September 24
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Opens
On September 24, 2016, President Obama opened the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The 400,000-square-foot museum, championed by civil rights leader John Lewis, houses over 40,000 artifacts spanning from slavery to the present day. It is the only national museum devoted exclusively to African American life and culture.
Garrett Morgan Invents Traffic Signal
On November 20, 1923, Garrett Morgan received a patent for his improved traffic signal, which added a third "warning" position between stop and go. He sold the patent to General Electric for $40,000. He had previously invented a safety hood (gas mask) used in a 1916 rescue.
Birth of Dr. Joy Buolamwini
Dr. Joy Buolamwini, a prominent computer scientist known for her work on algorithmic bias and artificial intelligence, was born.