Feb 09, 2026

Question of the Day [Black History Month]: Can you match each Black entrepreneur to their invention?

You've probably used most of these inventions. Find out who came up with the idea for them. 

 

Match each of the following Black entrepreneurs to their invention:

  1. Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr.
  2. Lisa Gelobter
  3. Alfred L. Cralle
  4. Frederick McKinley Jones
  5. Lonnie Johnson
  6. Marian Rogers Croak
  1. Voice Over Internet technology
  2. 3-light traffic light
  3. Ice cream scoop
  4. GIFs
  5. Super Soaker
  6. Refrigerated trucks

 

Answer: 

  1. Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr: 3-light traffic light
  2. Lisa Gelobter: GIFs
  3. Alfred L. Cralle: Ice cream scoop
  4. Frederick McKinley Jones: Refrigerated trucks
  5. Lonnie Johnson: Super Soaker
  6. Marian Rogers Croak: Voice Over Internet technology

 

Questions:

  • Which invention do you think had the biggest impact on how we live? Why?
  • What factors make it easier or harder to turn an idea into a lucrative business?
  • Choose one person from the list. If you were going to research further, what would you be curious to learn about their story?

 

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom

 

Behind the numbers (The Forgotten Generations)

"Lisa Gelobter (born 1971) is a computer scientist, technologist and chief executive. She was the Chief Digital Service Officer for the United States Department of Education.
 
In 2016, Gelobter founded and took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of tEQuitable, a start-up that provides an independent and confidential platform to address issues of bias, harassment, and discrimination in the workplace. She raised more than $2 million for tEQuitable, becoming one of the only thirty-four Black women to ever raise $1 million or more in venture capital."


"Marian Rogers Croak is a Vice President of Engineering at Google. She was previously the Senior Vice President of Research and Development at AT&T. She holds more than 200 patents.

She was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2022, Croak was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her patent regarding VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Technology. She is one of the first two Black women to receive that honor, along with Patricia Bath. Her invention allows users to make calls over the internet instead of a phone line. Today, the widespread use of VoIP technology is vital for remote work and conferencing."

 

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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