Most of you don’t know who she is, but she’s important. Her name is Latasha Harlins. In 1991, at the ripe age of 15, Latasha went to her local Korean owned food mart and never made it out. The store owner’s wife, Soon Ja Du, mistook her for trying to steaI a bottle of orange juice and a minor struggle ensued. Du grabbed Latasha and ended up getting pushed to the ground. Du then went and got her gun and pointed it at Latasha. Latasha bends down, picks up the orange juice, and places it on the counter. As Latasha had walked away to leave the store, Du shơt Latasha in the back of the head at a 3 foot distance, kiIIing her immediately. Du tried to claim self-defense, but there were 2 eyewitnesses, and the store’s security camera showed otherwise. The jury convicted Du and advised the judge to go with the maximum sentence of 16 years. Du walked away with 400 hours of community service, 5 years probation, and a $500 fine, as the judge said, although Mrs. D acted inappropriately, her actions were justified. Judge Joyce Karlin states that Mrs. Du was the victim, Latasha is the criminal and would be standing in front of her for assault on a store clerk had she not died. The slaughter of Latasha Harlins is one of the major factors in the initiating of the LA Riots. We only hear about Rodney King, but she is the original #SayHerName. Tupac had an affinity for Latasha and mentioned her name in several songs as well as dedicated the iconic song “Keep Ya Head Up” to Latasha. So today we say Latasha Harlins, you’re a pillar baby girl, whether they realize or not. And today, someone heard ya story❤️
The gas mask and the modern traffic light were both invented by the same person: Garrett Morgan.
Born in 1877 to parents who had been enslaved, Garrett Morgan grew up with limited formal education but an extraordinary mechanical mind. He became an inventor at a time when Black Americans were largely shut out of patents, funding, and recognition.
In 1914, Morgan invented a breathing device designed to protect people from smoke and toxic fumes. His invention gained national attention in 1916 after an explosion trapped workers in a water tunnel beneath Lake Erie in Cleveland. Morgan and his brother used the device to rescue several men who would have otherwise suffocated. This invention later became the foundation for modern gas masks and firefighter breathing equipment.
A few years later, after witnessing a serious traffic accident, Morgan turned his attention to road safety. Cars, bicycles, and pedestrians were sharing streets with almost no regulation. In 1923, he patented an improved traffic signal that introduced a warning phase between “stop” and “go.” That idea evolved into the three-signal traffic light system used around the world today.
Despite the importance of his inventions, Morgan often faced discrimination and was sometimes forced to sell his patents through white intermediaries to be taken seriously. Even so, his work was adopted internationally and continues to save lives every day. #BlackHistoryMonth
February is Black History Month! Join us as we honor Black and African American communities, cultures, and history. Sesame Street has been forever shaped by Black artists and leaders who have brought so much to our neighborhood. Thank you for making our street such a special place! 💛💚