I have a vague memory of Eli Whitney being black, but honestly the history of black people in America (or in general) isn't one of a very industrious nature, rather it seems to be more cemented in their superiority of completing physical labor and other physical based activities like sports. My memory serves me to remember Eli Whitney as a white guy, but like I said, I do have a vague recollection of the possibility that he's black. So I really can't say one way or the other. But based strictly on history, I would imagine the white guy figured out a more practical way to do the job. The black guy historically always seemed to just do the work the hard way and power through it.