for an invention she
died in 1905 at the age of 55 years
number five marjerie Stewart jiner
Pioneer in cosmetology marjerie Stewart
jorer was born on October 24th 1896 in
Monterey Virginia she moved to Chicago
and began studying cosmetology at the ab
Moher Beauty School in 1912 in 1916 she
became the first African-American
graduate of the school that same year at
the age of 20 she got married to Robert
E Joiner a podiatrist and opened her
Salon in Chicago Joiner met another
influential Beautician and businesswoman
who ran several beauty schools in the
country Madame CJ Walker in 1920 Joiner
joined the CJ Walker beauty colleges as
the national supervisor in the early
1920s African-American women were
accustomed to straightening their hair
with very hot curling irons this process
was slow and uncomfortable because only
one iron could be used at a time this
made Joiner think of ways to improve on
this method one day while making a pot
roast in her kitchen joyo looked at the
roast which was being held together and
heated with several thin long rods from
within she envisioned a similar system
that would use several rods hung above
the client's head which could roll
several portions of the hair at once
then they could be heated up to produce
a permanent wave or curl into her hair
for a few days in 1926 she began
experimenting until she achieved a
feasible prototype she received a US
patent for her invention the perfect
wave machine in 1928 the following year
she invented a scal protector to make
the curling process more comfortable for
the clients however the patents for both
products products were assigned to Madam
Walker and Joiner didn't receive any
substantial compensation for her
inventions which is very unfortunate her
inventions were used in many salons on
both black and white clients and she
continued to create systems to uphold
the standards of beauticians in the
country in 1973 she was awarded a
bachelor's degree in Psychology from
bethon cookman college in Daytona Beach
she remained dedicated to community
service and died in 1994
number six Judy Reid inventor of the Don
needer en roller Judy Reid was born
during the time of slavery therefore
there is no proper documentation
available in regards to her birth and
childhood however it was discovered that
she lived in Washington DC when it was
unlawful for enslaved people to be
taught how to read and write and would
be harshly punished or killed if caught
learning or teaching in January 1884
Reed applied for a patent on her d and
roller the device was an improved design
on existing ders her device comprised of
two rollers corrugated slats a covered
receptacle this device allowed dough to
mix evenly as it progressed between the
two rollers carved with corrugated slats
that would act as kneers then the dough
passed into a covered receptacle to keep
it clean and protected the patent was
granted September 23rd 1884 to a person
who signed X for this this donater en
roller It is believed that Judy Reed
signed X because she was unable to spell
her name or write this technicality is
the reason why Reed is not officially
recognized as the first African-American
female patent holder number seven Sarah
Boon improve the ironing board Sarah
Boon was born as Sarah Marshall In 1832
in Craven County North Carolina in 1847
at age 15 she married Jane Boon in New
Burn North Carolina before the Civil War
she and her husband moved to New Haven
Connecticut she worked as a dress maker
while her husband was a brick mason as a
dress maker and a mother of eight
children Boon found ironing of female
sleeves and garments difficult to iron
because they were curved and slim
ironing in that period was done on
either a pair of chairs or across a flat
surface with an iron heated over a stove
or fire this was usually done in the
kitchen because of the proximity to the
stove or fire Boon invented an
improvement to the already existing
ironing boards her board was designed to
be effective in ironing sleeves and
bodies of female garments the board was
narrow and curved which was the fit of a
female sleeve in that period the board
was reversible thereby making it easier
to iron both sides of the sleeves it was
also suited for ironing curved waist
seams of garments in her patent
application Boon stated that the purpose
of her invention was to produce a cheap
simple convenient and highly effective
device particularly adapted to be used
in ironing the sleeves and bodies of
ladies garments Boon's ironing board was
granted patent on April 26th 1892 Boon
passed away in
1904 number eight Ellen egin inventure
of the clothes ringer Ellen egund was
born in 1849 in Washington DC where she
lived through her childhood and adult
years while living in DC eglan worked as
a housekeeper and a government clerk
washing clothes at this time was only
done by hand and ringing out the clothes
and drying them was also done by hand
Ellen realized that there had to be a
better way to ring water out of the
clothes so she put her mind to work and
came up with an invention that changed
the process of washing and made it very
efficient and comfortable she called it
the clothes ringer in the 1800s egund
invented a clothes Rinker which was a
machine that comprised of two rollers in
a frame that was connected to a crank
the clothes would be placed in between
the two rollers and as the crank was
turned the clothes would have the water
pressed out of them she applied for
patent and was granted however egund
sold her patent to a white person who
was interested in manufacturing the
product for a token of $18 in 1890 she
was featured in the April issue of the
woman inventure magazine where she was
asked the reason for selling her patent
and she replied saying you know I am
black and if it was known that a negro
woman patented The Invention white
ladies would not buy the ringer I was
afraid to be known because of my color
and having it introduced to the market
that is the only reason the buyer of the
patent went ahead to produce the product
and made considerable Financial rewards
for it egin's ringer is still being used
today number nine L Newman inventor of a
new style of hairbrush L Newman was born
in Ohio in 1885 but she lived in Ohio
until the late 1890s when according to
the official census record she became a
New York City resident Newman was a
hairdresser by trade and also a women's
right activist she fought alongside
well-known women's suffrage activice for
women's right to vote as a hairdresser
Newman thought of ways to improve her
business and came up with an improved
hairbrush Design This was a period when
women were becoming self-aware and
standing up for their rights and Newman
not only brought Revolution as an
activist she also designed hairdressing
products that added to the ease of women
in 1898 Newman applied for a United
States patent for a new style of
hairbrush her hairbrush design included
features that promoted efficiency and
hygiene the bristles were evenly spaced
in rows with open slots to guide debris
away from the hair into a compartment
and a back that could be opened at the
touch of a button for cleaning out the
compartment the hairbrush was not only
efficient it was also stylish Newman was
granted the patent for her hairbrush on
November 15th 1898 in the 1920s Newman
headed a group in her neighborhood that
created awareness about women's right to
vote Newman continued to fight for
women's rights and worked as a
hairdresser to a private family
throughout her adulthood number 10 Alice
H Parker inventor of the central heating
using natural gas Alice Parker was born
in 1895 in morrist toown New Jersey she
had her early childhood education in New
Jersey before relocating to Washington
DC she attended classes at the Howard
University Academy which was a high
school affiliated to Howard University
she earned a certificate with honors
from the academy in 1910 growing up in
New Jersey the winters were harsh and
Alice felt like her fireplace was not
effective enough in warming her home
through the cold Winters this prompted
her to design a more efficient way of
supplying heat during Winters she is
credited with the invention of the
central heating using natural gas
Parker's central heating system allowed
cool air to be drawn into the furnace
then conveyed through a heat exchanger
that delivered warm air through ducks to
individual rooms of a house house her
invention was convenient and decreased
the need for people to go outside to
chop or cut wood during Winters it also
decreased the risk of house fires
associated with fireplaces although the
concept of central heating was already
around before Parker's birth her design
was cutting edge because it made use of
natural gas instead of coal or wood like
others her invention paved way for the
use of Natural Gas and energy
conservation in central heating system
sys that we have in our homes today
Parker was granted United States patent
for her invention on December 23rd
199 we appreciate the fact that you
stayed with us until the end thank you
for spending time with us and don't
forget to like this video also make sure
you subscribe so that you never miss a
video bye for now we will see you
tomorrow
[Music]
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