Dear nécessité,
Happy Friday, sunshine. How are you? Are you noticing the weather lately? LA has been chilly, NYC has been 65 degrees, and Denver is 8 degrees in February! The city of Manhattan last had snow in 2022. Is GOD happy with our behavior?
As we relish celebrating Black History, I love learning. It always shines light to learn about so many creative and spectacular things invented by black individuals that I never was taught or heard about.
Do you know…who created dry cleaning? Yes, Dry Cleaning. I never thought about who the brain behind that invention was, but I learned, and I share it with you as I get my clothes dry cleaned, and perhaps you do as well (I prefer to use non-toxic dry cleaners if I must use them). But, of course, I do not take this for granted.
‘Dry Cleaning,’ as we know it, was first invented as ‘Dry Scouring’ by Thomas Jennings. He was also the first Black American to hold a patent and to hold it for his dry scouring process. He was born in 1791 and received his patent in 1821 at the age of 30.
It all came about while he was a tailor in New York City; his clients needed help with how to clean their garments, and that, my dear, is when he started creating cleaning products and the birth of ‘Dry-Scouring’ was born. How great is that, right?!?
Next time you go to the Dry Cleaners, thank Mr. Thomas Jennings! Please learn more about Thomas L. Jennings.
History is a nécessité.
Much Love and Gratitude,
Erica Reid,
Founder of nécessité
Certified Holistic Health Coach
Certified Gut Health
Certified Auricular Therapy (Ear Seeds)
Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition
Certification T.Colin Campbell for Nutrition Studies
Author of The Thriving Child (Parenting)
Author of Shut Up and Cook! (Cookbook)