Published by Traze Closet
Emeline King was Ford's first Black woman designer - hired in 1983. She also worked on the 1989 Thunderbird - the wheel program, the 2000 Thunderbird, and designed cars in Europe.
It was a dream she had had since she was a little girl, when her dad - Earnest King - a fabrication specialist at Ford, took her to the company Christmas party at the Design Center.
"He said in order to get behind those blue doors - first of all, you have to be a transportation designer because there are men who sit behind these doors and they design cars," she said.
Right then, she knew she would join them.
"So I made a promise that day, I must have been about 11 that there were three things I was going to do," she said. "And number one was to become a transportation designer - the second was to work there at the Ford Motor Company - and the third was to work there with my biggest mentor of all - my father."
A Cass Tech graduate, she went to Wayne State University - the College for Creative Studies and then the Art Center College of Design in California.
After graduating - she refused to interview with anyone but Ford.
"My mother thought I just blew it, 'Oh Emeline - your career is over - you're not going to get a chance.' But as it happened, I was able to meet with Mr. Jack Telnack and so I was hired in."
Emeline fulfilled all those dreams - including working with her father - who never had any doubt.
"I didn't have no idea that they would not hire her - because she had the qualifications," he said. "I was so glad that she went."
"Can you imagine that day - on that morning when my father and I were leaving to work together," she said. "We're in the showroom - where my father would take me for the Christmas party."
Talk about coming full circle - or in this case - full oval - and when the re-design of the 1964 Mustang was announced - she knew she wanted in - and she knew - as a woman - she had a lot to offer.
"I'm coming from it from a woman, or a female point of view," she said. "I was thinking about not breaking a fingernail - making sure the knobs were soft. I was making sure that in my design features for the 1994 Mustang that we'd be able to get in and out of the vehicle without splitting a skirt."
Emeline King made her mark - but even she wasn't safe in 2008 when the bottom fell out for the auto industry - one week shy of 25 years at ford - they let her go.
But she says that gave her the opportunity to pursue her art and music - and write her book.
"'What do you mean a Black girl can't design cars - Emeline King - she did it,'" she said.
Indeed, she did - and now the 64-year-old hopes to open a STEM Academy for girls who dare to dream - hoping her story - inspires others.
"A lot of times I tell a lot of young ladies - and little girls - do not let anyone discourage you or tell you what you can't become," Emeline said. "If Emeline King can do it - so can you."
Her book is available at emelineking.com as well as Amazon, Target and Barnes and Noble.
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