February 1st kicked off the beginning of Black History Month, a time to celebrate the many contributions and successes of Blacks around the world!

What we now call Black History Month was originated in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln who were both born in that month. Below are some important milestones and fun facts about influential black figures, inventors and barrier breakers

Did you know without these inventors, your favorite sandwich (peanut butter and jelly), the Super Soaker and even the stop light wouldn't be possible?

     Without George Washington Carver-- PB&J sandwiches would just be jelly-filled. Born a slave, Carver went on to develop several uses for the peanut (including Peanut Butter, soap, mayonnaise and adhesive) and 400 plant products according to Scholastic!

    Next time you sit in a foldable chair, think of inventor Nathaniel Alexander. He designed the chair to be used for large gatherings at places like schools and churches.

    Thinking about corrective or cataracts eye surgery? You owe Dr. Patricia. E. Bath a big thanks! Bath was not only the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. She developed an eye surgery that utilizes laser devices to make incisions more precise.

 In 1992, Mae C. Jemison became the first female African-American space traveler in the United States, according to NASA.

     Ever print something off your laptop, computer or smart phone? IBM computer engineer Mark E. Dean is the mastermind behind the technology that lets you do that!

    Think you could invent an improved sewing machine, but also the first traffic light and WWI gas mask? Garrett Morgan was a man of many skills and the inventor behind all of those!

The list continues with more incredibly talented black inventors: Dr. Charles Drew (the doctor behind the blood bank), Wallace Amos (the baker behind Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies); Lonnie G. Johnson (the man behind the Super Soaker water gun) and Dr. Shirley Jackson (the female scientist behind fiber optics cables and caller ID).

Did you know? Black History Month Edition