Garrett Morgan worked at a sewing machine factory until he learned how to make improvements on the sewing machines. Once he developed his own improvements, he opened up his own sewing machine repair shop. His wife, Mary Anne Hassek, was a seamstress and when they were sewing wool they noticed the friction from the needle would burn the wool. Garrett Morgan tried to invent a solution that could be applied to the needle to reduce friction. He ended up inventing a hair straightening cream. This hair refining cream for African Americans was a successful new business for him that gave him enough money to live off of so he could try new inventions. http://blackinventor.com/garrett-morgan/