This series isn’t about Black inventors—it’s about hidden networks, relationships, influence, and intersections between Black inventors and iconic historical figures and peers such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Hiram S. Maxim, W.E.B. Du Bois, and others who shaped modern history. The series shows how Black innovators influenced the same world as history’s most celebrated figures.
The book Through "COLORED" Eyes: The Story of Henry E. Baker, The Man From Mississippi Who Created A List That Changed The World shares the inspiring story of Henry E. Baker, a U.S. assistant patent examiner who chronicled the original list of Black inventors. It reveals the overlooked relationships between Black inventors and their historical peers and provides a list of 400+ inventions from Henry E. Baker’s journey. The book uses beautiful illustrations and patent drawings to show how inventions work—helping educators, homeschoolers, and parents teach innovation as a connected human story that builds identity, confidence, and creative possibility.
Finally, some readers have expressed interest in a quick-reference publication of just "the list" of African American inventors. The companion book, Baker's List of "COLORED" Inventors meets that request. It highlights and puts within your grasp 400+ African American inventions—a rare and invaluable list that shaped industries, revolutionized everyday life, and established a foundation for subsequent generations of thinkers and creators—curated from the historical records of Henry E. Baker, Assistant Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent Office. Through meticulous research, Baker uncovered and validated these pioneering works, overcoming historical barriers to ensure that these inventors received rightful recognition.
Enjoy the stories. Get the list. See yourself in what you read.
Purchase All Books HERE.
Stay tuned for teaching and learning supplements and flash courses in innovation and mind-building. I welcome your comments.
“Wonderful! Awesome! Very detailed and very informative.”
— J. Murphy
“Outstanding book!! Full of great insights, stories, and information that enlightened me about the history of African American inventions—with beautiful illustrations.”
— N. St. Jacobs
“Excellent book. Illustrations are exceptional! The author did his research for sure!”
— Hattie
“Achieves its goal of clarifying misconceptions while serving as an excellent reference material. A timely piece that adds greatly to the sparse literature of this most undervalued and often neglected subject matter in the American entrepreneurial landscape relative to the meaningful influence of Black social and economic contributions.”
— C. T. Stokes
“I really enjoyed reading this book. My children were so surprised to know just how many inventions that black people made.”
— Carolyn“
Unfortunately most of our accomplishments weren't in our school books. But thank God for people like our own Reg Smith's book on inventors...and others who shine a bright light on our history and the many, many accomplishments of our ppl.”
— D. Lenoir
Production Technology is the engineering and tech behind transforming concepts into compelling content. This has been my world.
