FROM THE PUBLISHER
11 my life I have researched the
history of the world, of Afri
can-American people, and my
family. Today, as a publisher, I
have the golden opportunity to
record history. As we observe “Black His
tory Month” this February, we are de
lighted to bring you a snapshot from the
largely unknown contributions of Afri
can Americans to the auro industry. Our
retrospective coincides with the planning
of a year-long celebration of 100 years
of car making in the U.S. This is a per
fect time to remind you of the role blacks
played in the development of America’s
most powerful industry.
I have mentioned the topic of our
cover story to several people, and to my
surprise, none were aware that a black
family manufactured cars and buses dur
ing the 1930’s. The Patterson family
could have become a major auto manu
facturer if it had secured adequate fi
nancing. Generations of black families
have worked in the industry. Their sto
ries span decades, from a migration from
the South to Detroit to work in the
foundries, to becoming some of the
brightest engineers, man
agers and designers that
the auto industry has to
offer. Their valuable
achievements in the in
dustry have somehow
been lost or edited out of
the history books. We are
correcting that oversight.
As you drive around
town, especially during
Black History Month, it
is good for you and your
children to know that
blacks were involved in
the development and the
production of your vehicle.
This issue also brings you our long
term vehicle test review. Our Detroit cor
respondent and Associate Publisher,
Myron Stokes, test-drove the Oldsmobile
Aurora and the Ford Contour for several
months and gives his assessment of both.
Light compact trucks are the focus of this
edition’s Urban Picks. If buying one is
on your shopping list this year, read what
our writers have to say about them be
fore you dash to the showrooms.
The letters and E-mail you have been
sending since our first issue (May 1995)
have opened our eyes even more to the vast
untapped African-American carbuying
market and strengthens our commitment to
our mission. The many suggestions you have
offered will not go unanswered. Black mo
tor sports, drag racing, minority dealers, car
repair and service, are just some of the many
topics you requested that will be included
in future issues.
Publisher and Editor In Chief
Randi Payton
Associate Publisher
Myron Stokes
Deputy Editor
Olive Vassell
STAFF
Senior Editors
Warren Brown
Frank Washington
Blair Walker
Advertising Representative
Christine Anderson,
Motor City Media
CONTENTS
Winter 1996
Volume 2 Issue 1
Auto Briefs
Letters/E-Mail
10
Cover Story:
FORGOTTEN
FACES
13
Urban Picks:
Light Pickups
15
Warren Brown’s Black
Citizen’s Driving Guide
16
Long Term Reviews:
Aurora and Contour
African Americans
On Wheels
2034 National Press Building
Washington, DC 20043
Tel. 202-588-9459
Fax 202-588-5136
African American On Wheels, ©1995, is
published quarterly as a supplement to
newspapers by On Wheels, Inc. AAOW can
be found on the Internet at http://
www.automag.com. Our Pi-maii address is
AAOW@AOL.com.
Writers
Myron Stokes
Reginald Larrie
Warren Brown
Sonja Stokes Gildon
Reporter/Researcher
Monda Webb
Designer
Ed Fowles
Photographer
Al Marcocci
AFRICAN AMERICANS ON WHEELS 3