Emeline King had big dreams as a kid. She grew up loving cars and wanted to become a transportation designer. But when her grade school teacher told her to give up those dreams, she found the ultimate support at home.
King's father, a car fabrication specialist, wholeheartedly supported his daughter's dreams. He encouraged her and even took her to work with him, giving her a vision of her future self: a transportation designer. His nurturing didn't stop there.
King spent the weekend at the studio of sculptor Oscar Graves, where she learned to make models of cars out of clay. This experience stimulated her imagination and fired up her dreams. Despite the presence of anti-Blackness and sexism in the lives of Black children, it's up to us to tell them the truth about our people, uplift their spirits, and support their dreams.
Emeline King became one of the first Black women to design cars for Ford. Her historic achievement is not just about breaking barriers. It's a testament to the power of nurturing, care, and support within our families and communities.
The 1994 Ford Mustang? Emeline King did that. She intentionally designed it with features that kept women in mind. No matter what anyone says, there is nothing we can't do, especially when we lean on love to make it a reality.