Meet The Black Man Who Invented The Traffic Light And The Gas Mask [Garett Morgan]
October 03, 2020 1797
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Humanity owes the Black race plenty of apologies for
stealing her achievements and denying her ingenuity. As we dig more and more
into Black history, we are surprised to find that the Black race has
contributed immensely to the progress of humanity.
But what is more shocking is the fact that the white
supremacists of this world have claimed these inventions and denied their Black
originators.
Children all over Africa grow up, learning through the British,
French, and other curriculums. These various curriculums do nothing to teach
Black children their true history. Why would they?
They focus on teaching African children lies and half-truths
about themselves – teachings that glorify the white man and makes him look
like a God over Black people.
Garett Augustus Morgan was an outstanding African-American inventor of all time. He is the origin of the urban traffic revolution. He
invented the traffic signs which is today still used to ensure safety on our
roads.
He invented the gas mask with which we can protect ourselves
from toxic gases, and he also invented the hair relaxer, among many other
things.
Garett was one of seven children of a poor family, from
Kentucky, USA. A self-educated man who didn’t go beyond elementary school, he
moved to Cleveland in 1895, where he was hired as a sewing machine technician.
In 1907, motivated by his job, he invented a better sewing machine, and later
on, invented the hair relaxer.
In 1914, Garrett designed the modern gas mask which protects
users from inhaling toxic gases but at the same time does not prevent
respiration. Due to racism, selling his gas mask to the firefighter’s companies
proved impossible, so he just made samples for himself.
In 1916, there was an explosion in a hydraulic station tunnel
which was 75 meters below the Erie Lake, 32 people were trapped in the tunnel
and fortunately, Garrett heard about it.
Alongside his brother Franck, they put on their gas mask
and headed for the location of the incident, carried all 32 persons out of the
tunnel on their back, and became heroes, as the news spread like wide fire.
By reason of this event, his invention had proven its efficacy.
His mask was first utilized by firemen and soldiers during World War 1.
Garrett would later invent the traffic sign system in 1923 after
witnessing a ghastly accident between an automobile, a cabriolet, and a horse.
The horse would later be killed because it was severely injured, the driver of
the automobile collapsed, and two people were extracted from the cabriolet. The
traffic signal system has today advanced and is now being used all over the
world.
Garett was not just an inventor but also one who had a heart for his roots. He was a member of the Black lobby, the NAACP, and in 1920, co-created an African-American journal called Cleveland Call.
He urged Black
people to buy shares from his company, and was honored by the city of Cleveland
which gave him a gold medal set with diamonds. Garett passed-on on July 27th, 1963.
The story of men such as Garett should form the foundation of
Black consciousness and emancipation from the gross dependency on the white
race. Our people have been made to believe that no good thing can come out of
Africa and Black people in general, but that is a big lie.
It has been the intentions of our detractors to discredit the
Black race – this reinforces white supremacy and the need for Europeans and
white foreigners to continue to interfere with the affairs of African
governance, political, social, religious, and circular life.
We must do our best to teach our people these achievements. Because if these Black men could achieve such feet at an era where there was no internet and computers, then imagine what we can achieve in this time and era.