Larry Winiarski, Technical Director of Aprovecho, began developing the rocket stove in 1980 based on a VITA stove, designed by Sam Baldwin, and rediscovered the principles of the systems developed by the Romans in hypocaust heating and cooking systems.[5][6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove
Looks like it was developed by white guys................
It was and for not so white people.