Not too late to celebrate Black History Month

February is Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the United States. Canada also celebrates it in February. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands don't celebrate it until October. 

In 1926, historian Carter Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History proclaimed the second week of February to be Negro History Week. The week was chosen because Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was the 12th and Frederick Douglass’ was the 14th. Black communities had been celebrating that week from the late 1800s. 

Celebrating the entire month of February was first suggested in 1969 by the Black United Students at Kent State University. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 1970.

Within six years Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in schools and community centers. President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during 1976 America’s Bicentennial. He urged everyone to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

Most of us remember learning about George Washington Carver when we were in school. Carver's inventions included more than 300 different uses for peanuts. For example, he developed cooking oil, axle grease and even printer's ink.

But I had no idea that so many African-Americans were very accomplished inventors. The next time you are sitting at a red light and patiently waiting for it to change, thank Garrett Morgan. He developed a traffic signal after witnessing an automobile run into a horse and carriage. He also invented the gas mask and the first hair straightener.

In 1876, Lewis Latimer was a draftsman. A teacher for deaf children hired him to do a drawing of a device he had created. The drawing was necessary for him to obtain a patent. The teacher was Alexander Graham Bell and the invention was the telephone.

Latimer also worked with Thomas Edison. But before that he had invented a light bulb that lasted longer than Edison’s. I guess Edison wanted to harness Latimer’s energy.

He later invented a method of making rooms cooler and cleaner. Many hospitals bought this apparatus to prevent dust and germs from circulating in patients rooms.

And the next time you pop open a bag of Conn’s thank George Crum. When he was the head chef at the Cary Moon’s Lake House in Lake Saratoga, New York, he invented the potato chip.

Dr. Patricia Bath, born in Harlem, became a famous ophthalmic scientist. She created a laser surgical device to remove cataracts. Dr. Betty Harris worked as a research chemist at Los Alamos. She became a renowned expert in the chemistry of explosives.

Marie Van Brittan Brown was way ahead of her time. She invented a home surveillance and security system and applied for a patent in 1966. Scientist Valerie Thomas created a 3-D optical illusion device. She also worked for NASA for many years.

And if you are a member of the last generation to learn to drive a stick shift blame Richard Spikes. He created the automatic transmission and gear shift. He may have been one of the most prolific inventors of all time. He created 14 inventions, including the automatic car washer and the beer keg tap.

I have hardly tapped the surface famous African-American inventors. For more information and a few surprises go to blackinventor.com.

Sis Bowman can be reached at eebowman@columbus.rr.com.