—
True or false – George Washington Carver invented peanut butter? If you’re like the majority of people, you probably think it’s true. But contrary to popular belief, this prolific figure can’t be credited with creating the lunchtime staple.
“What’s interesting is that we grew up as kids somehow under the impression that he was the inventor of peanut butter, and that’s the one thing he didn’t invent,” said James Howard, member of the National Academy of Inventors and executive director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame. He’s also an inventor himself, holding 20 patents.
“However, Carver invented over 300 practical uses of peanut derivatives,” Howard said. “Many of those discoveries are still used in various industries today, such as hair, paint, and baby products.”
The contributions of African American inventors have largely been ignored throughout U.S. history. Evidence of such absence can be found even in recent publications, including Time-Life Magazine’s 2016 American Inventors edition that chronicled the “minds that transformed industries” throughout history. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Thomas Edison grace its pages, but less than four Black inventors are included in the entire issue.
“Our contributions to this country are not only building it with our hands but with our minds, too. Our story needs to be told,” said Howard.
A recent Joint Project Agreement between the National Academy of Inventors and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recognized the need to “broaden diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in the invention and innovation ecosystems.” Toward this end, Howard spotlights three African-American inventors who shaped U.S. history and led our country to become a dominating economic force.
George Washington Carver: The gallant chemist
After receiving his master’s in science from Iowa State Agricultural College in 1896, George Washington Carver set off to Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute to run its new agriculture department. Using a lab and experiential farm, Carver researched how to improve agricultural conditions in the South, where high demand for cotton production had ruined the soil. This left sharecroppers, the majority of them freed African Americans and poor Whites, vulnerable to extreme poverty. Even well-off White farmers were impacted. The agricultural South was in decline, and its fate looked grim.
“Carver was an agricultural chemist first and an inventor second,” said Howard. “He was able to discover that introducing legumes into crop rotations provided nutrients to depleted soils, basically updating the 17th-century European model of crop production.”
By adding sweet potatoes, peanuts, and soybeans into Southern farmers’ crop rotation, soil naturally gained nitrogen and other nutrients. These harvests also provided sharecroppers with a new high-protein diet.
However, these crops were not in demand in the late 1800s. They helped sharecroppers avoid hunger but did little to uplift their economic situations.
Carver returned to his lab to find a solution.
“He was able to find a way to extract oil and other properties from peanuts,” Howard explained. “This was revolutionary! He then proceeded to find over 300 uses with it, including using it in shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, plastics, and paints among others. Let’s not forget he also found 118 uses for sweet potatoes, including molasses, synthetic rubber, and postage glue. These crops were cheap to produce, so this spurred economic growth not only for the farmers but several other industries.”
Thanks to Carver, peanuts became one of the most produced crops in the South by 1940. He improved the lives of poor farmers, reinvigorated Southern agriculture, and spurred economic growth for several industries across the country.
“He created tremendous new economic growth for the South despite his primary goal being to help poor farmers,” said Howard, “He is probably, in my estimation, the best representation of an empathetic human whose primary charge in life was to better mankind.”
Elijah McCoy: Transportation revolutionary
Have you ever heard the expression “the real McCoy?” When referring to a certain product, this saying suggests you want the original version, not a knock-off. Many are unaware that this saying can be traced to Elijah McCoy, whose invention drove the transportation industry into a new era.
Despite his qualifications and education as a mechanical engineer, McCoy’s skin color denied him from obtaining an appropriate job. The only one he could find was an entry-level position as a locomotive fireman for the Michigan Central Railroad. Overheating was a frequent problem for steam engines in the 1800s. To avoid this, he would stop them mid-journey to oil them.
As a professionally trained engineer, McCoy began brainstorming how he could fix this problem. He went on to invent an automatic lubricating cup that used the train’s natural steam pressure to oil its engines. This revolutionized the transportation industry. Trains no longer needed to stop to re-oil, allowing for further and quicker journeys.
“His automatic lubrication system not only changed the railroad industry, it impacted shipping, construction, factory tools, and others who ended up using his invention,” said Howard. “He increased the production of countless industries. You name it, McCoy’s technology is likely still used in some mechanical way today.”
In 1872, McCoy received a patent for his lubrication system. He then went on to invent a variety of items, including an ironing board, improved rubber soles for shoes, and an automatic lawn sprinkler. Over the course of his life, he was granted more than 50 patents.
Granville T. Woods: The great communicator
You’ve probably heard of Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the first working telephone. But what about Granville T. Woods? Woods’ invention of telegraphony allowed both a message and voice to be sent over a single wire.
“Plain and simple, Woods was the precursor to high-speed and long-distance telecommunications in this country,” explained Howard. “His invention enabled operators to send and receive messages more quickly than before. He sold his patent to Bell so the company could expand their technology nationwide. This enabled transportation systems to become safer and companies to increase productivity.”
But it wasn’t just telecommunications that Woods can be credited with. Perhaps one of his most significant inventions was the synchronous multiplex railway telegraph (also called the induction telegraph), which allowed train conductors to communicate with rail stations. Previously, there had been no way for trains to know when others were heading to the same station, leading to frequent collisions.
“By suspending a coil beneath the train, the friction between it and the rails created a magnetic field. This magnetic field allowed messages to flow uninterrupted between trains and train stations, which made trains a whole lot safer. Woods likely saved countless lives thanks to his invention,” said Howard.
Woods went on to create other technologies for trains, including the power pick up device or “third rail,” which allows electric power to be distributed and used safely. This reduced the risk of electric shock to passengers who fell on train tracks. The system is still used today in New York, Chicago, and other subway stations across the country.
“There’s a reason he’s referred to as the Black Thomas Edison,” said Howard. “He was one the most prolific inventors in this country, yet you hardly hear his name mentioned. Thomas Edison, among many others, tried to sue him, and Woods always came out victorious. It’s pretty amazing, given the timeframe, that he was able to defend his work in such a hostile environment. His life was complicated, but this shows just how extraordinary and ingenious he was.”
Leveling the playing field for African-American inventors
Despite the obstacles African-American inventors have faced, they have always played an important role in the history of innovation and enterprise. Today, the National Academy of Inventors has partnered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to address systemic barriers and make the patent process more equitable.
“The goal is to ensure more underserved people, including African American inventors, have the potential to be like McCoy or Woods,” said Howard.
—
This content is brought to you by Scott Bartnick
Photo provided by the author.