It was the end of the long, bloody Civil War. Sarah Goode never thought she would see this day, but she didn’t complain – she was finally free! What would she do with this freedom?
She moved to Chicago during, the first Great migration, along with an eager flock of formerly enslaved people seeking new opportunities. How would she sustain herself in this new city?
She had to find a job, but something else happened. She married an entrepreneurial carpenter, and they opened a furniture store together – an achievement in itself.
Then another audacious idea came to her: to help Black workers, who were frequently forced into cramped living conditions. Was it possible?
In 1885, her ingenuity gave us the folding cabinet bed, later called the Murphy bed once a white man got credit for it 15 years later. Still, she’d achieved a dream she never thought possible - making a living and helping her people.
Goode was the second Black woman to receive a U.S. Patent for her invention. While this was important, her story began with her belief in herself and her invention.
By supporting the community with our business endeavors, we can enrich our own lives, find success, and support our people.