Notable Black innovators: John P. Parker, inventor of the tobacco press and harrow.

John P. Parker was an African American abolitionist and inventor.

Parker was born into slavery around 1827 in Virginia. Unlike many slaves of his time, Parker learned to read and write. He acquired these skills from his mother, a house slave, and his owner's children. His intelligence and mechanical aptitude were evident early on, and these qualities eventually led to his being apprenticed to an iron molder in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1843, Parker managed to purchase his freedom with the help of his father, who had already bought his own freedom and worked to save money for his son's liberation. This was a monumental achievement given the systemic barriers against slaves buying their freedom.

After gaining his freedom, Parker moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, a city that was a beacon for free blacks and escaped slaves due to its pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. Here, Parker established himself as a successful iron foundry owner and inventor. His business acumen and technical skills allowed him to thrive, and he used his position to aid in the fight against slavery.

Parker was also an innovator. He received a patent for an improved tobacco press and other mechanical devices. His inventions and business provided him with the financial means to support abolitionist activities, including funding legal defenses for captured fugitives.

Parker's most notable contribution was his work with the Underground Railroad. From the 1840s to the end of the Civil War in 1865, he personally helped many slaves escape to freedom.

One of the most famous anecdotes of Parker's heroism involves him sneaking into a slave pen in Ripley to free a slave family, using his intimate knowledge of the area and his physical strength to outmaneuver slave catchers.

Despite his contributions, Parker's story didn't receive widespread recognition until years after his death in 1900. His autobiography, "His Promised Land," was discovered decades later and published in 1996.

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