African American Inventors and Scientists Who Shaped the World
In this unit, you will learn about African American scientists, engineers and extraordinary people who invented items that shaped the world.
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Meet the Inventors
These short biographies can be used to introduce each person to students. Also, find downloadable printables.
Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker is often known as the “First African American Scientist.” He created the first working wooden clock in America which lasted for over 50 years. Benjamin was an astronomer and every year he published an almanac. An almanac is a book that includes a calendar and information about the sun, moon phases, ocean tides and weather forecast. He also helped survey or measure the land which is now known as Washington, D.C.
Sarah Boone
Sarah Boone was one of the first African American women to receive a patent. She worked as a dressmaker. A popular style during Sarah’s time was a suit that had a fitted jacket along with a long, slim skirt. After clothes were sewn, they often had wrinkles in them and had to be smoothed out on an ironing board so they would fit properly. She made a change to the ironing board that made it easier to iron sleeves and the bodies of women’s clothes.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was a well-known expert in agriculture. He invented the crop rotation method for cotton farmers. Cotton takes a lot of the nutrients from the soil. Peanuts don’t require a lot of water and grow underground. They produce nitrogen, a colorless and odorless gas that provides much-needed nutrients to the soil. By planting peanuts every other year, this made the soil better, adding more nutrients for the next round of crops.
George created 325 different uses for peanuts including cooking oil, cosmetics, paper, glue, and soap, just to name a few. This is why George Washington Carver is often known as “The Peanut Man.
Lewis Howard Latimer
Lewis Howard Latimer taught himself to become a draftsman. He worked as an assistant for two famous inventors.
The first famous inventor Lewis worked with was Alexander Graham Bell. As Bell’s assistant, Lewis would play an important role in the creation of the telephone. He used his skills to create the drawings for the patent that Bell submitted in 1876.
Later, Latimer also worked with Thomas Edison. He invented something called a carbon filament. This small piece helped make incandescent light bulbs work. Incandescent bulbs glow or give light from being heated. Latimer made it easier to produce the carbon filament so a lot more people could use light bulbs.
While Latimer helped out two great inventors, he also had his own inventions, which included an “improved railroad car bathroom and an early air conditioning unit.
Madam CJ Walker
Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, Madam CJ Walker was the daughter of Louisiana sharecroppers. Sharecropping was a hard life where farmers had to give the landowner a portion of their crop. Sarah chose to work as a laundress instead.
It’s while working as a laundress, she started having trouble with her hair falling out. By mixing several different oils together in a washtub, she created a hairdressing formula. That formula would eventually give African American women a new way to wear their hair by straightening their tight curls.
“Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower made a major change in the hair industry for African American women. She also added a pressing comb to her line of products. By 1919, the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company stretched an entire city block and provided employment for over 3,000 people. This entrepreneur went from being a laundress to America’s first self-made African American millionaire businesswoman.
More African American Inventors and Scientists
African American Inventors & Scientists Books
Learn about African American Inventors & Scientists who shaped the world like Benjamin Banneker, Elijah McCoy, Madam C.J. Walker and many more.
This BOOK includes:
short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11 with illustrations
a timeline of events
a glossary to help deepen a child’s vocabulary and comprehension
The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 45 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more. A special section teaches and encourages further research.
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