If I asked you to name five famous Black people, living or deceased, who would you come up with? I asked this same question in an interactive presentation I gave four years ago for Black History Month, and the responses were what I expected.

Most people mentioned performers like Ray Charles, athletes like Michael Jordan, and activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is because the media tends to spotlight African Americans when they are in an entertainment role, and our education system has a pattern of teaching us about the same handful of Black champions for social justice.

Of course, Black contributions to arts and culture and social justice are wonderful. But when the only positive images shown of Black people are of us performing for a crowd or working to bring about equality, it’s easy to think that that’s all we’ve done and mistakenly believe that we haven’t contributed anything else worthwhile to civilization. But the reality is that people of African descent have contributed so much to life as we know it and created many of our modern conveniences — and those stories need to be told too.

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There is also a spiritual basis for learning this history. In the holy writings of the Baha’i Faith, Black people are compared to “the pupil of the eye which is dark in colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.”

Of this comparison, Abdu’l-Baha, one of the central figures of the Baha’i Faith, wrote in 1902:

…Verily, the faces of these are as the pupil of the eye. Although the pupil is created black, yet it is the source of light. I hope God will make these black ones the glory of the white ones, and as a depository of the lights of the Love of God.

With that in mind, here are nine of the numerous African American inventors who changed the world:

1. Garrett Morgan: The Inventor of the Three-Light Traffic Light

Abdu’l-Baha once wrote:

See how, in this day, the scope of sciences and arts hath widened out, and what wondrous technical advances have been made, and to what a high degree the mind’s powers have increased, and what stupendous inventions have appeared.

That quote comes to mind when I think of Garrett Morgan. He only had an elementary school education, and yet, he created several inventions, such as the gas mask and the improved sewing machine.

After these inventions became very successful, Morgan was able to save enough money to purchase a car and was the first Black person in Cleveland to own an automobile. While driving, Morgan witnessed a severe car accident at an intersection and invented the “yield” component of the traffic light in 1923 to warn drivers when they should start slowing down to a stop. His life-saving invention could definitely be described as “stupendous.”

2. Benjamin Banneker: The Inventor of the Clock

We might not be able to tell time if Benjamin Banneker hadn’t invented the clock. When Banneker was 22 in 1753, he had only seen “two timepieces in his lifetime — a sundial and a pocket watch,” according to PBS.

So, Banneker, who was largely self-taught, created the first clock in the United States, which he built out of wood based on his drawings and calculations. PBS wrote, “The clock continued to run until it was destroyed in a fire forty years later.”

Banneker, who was a talented astronomer, also created one of the U.S.’s first almanacs. In his almanac, he successfully predicted eclipses and other astronomical events, listed the tides, and included information on medicines and medical treatments.

3. Lewis Latimer: The Inventor of the Carbon Light Bulb Filament

The Baha’i writings tell us that the “light of the intellect is the highest light that exists.” But we might still be trying to gain knowledge by candlelight if Lewis Latimer hadn’t invented the carbon filament in 1881.

Often when people think of the invention of the light bulb, they think of Thomas Edison. But the light bulb that Edison created had a very short lifespan and died after a few days.

When Latimer, the son of formerly enslaved people, invented the carbon filament, light bulbs became more practical and long-lasting. His success rivaled Edison’s, and he later went to work with Edison at the Edison Electric Light Company in 1884. Latimer was also known for co-inventing an improved bathroom for railroad trains.

4. Alexander Miles: The Inventor of Automatic Elevator Doors

Before Alexander Miles invented the automatic elevator door in 1887, using an elevator was very dangerous. People had to close the shaft and elevator doors themselves manually, and those who forgot to do so often fell down the elevator shafts to their death or received multiple injuries if they survived. 

After Miles’s daughter fell down an elevator shaft and almost died, he decided that he would make it his mission to develop a solution. He invented a mechanism that automatically opens and closes elevator shaft doors, turning elevators into what we now use today.

5. George T. Sampson: The Inventor of the Clothes Dryer

Can you imagine having to hang clothes outside on a line to dry them? It was very time-consuming, and people had to hope their clothes wouldn’t be ruined by the weather, animals, or insects.

So, every time I do my laundry, I’m grateful that George T. Sampson patented the clothes dryer in 1892 and a sled propeller in 1885.

In his patent, he wrote, “My invention relates to improvements in clothes-driers. The object of my invention is to suspend clothing in close relation to a stove by means of frames so constructed that they can be readily placed in proper position and put aside when not required for use.”

6. Frederick McKinley Jones: The Inventor of Refrigerated Trucks

The Baha’i writings confirm the connection between our physical and spiritual health. Abdu’l-Baha explained:

The more healthful his body, the greater will be the power of the spirit of man; the power of the intellect, the power of the memory, the power of reflection will be greater.

Prior to the invention of refrigerated trucks, keeping food from spoiling — and potentially causing illness — was extremely difficult. Fortunately, Frederick McKinley Jones patented more than 60 inventions in his lifetime, including the cooling system used to refrigerate produce on trucks during extended periods.

He came up with this idea in the 1930s and received a patent for his invention in 1940. He later co-founded the U.S. Thermo Control Company, later known as Thermo King, which was critical in preserving blood, food, and supplies during World War II.

7. Marie Van Brittan Brown: The Inventor of the Home Security System

The Baha’i writings contain more than two dozen prayers for protection — and along with asking God to keep us safe, many of us also turn on a home security system at night. We’re able to do that thanks to Marie Van Brittan Brown. 

As a nurse, Van Brittan Brown often worked long hours and would come home late at night to an empty home because her husband also worked irregular hours as an electronic technician. Scared after being in the house alone at night, Marie decided to develop a solution that would make her home safer.

In 1966, Van Brittan Brown co-invented the first home security system with her husband, Albert Brown. Their security system consisted of four peepholes, a sliding camera that could capture images of people who were different heights, television monitors, two-way microphones that enabled them to communicate with the person outside, a remote to unlock the door, and an emergency alarm button that contacted the police.

8. Charles Richard Drew: The Inventor of Blood Banks

The Baha’i writings tell us that “an able physician does not treat all ailments in the same manner but varies the treatments and remedies in accordance with the requirements of these various ailments and conditions.” Every two seconds in the United States, an “able physician” determines that someone needs a blood transfusion. 

Fortunately, surgeon Charles Richard Drew discovered in 1941 how to do long-term storage of blood plasma, organized the United States’ first large-scale blood bank, and created “bloodmobiles” – refrigerated blood donation trucks.

Born in 1904, Drew’s inventions in preserving blood plasma saved thousands of lives during World War II, and the American Red Cross adopted his process and techniques. Sadly, despite Drew’s remarkable inventions in the blood banking process, the Red Cross excluded African Americans from donating blood, making Drew unable to participate.

9. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson: The Inventor of the Fiber-Optic Cable

The Universal House of Justice, the democratically elected governing council for the Baha’is of the world, wrote in 2015 that “technological advancement is integral to the emergence of a global civilization.” 

Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, a theoretical physicist and the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate from M.I.T. in 1973, conducted groundbreaking scientific research that laid the foundation for the inventions of the touch-tone telephone, the portable fax machine, call waiting, caller ID, and the fiber-optic cable.

She is currently the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. And just think, without fiber-optic cables, you might not have been able to read this article on the internet. 

That raises the question: Could humanity go one week without these inventions that African Americans brought to the world? Black people have contributed so much in the fields of science, math, and technology — achievements worthy of being honored and celebrated every day.

Just think, Black people were able to accomplish such greatness despite centuries of genocide, slavery, racism, and oppression. Imagine how much more could be achieved if we lived in a world without racism and where Black people experienced the justice, equity, recognition, and appreciation we all deserve.

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Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. John Whyte

Most health care professionals know they can’t fully assess patients’ health without looking at social determinants, the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. Income, housing, quality of schools, access to fresh produce and other factors play an important role in wellness. But there’s one we don’t fully acknowledge: the role of faith.

Faith, spirituality and a sense of purpose all have a beneficial effect on one’s emotional, physical and mental health.

This connection is well-established by researchers. Belief in a divine plan for one’s life can foster optimism and hope − attitudes that can boost mental and physical health, according to an analysis of more than 40 studies. Spiritual practices, such as prayer, can reduce stress and anxiety. 

Spirituality and faith can even affect our physical health. According to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology, religiosity, spirituality and frequency of prayer have been tied to lower cortisol levels.

Religious observance can boost immune system

In a study of more than 1,700 older adults, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that those who practice religion had better immune function than those who didn’t. The findings persisted even when researchers adjusted for other factors that could impact immune system function, such as depression or chronic illness. The researchers suggest that the shared promotion of positive thoughts or experience of worship and adoration may help explain the physical health benefits.

Here’s how physicians at the Mayo Clinic sum up research on the topic: “Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide.”

We also know that some health benefits can be more pronounced in organized religion than in belief itself. For example, if you’re a member of a house of worship, you’ve likely noticed that few people attend services alone. Just as important as the internal attitudes religion can foster are the social connections it can bring.

An epidemic of loneliness and a lack of community have contributed to a rapid rise in “deaths of despair” from suicide and substance abuse. Belonging to a faith organization can foster the sense of community that’s missing in so many people’s lives.

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Friendships and social support can lead to better health

People who attend services regularly tend to have more close friendships, which can in turn lead to better health outcomes. One study found that cancer patients who belonged to a church choir reported better vitality and mental health despite no changes in their physical condition. Simply having social support and coming together to sing was enough to improve their sense of well-being.

Harvard researchers have also found that men and women who attend services weekly reduce their risk of dying a death of despair by 33% and 68%, respectively.

This social aspect can apply some positive peer pressure as well. Many healthy behaviors are what psychologists call “socially contagious.”

A recent study found that Black Americans who were more involved with their house of worship had better cardiovascular health partly because their community helped them make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or eating healthier. It’s easier to reach your health goals when someone else encourages you and holds you accountable.

Despite the proven health benefits, religiosity is on the decline in America. The fastest-growing religious segment of the U.S. population is now “nones” − those who profess no religion.

We’re not here to evangelize, but as a doctor and a mental health professional, it’s important to note that a decline of religion and spirituality seems to be associated with potentially negative health effects.

You don’t have to join your nearest house of worship to enjoy good health. Your faith or sense of purpose, if any, is on you. But health is as much a matter of the soul as of the body. If you have a sense of faith, cultivate it. If you don’t, seek out places or situations that bring you a sense of connection and hope through meaningful relationships.

Dr. Phil McGraw, Ph.D., is one of the most well-known mental health professionals in the world and the host of one of daytime TV’s top-rated programs, “Dr. Phil.” Dr. John Whyte is chief medical officer of WebMD.

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Mental health care never had a chance. Here’s what happened (1, 2).

From its very inception, the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries doomed mental disorders and other psychosocial features of patients. It grounded modern scientific medicine theoretically and philosophically in the “mind-body split.” This divorced patients’ psychological/mental and social issues—where our humanity resides—from physical disease problems. An almost exclusive interest in physical diseases resulted, and guides medicine to this day. Psychiatry developed as a small subset of medicine in the 19th century and would also adopt this isolated focus on physical diseases after first exploring a more holistic, person-centered approach.

The mind-body split began in the 16th century when Andreas Vesalius identified the scientific method and used it to produce his revolutionary findings in anatomy. Forebodingly for mental illnesses, however, he excluded the head from his dissections; the powerful Catholic Church required this. They viewed the head as the site of the mind and spirit, their province alone. This launched scientific medicine away from patients’ human elements. In the 17th century, philosophers Rene Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke provided a philosophical rationale that more definitively excluded mind issues from medical science, leaving them to the Church. In the 18th century, the isolated disease interest spread to practitioners when pathologists first recognized that the abnormal organs they observed at autopsy represented a disease and caused patients’ symptoms, an idea that soon would govern all clinical medicine. The new direction led clinicians to change from a holistic focus on the entire person to concentrate only on physical symptoms—as a clue pointing to an underlying disease. But the isolated interest on physical diseases did not benefit patients until the 20th century when the diagnosis and treatment advances we experience today as routine progressed at an astounding pace to address physical disorders.

Where did psychiatry and mental health fit in? Prior to the 19th century, mental care took place in patients’ homes and through community assistance. More severe disorders received help under the aegis of the Church in medieval hospitals, monasteries, and religious houses.

The new concept of diseases causing symptoms, however, prompted a secular shift in the 19th century. It opened the door for physicians to take charge of mental institutions, initially called “lunatic asylums.” A corps of specialists slowly materialized and psychiatry was born as a discipline. By the mid-19th century, psychiatry became a formal organization, the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane. They published their own scientific journal, the American Journal of Insanity, now known as the prestigious American Journal of Psychiatry.

Terrifying to patients and doctors alike, early hospitals infamously employed punitive measures, such as chain restraints, corporal punishment, and strait jackets. Repelled by such conditions, the new psychiatric hospitals replaced the old asylum care with what they called “moral treatment.” This resumption of holistic Hippocratic traditions valued the patient in his or her psychological, emotional, and social realms. With this renewed interest in mental illness, the asylum movement accelerated, and more and more patients came under care.

Although the asylums made little positive impact on patients’ mental health, psychiatry itself made significant progress in diagnoses by first classifying mental disorders. The academic foundations of psychiatry then continued to evolve, culminating by the late 19th century with such illustrious leaders as Emil Kraepelin and Sigmund Freud. Psychiatrists embraced the broader psychological and social dimensions as important even though they remained wedded to the idea of physical disease of the brain as the origin of mental disorders—despite an absence of evidence.

As the 20th century dawned, the diminutive field of psychiatry continued its attention to patients’ psychological and social aspects, retaining a person-centered, humane focus on mental health. Freud’s articulation of the unconscious and its influence on mind-based issues fostered this, as did his patient-centered interviewing technique that identified mental issues in patients. Appreciation of human psychological factors got a boost following the world wars with identification of what we now call posttraumatic stress disorder; doctors had puzzled over how distressed soldiers could have severe physical symptoms without an underlying disease or injury.

Despite its promising beginning, however, psychiatry retrenched by the mid-19th century and fell further prey to its long-term hope of finding brain diseases to explain mental disorders. The discovery of lithium in 1948 and chlorpromazine in 1952 revolutionized care for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. This also rekindled the belief in a physical disease orientation, now that altered brain chemicals led to mental illnesses. Benzodiazepines were discovered shortly thereafter as psychiatry embarked on the progressively more narrow course of seeking chemical explanations for mental disorders, ironically scrapping its seminal early patient-centered advances.

The physical disease orientation of psychiatry continues unabated even though there has been little significant improvement in mental illness outcomes since the 1960s, according to the former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Thomas Insel (3). He compellingly captures the problem of present mental health care in his new book, Healing: Our Path From Mental Illness to Mental Health. He proposed that the poor quality of modern mental health care constitutes a basic human rights violation (4). For example, only 25% of all patients with a mental illness receive any care at all, and most of that does not meet standards. Compare this to 70% of patients with physical diseases receiving high quality care (5).

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To improve mental health care, psychiatry must get rid of the mind-body split philosophy and its disease model. All other sciences did this long ago by adopting a systems view; for example, physics replaced the Scientific Revolution’s Newtonian physics with relativity and quantum theories 100 years ago. A systems view of any scientific discipline means that all parts of the science must be seen as integrated and interacting. For psychiatry, this means integrating patients’ psychological and social features with its disease focus. Psychiatry already has a systems-based model, the biopsychosocial model, but it has received little more than lip service since George Engel articulated it in 1977.

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The reluctance of psychiatry to jettison the disease-only model prompts concern. And that may make us wonder if the public and its political representatives need to intervene to improve mental health care.

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