Black History Month: African American Facts Wednesday, February 22, 2012 By Enrique Almaraz & Joseph Bazan [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising Before he was a blockbuster actor, Will Smith was known as The Fresh Prince and along with partner DJ Jazzy Jeff, won the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance. They boycotted the awards because the category was barred from television. In 1897, African American inventor Alfred Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use, even today. History has credited Thomas Edison with the invention of the light bulb, but fewer people know about Lewis Latimer's innovations toward its development. Until Latimer's process for making carbon filament, Edison's light bulbs would only burn for a few minutes. Latimer's filament burned for several hours. John Love invented the pencil sharpener in 1897. George T. Sampson invented a clothes dryer that used heat from a stove in 1892. Granville Woods invented numerous devices relating to the railroad, including a system of overhead electric conducting lines, air brakes and a telegraph system that allowed communication between moving trains. Carter G. Woodson created Black History Month.

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