Ford’s First Black Woman Car Designer Remembers Her Father

Emeline King grew up in Detroit, Mich., in the 1960s. Her father, Earnest O. King Sr., was the first Black fabrication specialist at Ford Motor Company. Following in his trailblazing footsteps, Emeline became the first Black woman to design cars at Ford. She came to StoryCorps with her sister-in-law, Michelle Williams-King, to remember her career, starting with the day her father brought her to Ford.

Role: Sole producer (pitched idea, interviewed participants, edited the tape)

Aired On: NPR’s Weekend Edition, StoryCorps.org