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1968: Kerner Commission Documents a Divided SocietyFull Story 1942: Detroit Rebellion an Omen of Deadly RiotsFull Story 1988: Debi Thomas Medals at Winter OlympicsFull Story 1870: Political Deal Brings End to ReconstructionFull Story 1870: Hiram Revels Becomes First Black U.S. SenatorFull Story 1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler Becomes a PhysicianFull Story 1868: W.E.B DuBois Born in MassachusettsFull Story 1988: First Grammy Awarded in Rap CategoryFull Story 1965: Malcolm X Assassinated in New York CityFull Story 1895: Anti-Slavery Crusader Frederick Douglass DiesFull Story
February 2, 1897
Black Inventor Patents Ice Cream Scoop
The story of African-American history is told not only by landmark events, but also by the more mundane pursuits that illustrate the broad range of contributions by black men and women to American history, society and culture. On this date in 1897, Alfred Cralle, who worked as a porter in Pittsburgh, was awarded U.S. Patent #576395 for the invention of the now-familiar lever-operated ice cream scoop.