Joyner became one of the first African American women awarded a U.S. patent for her invention, a permanent hair-wave machine.
On November 27, 1928, Marjorie Joyner achieved a milestone not only for herself but for countless African American women, by being one of the first, and often cited as the first, to receive a U.S. patent. This achievement underscored her role as a pioneer in a domain where women of color, particularly, had limited recognition. Her patent highlighted the potential and creativity of African American inventors in advancing technology and industry.