BHM: Groundbreaking inventions

We continue our Black History Month coverage by highlighting Black inventors whose groundbreaking creations made daily life easier for all of us.

We begin with Alice H. Parker, the creator of the central heating furnace. Getting the patent in 1919, Parker created a new way to keep homes warm with natural gas as opposed to a traditional fireplace.

Next, we have Garret Morgan, who invented the three-light traffic signal in 1923. After buying his own car and seeing countless accidents in his city, Morgan decided to improve traffic signals by adding a yellow “yield” light. It’s a groundbreaking change that has been used worldwide.

James E. West’s contributions make our newscast possible. West helped invent the microphone back in 1964.

These are just a few of the vital inventions and contributions that Black Americans have made throughout history.

If you have a story, person, or event you’d like us to cover for Black History Month, just email us at newsroom@47abc.com.