Madam C J Walker
Madam C J Walker was an entrepreneur best known for inventing Black haircare products. She was a political social activist, philanthropist and the first female self-made millionaire. Early years Born …
Black Inventors
Norbert Rillieux – Inventor
1806-1894 – Nobert Rillieux is famous for revolutionising the sugar industry. Norbert Rillieux was born in 1806, New Orleans, Louisiana. Rillieux was the son of a wealthy, white plantation owner …
Thomas Jennings – Inventor
Thomas Jennings (1791-1859) Thomas Jennings was born free in New York City in 1791. In his early 20s, he became a tailor but then opened a dry cleaning business in …
George Crum
The potato chip (aka crisps) was invented in 1853 by George Crum. The son of an African-American father and a Native American mother, Crum was a chef at the Moon Lake …
Granville T Woods “The Black Edison”
Many professionals in the electrical industry knew Granville T Woods as the “Black Edison”. Woods was considered by many to be the greatest electrician in the world. The most well-known …
Elijah McCoy
Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, on 2 May 1844. His parents were George and Emillia McCoy, former slaves from Kentucky who escaped through the Underground Railroad. George …
Henry Boyd – Black inventor
Henry Boyd was a skilled carpenter, born into slavery in Kentucky on 12 April 1802. At a young age, his master apprenticed Henry out to a cabinetmaker. Henry proved to …
