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                                                                                  BLACK AMERICAN INVENTORS

Biscuit Cutter A.P. Ashbourne   Super Soaker Lonnie Johnson
Folding Bed L.C. Bailey   Bicycle Frame Issac R. Johnson
Coin Changer James A. Bauer   Space Shuttle Retrieval Arm Wm. Harwell
Rotary Engine Andrew J. Beard   Printing Press W.A. Lavallette
Car Couple Andrew J. Beard   Envelope Seal F.W. Leslie
Letter Box G.E. Becket   Laser Fuels Lester Lee
Stainless Steel Pads Alfred Benjamin   Pressure Cooker Maurice W. Lee
Torpedo Discharger H. Bradberry   Window Cleaner A.L. Lewis
Disposable Syringe Phil Brooks   Pencil Sharpener John L. Love
Home Security System Marie Brown   Fire Extinguisher Tom J. Marshal
Corn Planter Henry Blair   Lock W.A. Martin
Cotton Planter Henry Blair   Shoe Lasting Machine Jan Matzeliger
Ironing Board Sarah Boone   Lubricators Elijah McCoy
Horse Bridle Bit L.F.Brown   Rocket Catapult Hugh MacDonald
Horse shoe Oscar E. Brown   Elevator Alexander Miles
Pacemaker Otis Boykin   Gas Mask Garrett Morgan
Guide Missile Otis Boykin   Traffic Signal Garrett Morgan
Lawn Mower John A. Burr   Hair Brush Lyda Newman
Typewriter Burridge & Marshman   Heating Furnace Alice H. Paker
Train Alarm R.A. Butler   Airship J.F.Pickering
Radiation Detector Geo. Carruthers   Folding Chair Purdgy/Sadgwar
Peanut Butter George W. Carver   Hand Stamp W.B. Purvis
Paints & Satins George W. Carver   Fountain Pen W.B. Purvis
Lotion & Soaps George W. Carver   Dust Pan L.P.Ray
Automatic Fishing Reel George Cook   Insect Destroyer Gun A.C. Richardson
Ice cream Mold A.L. Cralle   Baby Buggy W.H. Richardson
Blood Plasma Dr. Charles Drew   Sugar Refinement N. Rillieux
Horse Riding Saddle Wm. D. Davis   Clothes Dryer G.T. Sampson
Shoe W.A. Detiz   Celluar Phone Henry Sampson
Player Piano Joseph Dickinson   Pressing Comb Walter Sammons
Arm for Recording Player Joseph Dickinson   Curtain Rod S.R. Scottron
Doorstop O. Dorsey   Lawn Sprinkler J.W. Smith
Doorknob O. Dorsey   Automatic Gearshift R.B. Spikes
Photo Print Wash Clatonia J. Dorticus   Urinalysis Machine Dewey Sanderson
Photo Embossing Machine Clatonia J. Dorticus   Hydraulic Shock Absorber Ralph Sanderson
Postal Letter Box P.B. Dowing   Refrigerator J. Standard
Toilet T. Elkins   Mop T.W. Stewart
Furniture Caster David A. Fisher   Stairclimbing Wheelchair Rufus J. Weaver
Guitar Robert Flemming ,Jr   Helicopter Paul E. Williams
Golf Tee George F. Grant   Fire Escape Ladder J.B. Winters
Motor J. Gregory   Telephone Transmitter Granville T. Woods
Lantern Micheal Harney   Electric Cutoff Switch Granville T. Woods
Thermo Hair Curlers Soloman Harper   Relay Instrument Granville T. Woods
Gas Burner B.F. Jackson   Telephone System Granville T. Woods
Kitchen Table H.A. Jackson   Galvanic Battery Granville T. Woods
Video Commander Joseph N. Jackson   Electric Raillway System Granville T. Woods
Remote Controllers Joseph N. Jackson   Roller Coaster Granville T. Woods
Sani-Phone Jerry Johnson   Auto Air Brake Granville T. Woods
         

                           NOTABLES

 A LEADER IN EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN RACE. A CREDIT TO MANKIND.

                                                                       IVAN DIXON

MR. IVAN DIXON’S credits, while impressive, tell the least about his place in motion picture industry history. This iconic quiet giant's impact, accomplishments and hard work in the Director’s Guild (and in "the business" across the board) to increase opportunities for women and other minorities came at a time and was done in a way that deserves special recognition. Mr. Dixon was a voice when there were not many.  He was always insistent. Smart. Reasoned. Forward moving. Every human who values the idea of "inclusion"(creative, political "American"--and otherwise) owes a great debt to MR. IVAN DIXON. Along with MR. BILL COSBY, Mr. Dixon quietly carried the torch of progress when there was not a lot of fire.

Ivan Dixon was born in New York City on April 6, 1931. One of his first acting credits was on the television anthology series "The Dupont Show of the Month" in the 1960 production of "Arrowsmith." Mr. Dixon went on to act in the film version of the theatrical drama "A Raisin in the Sun" with Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier in 1961. He also portrayed Jim in the 1959 film version of "Porgy and Bess."  Other early film work includes: "Something of Value" (1957), "The Murder Men" (1961), and "The Battle at Bloody Beach" (1961).

The film that we feel distinguished Mr. Dixon as the most significant Native Black American actor in a single role in film history is the acclaimed drama "Nothing But a Man" (1964). "Nothing But A Man" is a subtle, complicated character study in which Mr. Dixon plays Duff, a Southern railroad worker. It is a masterful portrayal of a fully realized black male character. He deserved an Academy Award for that performance if there was ever one given.  See it.

Mr. Dixon acted with Sidney Poitier in the 1965 film "A Patch of Blue".  Also in 1965, Mr. Dixon began "Hogan's Heroes".  He left the series in 1970, one year before the show ended.

Other film roles include: "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?" (1970), "Clay Pigeon" (1971),  and "Car Wash" (1976).

Other television acting credits include the 1987 mini-series "Amerika," the 1986 mystery film "Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star," in which he played the judge, and the 1974 action drama "Fer-de-Lance" (aka "Death Dive").
 

Mr. Dixon began directing films in the early 1970s. In 1972 he directed the gang warfare movie "Trouble Man".  In 1973 Mr. Dixon produced and directed the greatly under-appreciated "The Spook Who Sat by the Door". Among Mr. Dixon's many television credits are stints on "Love Is Not Enough" (1978),  "Palmerstown, U.S.A." (1980), "Hawaiian Heat" (1984), and the Steven Spielberg developed boxing movie for television, "Percy & Thunder" (1993).

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