"The Black Edison" - Inventor of Traffic Signal & Gas Mask
March 4, 1877 – July 27, 1963
🇺🇸 United States Security & SafetyGarrett Augustus Morgan was born on March 4, 1877, in the small town of Paris, Kentucky, to Elizabeth and Sydney Morgan. His parents had endured the brutality of slavery but were freed before Garrett's birth. Despite their liberation, the Morgan family faced the harsh realities of post-Civil War America, where opportunities for Black Americans remained severely limited by systemic racism and discrimination.
Young Garrett's formal education ended after just sixth grade—a common fate for Black children in the late 19th century South, where educational access was deliberately restricted. But this limitation could not contain his boundless curiosity and determination. At the age of 14, demonstrating remarkable courage and self-reliance, Morgan left his family's farm and journeyed north to Cincinnati, Ohio, seeking better opportunities.
In Cincinnati, Morgan took a job as a handyman while simultaneously hiring a tutor to continue his education independently. This decision revealed the character trait that would define his entire life: an unwavering commitment to self-improvement and learning, regardless of the obstacles placed before him. He refused to accept the limitations society tried to impose based on his race or his lack of formal schooling.
Morgan eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a sewing machine repairman. His mechanical aptitude quickly became apparent, and he soon established his own sewing equipment repair business. His keen observational skills and problem-solving mindset led him to invent and patent the first chemical hair straightener, which became commercially successful and provided capital for his future inventions.
For his various groundbreaking inventions, Morgan proudly adopted the nickname "the Black Edison"—a deliberate reference to the renowned inventor Thomas Edison. This moniker was not mere bravado; it was a statement of equality and capability in an era when Black innovators were systematically excluded from recognition and resources.
Morgan's interest in respiratory safety was reportedly sparked by the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, which claimed 146 lives, many of whom died from smoke inhalation. Deeply affected by this tragedy, Morgan began developing a device that would protect people from smoke and toxic gases.
In October 1914, Morgan patented his revolutionary creation: a safety hood that covered the head and featured an ingenious tube extending to ground level, where air is typically cleaner and cooler during fires. The device incorporated a moistened sponge to filter smoke particles and cool the air before inhalation. This simple yet brilliant design allowed users to breathe safely in environments filled with smoke or harmful gases.
The safety hood's true test came in July 1916 during a catastrophic explosion that occurred during construction of a tunnel 120 feet beneath Lake Erie. Workers were trapped underground with fires burning, toxic gases accumulating, and oxygen rapidly depleting. Rescue efforts had failed, and the trapped men seemed doomed.
Morgan, upon hearing of the disaster, rushed to the scene with his safety hood. Despite warnings about the dangers and racist objections to a Black man leading the rescue, Morgan donned his invention and descended into the tunnel. He made multiple trips into the toxic environment, personally rescuing several workers and recovering bodies. His heroism and the effectiveness of his invention became front-page news.
However, the racial climate of the time complicated Morgan's recognition. In some accounts, credit was given to white supervisors, and Morgan's identity was sometimes hidden when marketing his invention to segregated fire departments in the South. Despite these indignities, his safety hood gained widespread adoption and became the prototype for gas masks used by American soldiers in World War I, saving countless lives on the battlefields of Europe.
In the early 1920s, as automobiles became more common, Morgan witnessed a horrific collision involving an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage carrying a young child. This tragedy haunted him and sparked his determination to make intersections safer.
At the time, traffic signals existed in simple two-position formats: stop and go. The abrupt transitions between these states created dangerous situations where vehicles and pedestrians had no warning before traffic patterns changed. Morgan recognized that what was needed was a transitional state—a warning that the light was about to change.
In 1923, Morgan patented his three-position traffic signal featuring movable arms that could direct traffic to "stop," "go," or "stop in all directions." This third position—the forerunner of today's yellow or amber light—was revolutionary. It gave drivers time to slow down safely and allowed pedestrians to clear intersections before traffic resumed. This seemingly simple innovation prevented countless collisions and saved innumerable lives.
General Electric recognized the brilliance of Morgan's design and purchased the patent for $40,000—equivalent to approximately $610,000 in today's dollars. This was an enormous sum, particularly for a Black inventor in 1923, and it validated Morgan's genius while ensuring his invention would be implemented nationwide.
Every traffic light with a yellow warning signal traces its lineage to Garrett Morgan's 1923 invention. Every gas mask used by firefighters, soldiers, and emergency responders builds on his safety hood design.
Garrett Morgan's legacy extends far beyond his technical innovations. He was a successful entrepreneur, community leader, and civil rights activist who used his platform and resources to fight for racial equality. He helped establish the Cleveland Association of Colored Men, which later merged with the NAACP, where he remained an active member throughout his life.
In 1920, Morgan founded the Cleveland Call, a newspaper dedicated to serving and advocating for the African American community. Through his publishing efforts, he amplified Black voices and addressed issues of discrimination, inequality, and social justice—demonstrating his commitment to uplifting his community through both invention and activism.
Perhaps most remarkably, Morgan achieved all of this despite leaving school after sixth grade and facing relentless racial discrimination. His story exemplifies the power of determination, self-education, and refusing to accept artificial limitations. He proved that genius and innovation know no racial boundaries—that a Black man from a formerly enslaved family could stand shoulder to shoulder with any inventor in American history.
Today, Morgan's three-position traffic signal is used in virtually every country on Earth. Millions of people safely navigate intersections every day thanks to his yellow caution light. Firefighters, soldiers, industrial workers, and emergency responders worldwide use gas mask technology descended from his safety hood. His inventions have saved countless lives and continue doing so every single day.
Discover the fascinating journey of this groundbreaking invention - from initial ideation and brainstorming, through prototyping and manufacturing challenges, to its distribution and early days in the market. Learn about the world-changing impact it has had on society.
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