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When most people hear the name Garrett Augustus Morgan, they might not immediately connect it with the devices they use or depend on today. But this self-taught African American inventor, born just over a decade after the end of slavery, left behind innovations that literally saved lives and continue to shape daily routines in the modern world. Whether it’s the traffic signals at busy intersections or the gas masks used in emergencies, Morgan’s impact stretches far and wide.
His story is one of perseverance, innovation, and social progress. And though history often buries the names of Black inventors under layers of neglect, Garrett Morgan’s legacy is too impactful to be ignored.
Garrett Morgan was born on March 4, 1877, in Paris, Kentucky, to Sydney Morgan, a formerly enslaved man, and Elizabeth Reed, of African, Native American, and possibly European descent. Raised in a working-class family, Morgan’s formal education ended in the sixth grade. But his mind was restless. He was mechanically inclined and hungry for knowledge.
At the age of 14, Morgan left Kentucky in search of opportunity, eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began working as a handyman. It was there that his genius began to emerge—not through the corridors of universities, but through trial, observation, and a relentless will to learn.
He later hired tutors to help him with reading and writing, and with each job he took—be it in sewing machines or carpentry—he studied, modified, and eventually improved upon the devices he worked with.
Morgan’s first significant success came in the garment industry. While working for a sewing machine company, he became adept at repairing the complex machines. Eventually, he opened his own sewing machine repair shop in 1907, which led to the founding of the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company in 1913.
It was here that he invented his first popular consumer product: a hair-straightening cream. According to accounts, he discovered it while working on sewing machine lubricants and testing it on a piece of dog hair. When it softened and straightened the hair, he realized its potential. He tested it on himself and then launched a product line. This would become one of the first successful Black-owned hair care companies in America.
Morgan’s entrepreneurial skills helped him become one of Cleveland’s most prosperous African Americans. But he wasn’t done inventing—his most impactful contributions were still ahead.
Perhaps Morgan’s most life-saving invention was his safety hood, patented in 1914. Designed initially for firefighters, the hood functioned as an early gas mask, filtering smoke and toxic gases through a series of tubes and a wet sponge to allow cleaner air to enter the mask. It was particularly revolutionary because it used an air intake system that sat low to the ground, where the air was cleaner during fires or chemical exposures.
Morgan’s mask gained national attention after the Cleveland Waterworks Disaster in 1916. A tunnel under Lake Erie collapsed due to a gas explosion, trapping dozens of workers. Local officials struggled to mount a successful rescue operation due to the toxic conditions.
Morgan, along with his brother and a small team, donned his safety hoods and entered the tunnel. They rescued several men and retrieved bodies, proving the device's effectiveness in real-world conditions. Despite saving lives, newspapers largely excluded Morgan’s name from early reports—some due to racial prejudice, attributing the success to “volunteer rescuers.”
Eventually, Morgan received medals of bravery, recognition from police departments, and commercial interest in his gas mask, which would later be used by firefighters, miners, and soldiers in World War I.
As cities became more crowded with automobiles and pedestrians in the early 20th century, traffic accidents increased dramatically. Morgan, a frequent motorist himself, recognized the need for better traffic regulation. At the time, traffic signals had only two positions: “stop” and “go.” Accidents were common when drivers raced to beat the light before it changed.
In 1923, Morgan patented a new type of traffic signal with a third position—what we now call the yellow or amber light—that provided a buffer period for drivers to slow down before stopping. This seemingly simple invention had a profound impact on road safety worldwide.
Morgan eventually sold the rights to his traffic signal to General Electric for $40,000—a substantial sum at the time. More importantly, it helped lay the groundwork for the modern traffic management system that keeps millions safe every day.
Morgan was not just an inventor—he was also a vocal advocate for civil rights and racial justice. He co-founded the Cleveland Association of Colored Men, which would later merge with the NAACP. He used his success and platform to speak out against segregation and to support economic and educational opportunities for African Americans.
He also made history by becoming the first Black man in Cleveland to own a car, a powerful symbol at a time when African Americans were often barred from such public symbols of prosperity and mobility.
In addition to his civic involvement, Morgan ran for public office. Though unsuccessful in his bid for a Cleveland City Council seat, his candidacy marked a significant moment in African American political participation during the early 20th century.
Despite his genius and many accomplishments, Garrett Morgan often had to hide his race to gain recognition or make sales. For example, when marketing his gas mask, he would hire a white actor to present the device, while Morgan posed as an assistant or inventor’s aide.
This was not an uncommon tactic for Black inventors and entrepreneurs of the time, who regularly faced discrimination in both business and media coverage. But rather than letting racism defeat him, Morgan outwitted it, using creativity and determination to get his products into the hands of those who needed them.
His resilience in the face of systemic racism speaks as loudly as his patents.
Garrett Morgan passed away on July 27, 1963, at the age of 86. His life spanned from the post-Civil War Reconstruction era to the peak of the civil rights movement—he died just months before the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Over time, recognition for Morgan’s contributions has grown:
Schools and streets have been named in his honor.
He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
His life is featured in museums, documentaries, and STEM education programs.
In 2005, the U.S. government declared March 4 (his birthday) as Garrett Morgan Day in some cities to celebrate Black innovators.
Today, his traffic signal design and gas mask prototype are recognized as core contributions to public safety and urban planning.
Garrett Morgan’s life stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved with vision, courage, and creativity. He overcame poverty, racism, and lack of formal education to become one of the most impactful inventors of the 20th century.
He is a role model for:
Young inventors who may not see themselves represented in textbooks.
Entrepreneurs of color who face systemic barriers but push forward anyway.
Engineers and problem-solvers who understand that everyday life offers countless opportunities to create change.
Every time a traffic light turns yellow, or a firefighter dons protective gear, Garrett Morgan’s legacy comes alive. His inventions didn’t just make life more convenient—they made it safer, fairer, and more forward-looking.
As we continue to seek innovation and equity in our society, let us remember Garrett Morgan not only as a Black inventor but as a universal figure of brilliance, whose mind helped shape the very infrastructure of our lives.
He didn’t wait for permission to be great—he just started building.
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