(Photo from blkcreatives. Melissa Kimble’s billboard tweet in Los Angeles, as part of Twitter’s BLM campaign. Photo by: John Wellington Ennis)
It should come as no surprise we have Black women to thank for many of the things we can't live without — from hairbrushes to advanced space technology. Despite the hurdles of racism and discrimination, Black women have persevered and, today, it's difficult to imagine a world without their innovations.
In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating Black stories, joy, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity. When it comes to their incredible contributions, we truly stand on the shoulders of giants. Here’s a look at just a few of the things that literally wouldn’t exist were it not for the enterprise of Black women.
Sanitary Belts
Picture this: it’s the 1950s and pads and tampons are considered taboo. Then, Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner enters the chat and invents an adjustable belt for sanitary napkins with moisture-proof fabric to keep it in place.
The invention was a massive hit until 1980s when adhesive was added to the bottom of pads to fasten them to underwear, but Kenner still went on to invent the bathroom toilet paper holder and a mounted shower back washer (for those hard to reach spots). Fast forward to today, it’s clear Kenner paved the way for our very own Leakproof innovations.
Hairbrushes
Turns out you have Lyda Newman to thank for your luscious locks. I mean, just imagine the level of bedhead that would prevail without hairbrushes around. Though brushes and combs were technically around before, it’s Newman who kicked things up a notch with her patented, synthetic bristled hairbrush in 1898. It was the first brush in history to use bristles instead of animal hair, making it more sanitary and easy to clean. Our tresses are forever grateful!
3D Movies
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Dr. Valerie Thomas, the brilliant NASA scientist whose breakthroughs revolutionized how scientists view and study Earth from space, is the inventor of illusion transmitting technology. As if facilitating the first image transmissions from space wasn’t enough, Thomas also went on to transform the cinematic experience with the advent of 3D movies.
GIFs
Think of computer scientist Lisa Gelobter next time you find the perfect GIF to send to the group chat. Gelobter is the CEO and Co-founder of tEQuitable, a company that advocates against workplace discrimination and harassment, and it’s due to her shockwave technology that animated GIFs are a thing. We don’t even want to imagine a world in which we can't express our emotions in GIF form.
Your Favorite Music
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Ever heard of a little thing called rock and roll? Forget about Elvis, the true Queen of the genre is Sister Rosetta Tharpe. By combining gospel music with folk, blues, and upbeat swing, Tharpe gave way to an entire new style of music that inspired countless artists.
We’d be remiss not to mention that modern music, in general, is indebted to Black people. Everything from jazz to country, house, hip hop, rap, R&B, and techno is rooted in the creativity of Black musicians.
Hair Conditioner
The notion of using shampoo without conditioning after is truly nauseating, so we’re eternally grateful to entrepreneur and activist Madam C.J. Walker for creating hair conditioner. Initially created as a hair tonic for Black women, it has since transcended beauty lines and become a haircare mainstay. Fun fact: Walker was also the first self-made millionaire in America.
Your Cellphone’s Best Features
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If it weren’t for Dr. Gladys West, we’d all still be using maps — we’re talking the old school kind. As a mathematician, West had a hand in developing the GPS systems we use today through her incredibly precise Earth modeling calculations — forever changing how we navigate our surroundings.
Shirley Ann Jackson, on the other hand, we can credit with the invention of caller ID and call waiting technology. Jackson went from being the first Black woman to earn a doctorate from MIT to breaking barriers as a physicist at AT&T Bell Labs where her inventions came to life.
Heating
Coming home to a toasty apartment in the dead of February is a comfort we often take for granted. Flashback to the early 1900s and inventor Alice H. Parker was tired of freezing every winter, which inspired her to create a solution: the gas furnace. Using controlled burner units, she invented a heating system that evenly distributed heat and led to the creation of the thermostats and central heating of today.
Innovative Sunscreen
Shontay Lundy is a prime example of the innovative strides being made by Black women today. In 2016, she launched Black Girl Sunscreen, an ingenious product designed to provide UV protection for melanated skin without leaving streaks. By creating a sunscreen line that caters to women of color, Lundy is filling a beauty industry void and sparking a global conversation around the importance of safeguarding Black health and beauty.