Garrett Morgan

Garrett Morgan made numerous inventions that have significantly contributed to technology in society. In 1907. he and his wife opened a clothing shop, where he realized that the needle used in sewing becomes hot and scorched some fabrics. To resolve this problem, Morgan experimented with liquids and created a chemical solution to reduce friction. As he found this solution to straighten cloth fibers, but also could be used on hair, leading to his first invention a hair straightener. In early 1910, Morgan invented the safety hood, designed to help prevent smoke inhalation. The hood fits over someone's head and had a tube that extended down to ground level, where the air is cleaner. Additionally, in 1923, he invented the three-position traffic signal, which featured movable arms to direct traffic to stop or go from all directions.

Garrett Morgan was the seventh of eleven children. By the age of fourteen, he lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a handyman while continuing his education. He later moved to Cleveland, where he first was repairing sewing machines which sparked his mechanical innovation interest. After his first invention, he was able to make personal hair care product and adapt a company called, G. A. Morgan Hair Refining, which catered to the grooming needs of African Americans. The profits from the company allowed Morgan more time to develop new inventions. He was motivated to create innovation inventions that were helpful to many people and was known for his safety innovations.

Underrepresentation shapes many people's experiences, as there is systematic bias that limit opportunities for many people of color. Garrett Morgan is an example of facing underrepresentation. Morgan's invention, the safety hood helped many people during an incident in July of 1916. A tunnel explosion occurred that trapped workers underground. Morgan, along with his brother and police officers, used his invention to help save lives. However, once people saw in photographs that Morgan was black, they cancelled their orders for the safety hood. Throughout his life, Morgan was an activist, he was a member of the NAACP, he has helped many people.

One effective way to combat racial bias in technology is by making sure there is diversity in data and design. It is important to have individuals from marginalized groups involved in creating and reflecting on their own and other ideas. This allows technology to have a wider range of perspectives. For instance, in 1920, Morgan established a newspaper called the Cleveland Call and Post, which focused on issues affecting Black Americans. This served as an important message to address concerns and raise awareness within the community.