Even though a full-throated appreciation for Black History Month is an important endeavor for anyone who loves history and wants to practice anti-racism, we often place importance squarely on the past, rather than on how that past informs our present. But the truth is that so many past contributions by Black Americans have a massive role in our day-to-day lives, from the way we use the internet to communicate to how we transport food and medicine. Below, a handful of the modern luxuries—from Zoom calls to GIFs to curtain rods and more—that wouldn’t exist without the visionary minds of Black scientists, engineers and other creators.
VOIP: