1. Historically speaking, what do all these people have in common?

2. They were all African-American Inventors of the 1800’s.
Let’s Learn More…

3. Click here for more on Madam Walker
C. J. Walker
Invented a hair-growing lotion & vegetable shampoo
She was the first female African-American millionaire
Click here for more on Madam Walker

4. Click her for more on Elijah McCoy
Invented a self-lubricator for steam engines
People were so impressed that they started asking for the “real McCoy”
Click her for more on Elijah McCoy

5. George Washington Carver
Invented peanut butter & 400 plant products
He was born a slave, but went to college at age 30
“Nature's Voice; Caring for the Fruits of Creation” George Washington Carver
Click here for more on George Washington Carver

6. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
Was a pioneer in open heart surgery in 1893.
Founded the Provident Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago (the oldest freestanding black owned hospital in U.S.)
Click her for more on Dr. Williams.

7. Click here for more on Mr. Matzeliger
Jan Ernst Matzeliger
Invented a shoemaking machine that increased shoemaking speed by 900%
He did this in 1874
Click here for more on Mr. Matzeliger

8. Click here for more on Granville Woods
Granville T. Woods
Invented the steam-boiler furnace as well as a train to station telegraph and 40 other inventions
Was forced out of school at age 10 for disrupting class
Click here for more on Granville Woods

9. So…What do all these people have in common?

10. Make your guesses here…
They are all dead.
They were all African-Americans.
They all started life, poor and uneducated, but they still made something of themselves.
They have all invented something that changed American culture.

11. Now it’s your turn to explore the contributions of African-American Inventors…
Go to African-American Inventors and select two other inventors from the list.
Find more information on your inventor. You can use the Internet or any other sources.
Using the timeline template or African-American Report template, tell me why it’s important to remember these inventors.

12. Return to Mrs. Cope’s Homepage
Acknowledgements
Images: Mitchell C. Brown The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences © Comments/Suggestions are welcome.
“Culture and Change: Black History in America” © 2003–1996 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.
“African-Americans in History” © Pro-Teacher.
“Caring for the Fruits of Creation”, National Wildlife Federation, 1998.
“Afrocentric Experience- Black Inventors”
Timeline Template: Patti Murphy’s website
Click Here to
Return to Mrs. Cope’s Homepage