Black History Month Highlight – Garrett Morgan – Inventor of the Yellow Light

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re looking at the life and accomplishments of Garrett Morgan, the African American inventor most famously known for inventing the yellow light.

Morgan was born in 1877 in Paris, Kentucky. At the age of 14, in 1895, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He began working as a sewing machine repairman and soon opened his own shop. His experience in repairing machines gave him a great understanding of mechanics and eventually lead to his ideas and inventions.

In 1914, Morgan made his first major invention, the safety hood. Morgan designed this device to protect firefighters from smoke inhalation. Firefighters all over the world eventually used this device that Morgan had patented. This invention was the beginning of Morgan’s success as an inventor.

In 1923, Morgan made his most famous contribution to the world. He invented the three-position traffic signal. This signal was the first of its kind and it included a green, red, and yellow light. The invention was patented by Morgan in 1925 and soon after, the signal was implemented in major cities across the United States. Morgan’s invention made it much easier for drivers to navigate the roads and it helped reduce the number of traffic accidents. His invention was also an important step in improving road safety.

Along with being an incredible inventor, Morgan was an avid civil rights advocate and outspoken critic of segregation. Because of the success in his life, Morgan was able to pave the way for other African American entrepreneurs and inventors. His contributions to the automotive industry, and road safety is admirable.