"I got my start by giving myself a start." - Madame CJ Walker. Born in 1867 in poverty-stricken rural Louisiana, Madame Walker was the daughter of former slaves, she was orphaned at the age of seven, and survived by working in the cotton fields of Delta and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Madame Walker and Marjorie Joyner revolutionized the hair care and cosmetics industry for African American women early in the 20th century. LOC Photo: Madame Walker
Dr. Patricia Bath became the first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. Patricia Bath patented a method for removing cataract lenses that transformed eye surgery by using a laser device to make the procedure more accurate.
Bessie Blount, was a physical therapist who worked with soldiers injured in W.W.II. Bessie Blount's war service inspired her to patent a device, in 1951, that allowed amputees to feed themselves.
Sarah Goode was the first African American women to receive a U.S. patent. Patent #322,177 was issued on July 14, 1885 for a cabinet bed. Miriam Benjamin was the second black woman to receive a patent for an invention she called a Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels.
Valerie Thomas received a patent in 1980 for inventing an illusion transmitter.
More Firsts