How Are Air Conditioners Related to Black History Month?

You're probably thinking there's only a tenuous connection between the two at best. That simply is not true. During February, the United States celebrates the accomplishments of African Americans. This monthlong celebration started off as Negro History Week when it was established in 1926. It eventually developed into a whole month lauding African American achievement in 1976. Surprising to some, a considerable amount of those achievements are related to heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration.

Four influential African Americans in the Heating, Cooling, Ventilation and Refrigeration field are:

1. David Crosthwait- This African American was a mechanical and electrical engineer, an inventor and a writer. He created many different heating systems, refrigeration methods, temperature regulating devices and vacuum pumps. He holds thirty-nine US patents and 80 international patents. He was interested in creating more effective heating systems for larger buildings so in the 1920s and 1930s he invented a vacuum pump, a boiler and a thermostat control. Two buildings he created

2. Frederick McKinley Jones- He was an inventor who held over sixty patents in the field of refrigeration. The US government used his portable air conditioner during World War II to preserve medicines and blood serum. He was the first African American to be awarded the National Medal of Technology which is an award presented by the president of the United States to those who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology.

3. Alice H. Parker- She invented an improved gas heating furnace for central heating in 1919. This furnace provided regulated heat to different rooms of a building by the use of hot air ducts.

4. John Standard- In 1891, patented an improved refrigerator design. It was a non-electrical and unpowered design that used a manually-filled ice chamber for chilling.

Next time you are thinking of important African Americans, you can add these people to your list. They are a great example to show that there are influential African Americans in almost any field you can think of. That is something worth celebration.