Garrett Morgan
Black Inventors
Who, What, When, Where, Why?
Learn all about the stoplight by reading each part below (Chandler/White, 1986).Who?
Garrett Morgan was the son of a woman who was a slave. She was freed during the Civil War.What?
Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal (stoplight).When?
Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal in 1923. Everyone wanted to own an automobile (car). Back in those days the car was a new invention.Where?
Garrett Morgan saw a traffic accident in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The wreck gave him the idea for the traffic signal invention.Why?
Garrett Morgan wanted to make driving and walking in the city safer by reducing the numbers of accidents.
Importance of Stoplight in Life:
Back in the 1920s, the stoplight was really needed by people who lived in cities. There were many people driving wagons, horses, and even cars. There were so many cars, wagons, and horses that they would hit each other, especially where the roads crossed. If more and more people moved into the cities, there would be more and more wrecks. Then, people would begin to move away, and the cities would not grow. Wrecks had to be reduced. The stoplight was a solution to the problem.
Here is a drawing of Morgan's traffic signal.
Researched by Davin Parker, North Carolina A&T State University
Drawing by Davin Parker.
Photo by Hemera Photo Objects [Clipart CD].Reference:
Chandler/White Publishing Company, Inc. (1986). A Salute to Black
Inventors. Chicago: author. [A series of booklets on black inventors for
elementary school.] (312) 280-9451Last Update: 9-26-02