Date: Feature Week of June 1, 2003
Topic: Black Press Business/Economic
Author: William Reed
Article ID: article_ema060103a

CELEBRATING A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN�S CENTENNIAL

Ford And Blacks: The Car, The Company, The Man

Ford Motor Company is one of the largest and most influential corporations in American history.  Few companies are as closely identified with the history and development of industry and society in as Ford.  Its founder, Henry Ford, is an American icon that started a relationship with African-Americans that has lasted for almost 100 years.

Henry Ford and 11 business associates started business operations on June 16, 1903.  With $28,000 in cash the pioneering industrialists gave birth to what was to become one of the world's largest corporations.  In the beginning, Ford�s company was just one of 15 car manufacturers in Michigan - and 88 operating throughout the U.S.  Today it is the world's largest pickup truck maker and the #2 producer of cars and trucks.  It sells over 7 million vehicles throughout the world.

In the early days of automotive production, Mr. Ford implemented the moving assembly line, created the $5 workday, and introduced Model T cars with the intent of making them affordable for average Americans.  The Model T put America on wheels and changed the world forever.  Because of Mr. Ford, the automobile became the 20^th Century�s leading economic generator.

During the 1920�s and 30�s, over a million Blacks migrated from the fields of the South to factories in the North.  Though many Northern factories only gave Blacks menial jobs and paid them pennies on the dollar compared to whites; Henry Ford hired Blacks, and paid them the industry�s highest wages.  Ford was called �a genius in the field of job equality,� because he had Blacks working on the assembly lines, in laboratories, skilled trades, and allowed them to be promoted to foreman.  Ford allowed Blacks into apprentice programs; he also employed the auto industry�s first salaried African American, James Charles Price.

In 1915, Price was working as a cutter in a fashionable Detroit tailor shop. Among the customers was Henry Ford, who took a liking to Price and invited him to come work at Ford�s company headquarters.  Price stayed with the company 32 years, mostly as the company�s purchasing officer for industrial diamonds and abrasives.  He was regarded as the industry�s �best purchasing official�.  When Price retired  in 1947 and went into an office supply business with his sons, Ford Motor became their best customer.

Henry Ford respected and supported genius regardless of color, and held inventor George Washington Carver in great esteem.  Ford offered Carver $100,000 to come work at Ford Motor, turned down by Carver, Ford donated funds to continue his research into uses for the peanut, cotton and the sweet potato.  Ford incorporated many of Carver�s agricultural products innovations into car parts.  Carver�s work intrigued Ford to the point that he generously supported research work at Tuskegee Institute.

Many companies can learn from examples set by this American Institution.  Ford has an Executive Council on Diversity headed by the chief executive officer.  The council reviews Ford�s policies and approves programs.  Each member of the executive committee is asked to act as a champion for one of the initiatives.  Diversity awareness training is mandatory for all of Ford�s salaried employees.

Ford has the largest number of minority dealerships among all automakers, and  has more African-American dealers than all other automakers combined.  Last year, Ford contracted $3 billion to minority suppliers in the U.S., most of whom were African Americans.  This was the highest amount spent with minority suppliers in Ford's history and the largest amount spent by any auto company.  The company has been awarded for helping to foster economic self-sufficiency in the African-American business community.

Ford has over 300,000 worldwide employees who making: Ford, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo brands.  Among its biggest successes are the Ford Taurus and F-Series pickup.  Ford owns a controlling (33%) stake in Mazda and BMW�s Land Rover SUV operations. The finance subsidiary, Ford Motor Credit, is the US's #1 auto finance company.  It also owns Hertz, the world's #1 car-rental firm.  The Ford family owns about 40% of the company's voting stock.

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© 2000-2003 William Reed - www.BlackPressInternational.com