Did a Black woman invent the cell phone?
Asked by: Prof. Al Kautzer | Last update: February 22, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)
While no single Black woman invented the entire cell phone, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson's foundational research at AT&T Bell Laboratories was crucial for technologies like the touch-tone phone, fiber optics, and caller ID, while Dr. Marian Croak developed Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), essential for digital communication, and Arlene Harris innovated prepaid wireless and programmable phones, all significantly impacting mobile tech.
Who is the real inventor of the cell phone?
The real inventor of the first handheld cell phone is widely recognized as Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer who made the first public cell phone call on April 3, 1973, pioneering the concept of a personal, portable device separate from car phones. He led the team that developed the prototype, the DynaTAC, challenging AT&T's focus on car phones and envisioning a device that was truly an extension of a person, changing communication forever.
Who was the Black person who invented the phone?
If you enjoy your digital cellphone thank an African American name Jesse Eugene Russell. He is an inventor and electrical engineer that invented digital cellular technology.
Did a Black lady create the internet?
You use technology created by a smart Black woman whose name you've probably never heard every time you send a voice message, join a Zoom call, or stream Netflix. Marian Rogers Croak didn't just contribute to the internet she helped create the foundation that makes our entire digital world possible.
Who was the Black woman who invented Facetime?
Marian Croak. Marian Rogers Croak (born May 14, 1955) is an American engineer known for her voice over IP (VoIP) related inventions.
They Tried To Erase This Black Woman Who Invented FREE Phone Calls...
What did Hedy Lamarr actually invent?
Hedy Lamarr's primary invention, co-developed with composer George Antheil during World War II, was a "Secret Communication System" using frequency hopping to guide radio-controlled torpedoes, preventing enemy jamming. Patented in 1942, the concept of rapidly changing frequencies laid the groundwork for modern wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and cell phones, though the U.S. military didn't implement it until much later.
What invention was invented by a Black person?
The Three-Light Traffic Signal, Invented by Garrett Morgan in 1923. With only an elementary school education, Black inventor (and son of an enslaved parent), Garrett Morgan came up with several significant inventions, including an improved sewing machine and the gas mask.
Who created the very first cell phone?
Martin Cooper (born December 26, 1928, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) is an American engineer who led the team that in 1972–73 built the first mobile cell phone and made the first cell phone call. He is widely regarded as the father of the cellular phone.
Who was the first Black woman to invent something?
Sarah E.
Goode was the first Black woman known to file a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1885. Goode was born in 1850 and moved to Chicago during Reconstruction. She opened a furniture store there with her husband, Archibald, who worked as a carpenter.
What caused Hedy Lamarr's death?
Actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr died on January 19, 2000, at age 85, from heart disease, specifically congestive heart failure, after spending her final years in seclusion in Florida.
What was invented on March 7th?
Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone. On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention: the telephone. The Scottish-born Bell worked in London with his father, Melville Bell, who developed Visible Speech, a written system used to teach speaking to the deaf ...
Which black man invented the lightbulb?
A Black American inventor known best for improving a carbon filament for the incandescent light bulb, Lewis Latimer used his childhood experiences, military training, and innovative mindset to fight back against the racist beliefs of the time and leave a lasting positive change in the world.
What famous event happened on February 14, 1876?
Bell, Gray and the invention of the telephone. On the morning of February 14, 1876, a representative for Alexander Graham Bell handed in a patent application to the patent office in Washington for an apparatus for transmitting vocal sounds via electricity lines.
Who truly invented the phone?
While Alexander Graham Bell is widely credited for inventing the first practical telephone and securing the first U.S. patent in 1876, Italian inventor Antonio Meucci developed a basic voice-transmitting device earlier and is recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives for his pioneering work, though he couldn't afford to maintain his patent caveat. The invention involved multiple contributors like Elisha Gray, but Bell's patent and business acumen led to the first commercial success, launching the telephone industry.
What does the Bible say about phones?
The Bible doesn't mention phones directly, but offers timeless principles for managing them: use them wisely to honor God, don't let them become idols or master you, and apply wisdom from verses about stewardship (Psalm 90:12), avoiding slavery to anything (1 Corinthians 6:12), focusing on good things (Philippians 4:8), and discerning what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Phones are seen as neutral tools, either for good (ministry, connection) or for evil (distraction, idolatry), depending on the user's heart and choices.
Was there a race to invent the mobile phone?
For months before that first call, Motorola was racing to build a cell phone against Bell Labs, the legendary research arm of AT&T that had developed the transistor and other innovations.
Did a Black person invent the traffic light?
The first three way traffic signal was patented in 1923 by Garrett Morgan, a Black inventor from Ohio. As the first Black citizen in Cleveland to own a car, Morgan was inspired to improve traffic signals after he witnessed an accident at an intersection.
What famous Black woman made history?
You've probably heard of Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, but there are many lesser known Black women who made history. Each had to overcome racism and sexism to prove they were just as smart and capable as everyone else.
Who was the Black woman who invented hair grease?
Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919), known as the first female self-made millionaire in America, made her fortune thanks to her homemade line of hair care products for Black women.
Did an African American invent the cell phone?
Jesse Russell, Cell Phone Inventor born - African American Registry.
What did the 1973 cell phone look like?
In 1973, the first handheld cell phone, a Motorola DynaTAC prototype, looked like a bulky, heavy "brick" – about 10 inches tall, weighing 2.5 pounds, with a large antenna and chunky buttons, offering only about 30 minutes of talk time before needing a 10-hour recharge, a far cry from today's slim smartphones.
Who helped Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone?
Thomas A. Watson. Thomas Watson is best known for working as Alexander Graham Bell's assistant during the development of the telephone.
What are three things black people invented?
The folding chair, gas mask, traffic signal, automatic elevator doors, potato chips and the Super Soaker childrens's water gun toy were all invented by Black innovators.
Who was the Black inventor of electronics?
Known as “Black Edison,” Granville Woods registered nearly 60 patents in his lifetime including a telephone transmitter, a trolley wheel, and the multiplex telegraph. He held various engineering and industrial jobs before establishing a company to develop electrical apparatus.
What are some Black women's inventions?
MARIE VAN BRITTAN BROWN
Known for inventing and patenting the first home security system, Mary Van Brittan is also credited with the invention of the first closed-circuit television. Her designs from 1966 are still used in security systems and live broadcast surveillance.