FRANKFORT, KY (February 15, 2005) - The Kentucky State University (KSU) Concert Choir performed at the Transportation Cabinet Office Building, in honor of Black History Month today. The choir provided a special musical program to recognize and celebrate Black History Month.

Secretary Maxwell C. Bailey welcomed President Mary Sias of KSU and the Kentucky State University Concert Choir. "It is the Cabinet’s honor and privilege to host this event in celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments which African Americans have made not only to the Commonwealth but to this nation," stated Secretary Bailey. "Kentucky State University was honored to join the Transportation Cabinet in celebrating Black History Month," said President Sias.

Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week," and later as Black History Month. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Kentuckian born to former slaves, spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines, earned a Ph.D. from Harvard, became a renowned educator and later established African American studies. He launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

The field of transportation has also benefited from the outstanding contributions of African Americans. Garrett A. Morgan, a native of Paris, Kentucky, was one such contributor. After Mr. Morgan witnessed a traffic accident when an automobile collided with a horse and carriage, he set out to develop a means of automatically directing traffic without the need of a policeman or worker present. In 1923, Mr. Morgan applied for and received a patent for his new concept; a traffic signal to regulate and direct vehicle movements in urban areas. Though the systematic raising and lowering of stop and go signs, his signal was able to regulate vehicular and pedestrian traffic in cities. Mr. Morgan sold his invention to General Electric and later developed patents for similar devices in England and Canada.

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