Men Took the Credit, but These Women Did the Work: 15 Ways Afro-Latinas and Black Women Changed History
Although history has often downplayed, overlooked, or simply erased their contributions, women have shaped history with game-changing creations and achievements. Women of color, in particular, faced prejudices, gender gaps, racial bias, and discrimination that led to the misattribution or erasure of their accomplishments.
However, throughout history, Black and Afro-Latina women have brought innovation and recognition to various fields. These women paved the way for more diversity and opened spaces for Black and Latina women in areas such as journalism, arts, and STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Below, FIERCE revisits some of the significant ways Black women and Afro-Latinas have left a lasting mark in history.
Contributing to agricultural industrialization
Though many claim Judy Reed was the first Black woman to register a patent in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1884, the truth is she had at least two predecessors. Almost two decades earlier, Martha Jones received a patent for a corn husker machine that shelled, cut up, and separated the grains. With this invention, Jones marked a milestone in the evolution of agricultural industrialization.
Setting the standard for kitchen innovation
A couple of years later, Mary Jones de Leon, based in Baltimore, also obtained a patent for a novel cooking innovation. Her device heated food via a dry heat and steam system, perhaps inspiring the steam tables and warmers we often find at buffets nowadays.
Taking women’s practical experience into account
In 1884, Judy W. Reed was granted a patent for the design of an improved dough kneader. Titled the ‘Dough Kneader and Roller,’ Reed conceived her creation so that the dough could be mixed more evenly as it went through two interconnected rollers. Then, the dough was deposited into a repository with a cover to prevent it from being exposed to particles in the air. Considering women’s thoughts and needs, this innovative design was a step toward more innovation in kitchen supplies.
Finding solutions for space concerns
Another game-changing invention attributed to Black women is the folding bed. Ohio-born Sarah E. Goode, who was responsible for building a folding cabinet bed patented in 1885, allegedly opened a furniture shop with her husband in the 1880s. Listening to people’s space concerns, she designed a roll-top cabinet that transformed into a bed. Mixing functionality and space efficiency, people could also use the furniture piece as a desk the rest of the time.
Improving everyday items
Black women’s contributions didn’t stop there. In 1892, dressmaker Sarah Boone received a patent for improving the ironing board. Before coming up with this helpful home and clothing manufacturing item, many women and dressmakers would iron clothes on a wooden plank placed atop two chairs. However, the method was ineffective for certain materials and fitted pieces. As explained in the patent, Boone improved the ironing board by adding a padded surface and a thinner rounded end. She aimed to “produce a cheap, simple, convenient, and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies’ garments.” Sure she did.
Championing women’s health and hygiene
Innovation and creativity ran in Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner’s blood. Born into a family of patent-holders, Davidson patented several creations. One of them was a sanitary belt—a precursor of the menstrual pad as we know it today. Davidson built her elastic belt to hold the sanitary napkins (cotton rags or cloths) that women placed in their underwear before the creation of menstrual pads or tampons.
Though her invention piqued the interest of companies, they were quick to walk away upon finding out she was Black. The journey wasn’t any easier when Davidson attempted to secure a patent for the sanitary belt. However, she never let racial and gender bias stop her from creating. In 1976, Davidson registered the patent for a walker with a tray that allowed people to place and carry items. She also received patents for a toilet paper dispenser and a back washer.
Proving women’s entrepreneurial spirit
Activist, entrepreneur, and Black beauty pioneer Madam CJ Walker holds the title of the first woman whose personal fortune surpassed one million dollars. The self-made millionaire amassed her fortune with a groundbreaking business: a hair care brand to answer Black women’s concerns. She formulated it with their needs in mind. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Madam CJ Walker was also a tenacious supporter of the Black community. In 1917, after a white mob killed more than 30 Black people in Illinois, Walker, along with a group of Harlem leaders, visited the White House to advocate for anti-lynching legislation.
Encouraging people to stand up for civil rights
Activist Rosa Parks made history when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus during an incident now known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The police jailed Parks, a then-active member of the civil rights movement. She also lost her job. However, her actions encouraged a wave of protest and eventually resulted in the incorporation of public transportation in Montgomery.
Although history has often downplayed Parks’ role, claiming that she refused to give up her seat because she was tired, Parks’ actions were indeed purposeful. “I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day,” she said. She added she was not old, “although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Paving the way for Afro-Brazilian people in the performing arts
Clearing a path for Black talent, Brazilian actress Ruth de Souza became the first Black actor to stand on stage in Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Theatre. The actress, also a member of Rio’s Black Experimental Theater, built one of Brazil’s most successful careers in theatre, television, and film. In 1953, de Souza became the first Brazilian actress nominated for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival, sharing the spotlight with Katherine Hepburn, Michèle Morgan, and Lili Palmer.
Setting the foundations of modern security systems
Nurse Marie Van Brittan Brown came up with the first home security system in the 1960s. Born in Queens, New York, Van Brittan Brown and her husband, an electronic technician, often arrived home at late hours. In an attempt to improve their home’s security, the woman ideated a surveillance system. Consisting of peepholes, cameras, monitors, and two-way microphones, this artifact allowed Van Brittan Brown to see who was knocking on the door before opening it. She could also communicate with the person outside and even unlock the door at a distance—very much like intercoms, CCTV, and other home security mechanisms work today.
Pioneering telecommunications research
A trailblazer in particle physics studies, Shirley Ann Jackson was the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in the field at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Throughout her career, Jackson’s contributions have been integral to the growth of telecommunications. Her research has been used to develop touch-tone dialing, call-waiting, and, most notably, fiber-optic cables. Tutted as “The Ultimate Role Model For Women In Science,” Jackson has held important roles in academia, corporations, non-profit organizations, and even the government.
Championing representation in journalism
Daughter of a Panamanian pastor and a mother hailing from Barbados, Gwen Ifill found interest in journalism thanks to her parents’ insistence that their children watch national news every night. Ifill went on to study communications at Simmons College in Boston and, upon graduation, championed representation in journalism spaces. She has played prominent roles in the Boston Herald American, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. However, Iffill is best known for becoming the first Black woman to host a nationwide public affairs show on TV in the United States. She also made history as the first Black woman to moderate a vice-presidential debate in 2004, leaving a trailblazing career portfolio that has inspired other journalists.
Clearing the path for image technology
Physician, NASA data scientist, and innovator Valerie Thomas is the mastermind behind the illusion transmitter. Patented in 1980 but created in the 1970s, this system allowed video recorders to take pictures of images in front of concave mirrors. The process ultimately created the illusion of three-dimensional images, which prefaced the expansion of more 3D image technology. During her time at NASA, Thomas was also part of the Landsat Progam, which visually documents the changes on the surface of Earth through images transmitted by satellites.
Bringing innovation to surgical procedures
Ophthalmologist and scientist Patricia Bath was a trailblazing figure in her field. Responsible for discovering a new technique for cataract surgery, she patented a device known as laser phaco, which revolutionized eye surgery. Bath is credited for proposing “community ophthalmology,” a new discipline within health spaces. Her approach was aimed at preventing blindness and improving eye health through public health policies and community healthcare. Additionally, Bath also made history as the first-ever woman chair of ophthalmology in the United States.
Making web animation a reality
Computer scientist and software innovator Lisa Gelobter’s contributions to technology have been instrumental in shaping the current internet landscape. She took part in creating Shockwave, the technology that marked the beginning of web animation and the animated graphics interchange format (GIF). In addition to her work as a computer scientist, Gelobter served in public service as the Chief Digital Service Officer for the United States Department of Education during Barack Obama’s presidency.
