Famous African American Women Inventors

Science is generally viewed as a men's world. FemalesUnited States House of Representatives.
are rarely found tinkering around the laboratory orOn April 26, 1892, Sarah Boone's received a patent
handling mechanical devices, much less inventing one(U.S. Patent #473,653) for an improvement to the
and having it patented under their name. Patents areironing board. Sarah Boone's ironing board was
the proof of "ownership" of an invention and only thedesigned to be effective in ironing the sleeves and
inventor(s) can apply for a patent. In the past,bodies of ladies' garments. Sarah Boone's board was
women were not allowed equal rights of propertyvery narrow and curved, the size and fit of a sleeve,
ownership (patents are a form of intellectualand it was reversible, making it easy to iron both
property) and many women patented their inventionssides of a sleeve.
under their husband's or father's names. In the past,Perhaps the most famous African American woman
women were also prevented from receiving theinventor of all time is Madame C. J. Walker
higher education necessary for inventing. Today,(December 23, 1867 - May 25, 1919). She was an
however, hundreds of thousands of women applyinventor, businesswoman and self-made millionaire.
for and receive a patent every year. About 20% ofBorn Sarah Breedlove McWilliams C. J. Walker, she
all inventors are currently female and that numberwas an African-American who developed many
should quickly rise to 50% over the next generation.beauty and hair care products that were extremely
Among these women inventors from the past to thepopular. Madame Walker started her cosmetics
present, there are African American womenbusiness in 1905. Her first product was a scalp
inventors. Their number, however, can not be exactlytreatment that used petroleum and a hot comb.
determined. According to EnchantedLearning.com,Sarah later invented a system for straightening hair.
Sarah S. Goode was the first African AmericanShe added Madame to her name and began selling
woman to have received a patent in 1885 (patenther new "Walker System" door-to-door. Walker soon
#322,177, approved on July 14, 1885). She inventedadded a hair-growing ointment and other cosmetic
the folding cabinet bed, a space-saver that folded upproducts to her line. The products were very
against the wall into a cabinet. When folded up, itsuccessful and she soon had many saleswomen,
could be used as a desk, complete withcalled "Walker Agents," who sold her products door
compartments for stationery and writing supplies.to door.
Goode owned a furniture store in Chicago, Illinois, andMany of these women grew up in a time when
invented the bed for people living in small apartments.females and colored people were discriminated
The second African American woman to receive aagainst. Their social status may have prevented them
patent was Miriam Benjamin who was a Washingtonfrom getting an education but this did not stop them
D.C. school teacher. She received a patent in July 17,from exploring their world and finding ingenious
1888 for an invention she called a "Gong and Signalsolutions to everyday problems. Their innate
Chair for Hotels". Her invention allowed hotelintelligence and determination had brought them their
customers to summon a waiter from the comfort ofpersonal triumph over adversity. Their inventions may
their chair. A button on the chair would buzz thenot have survived into the 21st century and yet their
waiters' station and a light on the chair would let thepioneering spirit will live on in the present generation
wait staff know who wanted service. Miriamof women working in the fields of science and
Benjamin's invention was adapted and used in thetechnology.