The unrelenting pervasive nature of white history as the default leads to most people forming unconscious ideas about roles we can each play. It is incredibly and sadly common for people to believe that white European society is the pinnacle of civilization, as evidenced by… [waves all around] Never mind that Steve Jobs’ father was Syrian, clearly white people invented technology, right? Never mind that mathematics was developed far from western lands, to the point that we now study algebra, or الجبر al-jabr, developed while Europe was mired in tribal warfare.
It’s a vicious cycle: if you believe that everything you see was invented by white people, then you believe that white people invented everything, because each set of false information reinforces the other.
Wypipo, open your eyes! Here’s a popular meme image of just a few things invented by Black people, and the full list is so much longer. This list is so long mastodon won’t let me put the entire text description in the alt tag, so I’ll add it as a reply to this post.
#Alt4You
“Long list with the title “In Honor of Black History Month - Black Inventors” and a photograph of four Black people next to it. Categories are “Product”, “Inventor” and “Date”. Contents of the list in that order:
Air Conditioning Unit: Frederick M. Jones, 1949
Almanac: Benjamin Banneker, 1791
Auto Cut-Off Switch: Granville T. Woods, 1839
Auto Fishing Device: George Cook, 1899
Baby Buggy: William H. Richardson, 1889
Biscuit Cutter: Alexander P. Ashbourne, 1875
Blood Plasma Bag: Charles Drew, 1945
Chamber Commode: Thomas Elkins, 1897
Clothes Dryer: George T. Sampson, 1971
Curtain Rod: Samuel R. Scrottron, 1892
Curtain Rod Support: William S. Grant, 1896
Door Knob: Osbourn Dorsey, 1878
Door Stop: Osbourn Dorsey, 1878
Egg Beater: Willie Johnson, 1884
Electric Lamb Bulb: Lewis Latimer, 1882
Elevator: Alexander Miles, 1867
Eye Protector: Powell Johnson, 1880
Fire Escape Ladder: Joseph W. Winters, 1878
Fire Extinguisher: Thomas Marshall, 1872
Folding Bed: Leonard C. Bailey, 1899
Folding Chair: Nathaniel Alexander, 1911
Fountain Pen: Walter B. Purvis, 1890
Furniture Caster: David A. Fisher, 1878
Gas Mask: Garrett Morgan, 1914
Golf Tee: George T. Grant, 1899
Guitar: Robert F. Fleming, Jr., 1886
Hair Brush: Lydia O. Newman, 1898
Hand Stamp: Walter B. Purvis, 1883
Ice Cream Scoop: Alfred L. Cralle, 1897
Insect Destroyer Gun: Albert C. Richardson, 1899
Ironing Board: Sarah Boone, 1887
Key Chain: Frederick J. Loudin, 1894
Lantern: Michael C. Harvey, 1884
Lawn Sprinkler: John H. Smith, 1897
Lemon Squeezer: John Thomas White, 1893
Lock: Washington A. Martin, 1893
Lubricating Cup: Elijah McCoy, 1895
Lunch Pail: James Robinson, 1887
Mail Box: Paul L. Downing, 1891
Mop: Thomas W. Stewart, 1893
Peanut Butter: George W. Carver, 1896
Pencil Sharpener: John L. Love, 1897
Record Player Arm: Joseph H. Dickinson, 1916
Rolling Pin: John W. Reed, 1864
Shampoo Headrest: Charles Orren Bailiff, 1898
Spark Plug: Edmond Berger, 1839
Stethoscope: Thomas A. Carrington, 1876
Straightening Comb: Madam C. J. Walker, 1905
Street Sweeper: Charles B. Brooks, 1890
Phone Transmitter: Granville T. Woods, 1884
Thermostat Control: Frederick M. Jones, 1960
Traffic Light: Garret Morgan, 1923
Tricycle: Matthew A. Cherry, 1886”
Thanks to @Sirablopp for the transcription!