The accomplishments of Black inventors during this ongoing Maafa seem almost incomprehensible. Regardless of the odds against them, they forged new technological inroads. Undoubtedly there must have been an inordinate number of inventions since the Confederacy found it necessary to include in its constitution this conspicuous clause:
"The owner of a slave also controls his inventions".
In keeping with miseducation, most of this factual material has been excluded from school curricula. The following slices of history give unfailing testimony about the true ingredients in the American pie.
Andrew Beard worked several years in the railway yards of Eastlake, Alabama. He struggled daily to visualize an automatic linking method that would eliminate the need for a human to be involved in the final coupling operation necessary to link two cars. His efforts were intensified since he had lost a leg in this manner. Despite his lack of formal training in engineering or metal working, he pressed on toward his goal. Finally, in 1897, he patented the "Jenny Coupler", a device that has saved the lives and limbs of countless trainmen.
Granville Tailer Woods mastered the mechanics of the locomotive engine in his early teens and went on to invent a telegraph system that enabled moving trains to communicate with each other and with railway stations. His overhead conduction system for electric railways is still utilized by trains and trolley cars today. He also invented the electrified "third rail" used in subways. His patent on the "Automatic Air Brake" in 1922 brought him innovator status in the field of railroad safety and allowed him to enjoy the same recognition as Andrew Beard. Out of his 115 plus inventions, 15 were specifically for the railroad industry. Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and the Westinghouse Company purchased some of these devices. Granville Woods sued Edison twice for patent infringement and in both cases was able to prove he had earlier rights to inventions claimed by Edison. Subsequently, Edison offered him a job, but Woods preferred to remain self-employed in his already existent Woods Electric Company.
Richard Spikes, another great creative talent, is credited with the modern version of the Railroad Semaphore (signal lights). He went on to patent several items for automobiles such as the automatic car wash, turn signals, the automatic gear shift and a fail-safe brake. Oddly enough, he also invented the beer keg tap.
Elijah McCoy we already know about.
