Celebrating Garrett Morgan, ‘The Black Edison,’ for Black History Month

By Samuetta Hill Drew | The Birmingham Times February is Black History Month. Therefore, all the safety articles will spotlight African American inventors and their inventions. Many do not realize that African Americans have always been pioneers when it came to finding solutions to address societal problems. They were visionaries from the beginning of world civilization to their Middle Passage, to their first steps on the land known as America to the present day. Their inventions in rail and traffic safety, chemical and electrical safety, aerospace safety, communication and health greatly improved how we work and live today. We will focus this week’s article on man who has gained a great deal of attention in recent years – Garrett Morgan. Many students have learned that Morgan patented the directional traffic signal, later changed to three colors, which now directs traffic on most roads and highways around the world. He also invented a safety protective hood that was used by the allied forces in World War I. It served as the prototype for the modern respirator. We know about his safety inventions, but let’s find out more about the man who was an American entrepreneur, inventor and activist. He was born...