Greetings Roadrunners,
We all know that February is the month of heart-shaped candy, romantic comedies, and red rose shortages, but it is also an important reminder of black history and the vital impact that it plays in our everyday lives.
While history doesn't always ignite excitement in the hearts of students, here are a few creations from iconic black inventors that might!
1.) Potato Chips
George Crum (a fitting name) is the inventor of this tasty treat. While serving as the chef of a restaurant, a customer sent back a plate of french fries claiming that they were too thick, mushy, and salty.
So, Crum created the potato chip to try and get back at the nagging customer, and what happened instead made the customer "bite his tongue" about this chef's abilities.
Update: One salty customer leads to billions of deliciously salty chips.
Later, tater hater.
Update: One salty customer leads to billions of deliciously salty chips.
Later, tater hater.
2.) The Modern Home-Video Game Console
Kingdom Hearts, GTA, Final Fantasy, Halo, Super Smash Brothers, and tons of other games wouldn't be playable if it weren't for Gerald A. Lawson. He is credited with the construction of the modern home-video game console.
His console was the first to use a microprocessor, and it was the first to have a programmable ROM cartridge.
Without Lawson, we could kiss our fictional characters goodbye.
Without Lawson, we could kiss our fictional characters goodbye.
3.) The Super Soaker
Ah, the nostalgia of The Super Soaker. It was invented by the Mobile, Alabama native, Lonnie Johnson in the 1960's. He came up with the idea when he was working on a new type of refrigeration system and shot a powerful stream of water across the bathroom sink.
While it may only be a child's toy, Johnson's invention led to the launch of over 170 models of Super Soakers and generated more than one billion dollars.
If he was shooting for the stars, I'd say he came pretty close.
If he was shooting for the stars, I'd say he came pretty close.
4.) The 3 Position Traffic Signal
Modern logic: Red means "stop." Green means "go," and yellow means "FLOOR IT."
Okay, okay. All jokes aside, traffic signals only contained indications for "stop" and "go" before Garrett Morgan's invention. He saw the need to add extra safety precautions by creating a third position to the traffic signal, and he sold the rights to his invention to General Electric for $40,000.
The next time you're "flooring it" through a yellow light, you can thank Morgan for giving you the few extra seconds to get across the intersection and innocently justify your actions with the words "it wasn't red yet."
Indeed it was not. Thanks, Morgan; you're the real MVP.
5. 3-D Graphics Technology Used in Films
As one of the founders of Silicon Graphics (currently known as SGI), the computer scientist Marc Hannah developed 3-D graphics technology, which is now used in many Hollywood films today.
Without Hannah's invention, Mark Ruffalo is only....well... Mark Ruffalo (We want Hulk, We want Hulk...). Hannah understood our need for an obnoxiously oversized, half-naked, green, smash-loving cinematic superhero, and he delivered (bulging biceps and all).
Alright, well maybe Hannah didn't have The Avengers in mind when he created 3-D graphics, but we get to reap the benefits nonetheless (woop, woop).
We encourage everyone to celebrate Black History Month! It is a great opportunity to stay informed about the invaluable impact that black culture has on our society.
Put down the holiday chocolates, and pick up the celebratory chips.
Happy Black History Month!
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