Elijah McCoy (1843–1929) invented an oil-dripping cup for trains. Other inventors tried to copy McCoy's oil-dripping cup. But none of the other cups worked as well as his, so customers started asking for "the real McCoy." That's where the expression comes from.
Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852–1889) invented a shoemaking machine that increased shoemaking speed by 900%!In 1992, the U.S. made a postage stamp in honor of Matzeliger.
Lewis Latimer (1848–1928) invented an important part of the light bulb — the carbon filament. Latimer worked in the laboratories of both Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.
Granville T. Woods (1856–1910) invented a train-to-station communication system. Woods left school at age 10 to work and support his family.
George Washington Carver (1860–1943) developed peanut butter and 400 plant products! Carver was born a slave. He didn't go to college until he was 30.
Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919) invented a hair-growing lotion. Walker grew up poor, but she became the first female African- American millionaire.
Garrett Morgan (1877–1963) invented the gas mask. Morgan also invented the first traffic signal.
Otis Boykin (1920–1982) invented the electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the pacemaker. Boykin invented 28 different electronic devices.
Dr. Patricia. E. Bath (1949–) invented a method of eye surgery that has helped many blind people to see. Dr. Bath has been nominated to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Lonnie G. Johnson (1949–) invented the world-famous watergun, the Supersoaker. Johnson's company just came out with a new Nerf ball toy gun.