Celebrating Black Innovators

Bessie Virgina Blount
"Portable Receptacle Support"

Bessie Virginia Blount was a lot of things: nurse, physical therapist, a forensic handwriting expert, and inventor. During World War II, Blount helped restore physical function to wounded soldiers in various veterans' hospitals. It was during this time she invented a food apparatus that allowed disabled patients to eat independently. To use the automatic feeding device, a person would bite down on a switch, which would deliver food to the mouth through a tube. On April 24, 1951, Blount received a patent on her "Portable Receptacle Support" - three years after filing a patent.

In 1952, Blount gave the device and technology to the French military. When asked why she had given away the incredible invention, she said. "Forget me. It's what we have contributed to humanity - that as a black female we can do more than nurse their babies and clean their toilets." She made it clear that she was motivated to bring attention to the abilities and contributions of Black women, rather than by acquiring notoriety or money for herself."

Frederick McKinley Jones
Prolific early 20th century black inventor

Between 1919 and 1945, Fredrick McKinley Jones had successfully patented more than 60 inventions in the cinema and refrigeration industries. Jones developed a device that allowed large trucks to transport perishable products without spoiling and Thermo King was born. Later, he modified the design for trains, boats, and ships. This invention transformed the shipping and grocery businesses allowing the frozen food industry to emerge as well as allowing consumers to enjoy fresh foods from around the world.

During World War II, there was a need for storing blood serum for transfusions and medicines. Once again, Jones dove into the refrigeration research and created an air-conditioning unit for military field hospitals and a refrigerator for military field kitchens. Many lives were saved and a modified form of his device is still in use day. During the 1950s, Jones was a consultant to the U.S. Department of Defence and the U.S. Bureau of Standards. After his death in 1961, Jones was the first black inventor to receive the National Medal of Technology to honor his more than 60 patents.

Gerald A. Lawson
The Ultimate Gamer

Gerald A. Lawson helped pave the way for creating home use game consoles. In 1976, Lawson worked at Fairchild Semiconductor as the director of engineering and marketing. There he helped develop The Fairchild Channel F, which allowed users to insert different cartridges that stored games. Although the technology is basic by today's standards, Lawson's ingenuity created the business model for home computer games and paved the way for systems such as Atari 2600, Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation.

In 2011, Lawson was honored as an industry pioneer by the International Game Developers Association. He among a handful of black engineering pioneers in the world of electronics, particularly in electronic gaming.

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