From sweet solutions to revolutionary accidents, the food and tools Black inventors have created are universal staples in our lives.While February has ended, Black history hasn’t.
One way to honor Black history all year round is by knowing the contributions and influence of Black people in our everyday lives. According to The Black Inventions Museum, here are four everyday products created by Black people.
Lotions & Soaps
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor. His best-known innovation is crop rotation, or planting different crops to restore soil instead of single-crop farming. He also invented over 300 uses for the peanut, including soap, lotions, shaving cream and paper.
The Just Right Spa Mix kit offers a jute bag with one-color imprint and loaded with a natural beeswax lip balm available in 50 flavors, a four-ounce bottle of fabric spray with four fragrances to choose from, a four-ounce bottle of hand & body lotion, plus a one-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer.
Mixie / PPAI 143213, S8 / hpgbrands.com/mixie/
Hairbrush
Lyda Newman was an inventor and a women’s rights advocate. Born 1885 in Ohio, Newman’s hairbrush was patented in 1898 when she was 13 years old. After moving to New York, she began to do her hair and other women’s hair. For a more efficient way to fix her clients’ hair, Newman invented the new hairbrush style, specifically made for Black hair. By getting it patented, she became the third Black woman ever to receive a patent.
Great for traveling, this hairbrush with hair ties is perfect for last-minute trips or everyday outings. Recipients will receive one travel-sized brush, three hair elastic and a mini carabiner.
WOWLine / PPAI 112440, S4 / www.wowline.com
Ice Cream Scoop
Alfred L. Cralle was a businessman and inventor who is best known for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897.While working at a hotel, he developed the idea when he noticed ice cream servers struggling to serve their customers. The ice cream would stick to spoons and ladles, requiring two hands to get one scoop. Cralle’s “ice cream mold and disher” was inexpensive, effective and easy to use with one hand.
The Parlor Vibes Ice Cream Scoop is a truly sweet promo product solution. Made of strong Zinc alloy with a cadmium finish for year-over-year use, each handle is elegantly laser etched with your client’s logo. Get your client’s brand in front of smiling faces. It’s supremely durable and fashioned to deliver the perfect 1.5-ounce scoop every time.
Beacon Promotions, Inc. / PPAI 113702, S10 / www.beaconpromotions.com
Ice Cream
Augustus Jackson is the modern-day “Father of Ice Cream.” He started working in the White House when he was 9 years old, becoming a top chef. He was a cook from 1817-1837, serving three presidents. When he left Washington, D.C., he moved back to his hometown of Philadelphia and opened his own candy store. Soon, he invented a better way to make ice cream. His recipes were eggless, and he also added salt to the ice, new flavors and cream.
The Scoops & Sprinkles dessert box has plenty of sprinkles, cones and sauces to create the most spectacular scoops in town. This kit has a 4-ounce bottle of sprinkles, ice cream cones,a 10-ounce jar of hot fudge sauce and a customized stainless-steel ice cream scoop. It comes packaged in a customizable sound-chip enabled box with a personalized card at no additional charge.
Batch &Bodega / PPAI 110772, S11 / www.batchandbodega.com
