Our Story

Just wake up and you will encounter inventions by Americans of African ancestry

Houston (BlackNews.com)--African American ingenuity is all around us. Regardless of the activity, African Americans have played a vital role in the conception, development and commercialization of many products that we use on a daily basis. Unfortunately, much of this information about African American inventors and inventions remains unknown to most people.

The Heritage Calendar Company produces the 2007 Americans of African Ancestry Inventors calendar that gives people a lesson about African American inventors who have made substantial contributions to our society.

Darcell Walker, founder of Heritage Calendar Company says, "One can observe African American ingenuity by simply getting up in the morning."

First, you wake up and turn on a light invented by Lewis Latimer. Next, you get out of bed (possibly a sleeper sofa bed based on an invention by Sarah Goode [the first African American woman to receive a patent]).

While getting dressed, you may take some tissue from a tissue holder designed and patented by Mary Kenner.

You may want to sweeten your coffee with sugar manufactured using a process designed by Norbert Rillieux. Before leaving your house, you place a telephone call using a cordless telephone patented by Jesse Russell, Jr.

You get into a car designed by Ralph Gilles, a chief designer for Daimler Chrysler. If the visibility is low, you turn on the headlights using a system invented by Samuel Moore.

You put the car’s transmission into gear using a gear shifting mechanism developed and patented by Richard Spikes.

You come to an intersection being controlled by a traffic signal device invented by Garrett Morgan.

As you drive, you notice a commuter train that has a rod that extends upward to a power line that supplies power to operate the train.

This type of electric train car was the result of work by Granville T. Woods.

Today Mr. Woods’ electric car concept is known as the "light rail" and is extensively used in mass transit systems in many large cities.

After arriving at the office, you print out a report on a laser printer based on laser technology patented by Robert Thornton.

On a hot day, you see children playing in the yard with water gun toys patented by Lonnie Johnson. When you wake up in the morning, you see and depend on inventions by persons of African ancestry!

The 2007 Americans of African Ancestors Inventors calendar profiles each of the above-described African American inventors.

As one can see, African American ingenuity is all around us, has played, and continues to play a vital role in the development of many products that we use each day.

The Heritage Calendar Company sells these calendars to non-profit organizations (i.e. schools and churches) for $3 each. Organizations resale the calendars as a fundraising activity.

Walker says, "Calendars are a great teaching tool and an excellent vehicle to tell the stories of African American achievements and contributions." This calendar will be a valuable resource during the upcoming focus on African American history.

The information in this calendar will inform African Americans in particular and all of society in general about the substantial contributions of African Americans to our present day lifestyle.

This information can also inspire many people to pursue their own ideas for products and services. Walker says, "When people don’t pursue their ideas, all of society loses out."

To learn more about this calendar product, visit www.heritagecalendars.org or contact the Heritage Calendar Company at P.O. Box 25048, Houston, Texas 77265, (713) 772-1255, 1-866-870-2382 (telephone & fax).