On this 10th day of Black History Month, we honor Lyda D. Newman, a remarkable African-American inventor, hairdresser, and women’s rights activist. Newman is best known for patenting the first hairbrush with synthetic bristles—a design that revolutionized haircare and grooming practices, especially for African-American hair. She was the third Black woman ever to receive a…
On the 7th day of Black History Month, we honor Garrett Augustus Morgan, an inventor, entrepreneur, and community leader whose work transformed public safety and saved countless lives. Garrett Morgan is most famous for inventing the three-position traffic signal, which introduced the critical “caution” (yellow) light—a groundbreaking step toward modern traffic control. He is also…
Bessie Blount Griffin was a remarkable physical therapist, inventor, and forensic scientist whose groundbreaking work transformed rehabilitative care for wounded soldiers and people with disabilities. Her innovations were driven by a simple yet powerful belief: everyone deserves dignity, independence, and control over their own lives. Born November 24, 1914, in Hickory (now Chesapeake), Virginia, Blount…
