Black History Month was established to commemorate and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. Unfortunately, the inventions of Black Americans have long been neglected. Without their creations, we would not have life-saving research, new technologies, or the Super Soaker.
The Origin of Black History Month
Black History Month originally began as a week of celebration in the 1920s. Carter G. Woodson, one of the founding members of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, urged Black civic organizations to promote the achievements of their researchers. Negro History Week was officially announced in 1926. The movement grew through the decades until the Association used its influence to help dedicate the entire month of February to Black history in 1976.
Countless Black Americans have made significant discoveries and innovations in the technology field that we still rely on today. Keep reading for the stories of four Black inventors whose innovations have improved our lives.
Noteworthy Black Inventors in Tech
Garrett Morgan
Garrett Morgan is responsible for several different life-saving technologies. Morgan was born in 1877 in rural Kentucky but moved to Cleveland, Ohio in his teens. In 1914, he invented a breathing apparatus that is considered the precursor to the gas mask.
After witnessing a bad traffic accident in 1923, Morgan invented a traffic light and later sold the patent to General Electric.
Otis Boykin
Otis Boykin was born in 1920 in Dallas, Texas. He dropped out of college because he couldn’t afford tuition, but that did not stop him from innovating. He holds 26 patents and is most known for his work with electrical resistors.
In 1959, he secured a patent for a wire resistor that would later be used in televisions, computers, and radios. He then perfected the resistor and it became highly sought after by the U.S. military and IBM because it was cheap to produce and easy to use.
Mark Dean
Mark Dean graduated at the top of his class from the University of Tennessee in 1979. Not long after graduating, he secured a job with IBM. Dean’s groundbreaking work led to the invention of the color PC monitor in 1999.
In addition to the color monitor, Dean also helped build the first gigahertz processor. This led to faster computer speeds. Dean holds three of IBM’s nine original patents and has a total of 20 patents associated with his name. 
Dr. Shirley Jackson
Dr. Shirley Jackson became the first Black woman to receive a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her groundbreaking scientific research led to the inventions of the portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and the technology behind caller ID and call waiting.
She later moved on to a life of public service, most recently serving as the co-chair of President Barack Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board in 2014. She currently serves as president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technological research university in the United States.
Technology Improves Lives
Technology and innovation drive progress. Not only does new technology improve our everyday lives by making tasks simpler, but it can also save lives. These Black inventors created technologies that changed the world for the better and laid the foundation for additional technologies throughout history.
Butler Technologies, Inc. celebrates the accomplishments of these four individuals and all others in the technology industry. Their stories inspire us to keep innovating and advancing towards the future.
To read more about inventors throughout history (and those leading the way to the future), check out our Inventor Series.
Meet the Author
Courtney Houtz is the marketing lead for Butler Technologies, Inc. In her role, she is responsible for content strategy, branding, and project management. She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in social relations and policy.