From the streets of Kentucky to the crossroads of history
Born in Paris, Kentucky in 1877, Garrett Augustus Morgan lived a life that defies the limitations of his time. In an era when African Americans faced systemic racism and closed doors at every turn, Morgan used ingenuity, grit, and an unrelenting will to innovate solutions that changed daily life — and in doing so, carved his place in Black history and American society.
Morgan’s journey wasn’t paved with privilege. After moving with his family to Ohio as a young man, he started working at a sewing machine repair shop. It was there, tinkering with gears and threads, that his mind began to shape into that of an inventor. His early experiences demonstrated something many people overlooked: innovation wasn’t reserved for the elite; it could be born from curiosity and necessity.
In the bustling, early-20th-century American city, traffic was chaos. Horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, automobiles, and pedestrians all vied for space at intersections with little to no order — and the result was injury and death. Morgan saw it firsthand. As cities modernized, accidents at busy junctions became more common, and there was no system to regulate movement. Witnessing this everyday danger lit a spark in Morgan. He didn’t just complain — he acted.
In 1923, Garrett Morgan patented a three-position traffic signal. Unlike previous designs that simply stopped traffic, his innovation introduced a warning position — an early version of what we now know as the yellow light. This simple addition gave drivers time to slow down and changed traffic control forever. Morgan understood human behavior and engineered a solution that anticipated it — a hallmark of brilliant design.
Just as transformative was his improved gas mask, patented in 1914. While there were
respirators before, Morgan’s design used a hood and a series of tubes to filter harmful air — a practical, wearable protective device. Its moment of public recognition came in 1916 during the tragic explosion in a tunnel beneath Lake Erie. When conventional rescue teams failed to approach the smoke-filled site, Morgan donned his device and led a team into the disaster zone, saving numerous trapped workers. His invention became a model for later protective breathing equipment used by firefighters, soldiers, and industrial workers.
But what did all this mean — personally and culturally?
Morgan’s contribution to Black history and society cannot be overstated. He broke barriers in a segregated America and transformed the public sphere in ways millions benefit from today. The traffic signal is a global fixture, and his gas mask concept is a direct ancestor of modern respiratory equipment that protects lives every day.
One question often asked: Did Garrett Morgan profit from his inventions? The truth is complicated. For the traffic signal, he sold his patent rights to a major company for a modest sum — a common reality for many inventors of color at that time who lacked access to capital, legal leverage, and equitable market position. While he did make some money and grew his business ventures, he didn’t reap the long-term financial gains that later corporate adopters enjoyed. The recognition and royalties many inventors today might expect were largely out of reach for him in the Jim Crow era.
Nevertheless, Morgan’s legacy pays dividends in human impact. His innovations continue to shape public safety, and his life stands as a testament to creativity overcoming adversity. He didn’t just invent machines — he invented hope.
