Many of the technological advances that were made during the mid twentieth century were mainly invented to better the lives of people. It was not uncommon that people around this time could easily die due to lack of technology and medicine. So much of what was done during this time period was done in order to make sure people could live longer.
Although Blount did not make any advancements as far as creating a vaccine or helping to find a cure for various diseases, her invention did better the lives of the amputees she worked with, and made life much easier for them. The amputees are in fact the people who inspired her to create the feeding tube device.
Blount’s device consisted of a tube that delivered individual bites of food to patients at their own pace. The system delivered single bites of food to the person through a tube by biting down on it. This tube was attached to a machine that would prepare the bite of food and then be sent up through the tube into the patients mouth. What was also neat about this feeding device was that the patient could use it in any position they pleased, they could even use it laying down.After creating this device she developed a more simple feeding system. She created a device that was mainly a neck brace that could support objects such as bowls or cups to make feeding simpler (“Self-feeding device…”). 
Drawing of Blount’s invention
(“Bessie Blount: Inventor and Scientist”)
© 2005, The Handstand
Despite the fact that Blount’s devices had the potential to benefit thousands of lives, the American Veteran’s Association did not support her. However, the French government took support and she ended up donating the rights to her inventions to them (“Self-feeding device…”).
After the success of her inventions Blount created a reputation in the inventor community. One of her closest friends was Theodore Edison, the son of Thomas Edison, who she talked in great detail with about certain ideas and potential projects. While talking to Theodore she continued to be innovative and created a number of other devices such as a disposable cardboard emesis basin (“Self-feeding device…”).
Her ability to create and her passion for innovation was highly recognized and is something to be respected even today. The fact that Blount was able to over come so much in the way of gender and race in order to contribute to the technological world is incredible. One thing she was surely proud of was “that a black woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind”, and I believe that is definitely something to be proud of.
kaitlinnordstrom 