12 Game-Changing Inventions You Didn’t Know Were Created By Black Innovators

Black people have been changing the game since, well…forever—but so many of our contributions don’t get the shine they deserve.

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From life-saving inventions to everyday things we can’t live without, black inventors have pushed boundaries, solved problems, and made life better for everybody. Despite the societal obstacles, they still managed to create things that shaped the world as we know it today. It’s easy to overlook the brilliance and creativity of black minds, even though they led to creative innovations we use on a daily basis. These stories aren’t just about the past—they’re about inspiring all of us to dream bigger and believe in what we’re capable of.

“I think I’ve had more failures than successes, but I don’t see the failures as mistakes because I always learned something from those experiences. I see them as having not achieved the initial goal, nothing more than that.” –James West (co-inventor of electret microphones)

So, let’s take a moment to give props where they’re due and celebrate some amazing inventions by black people that changed the game for good.