Garret A. Morgan

Since it is Black History Month, I will use this week to talk about African Americans who helped our country make major advances in technology. Garret Morgan was an inventor in the early 1900's. He invented the gas mask and is most famous for inventing the traffic light.
    As an entrepreneur early in his life, Morgan started a clothing company with equipment he invented himself. He also started a newspaper company. As a son of slaves, Morgan was able to purchase his own home and car through the success of his own businesses.
    
    Garret Morgan came up with his idea for a stop signal after The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903. He witnessed many accidents and sought to make a difference. Morgan received a patent for his idea in 1923. He also had his idea patented in Great Britain and Canada. Prior to Morgan's invention, traffic signals only showed stop and go. Morgan invented a signal which allowed caution time where no one was had the right of way. This allowed cars to exit the intersection and prevent unnecessary collisions. This invention later gave birth to the yellow light.