The Black Automaker America Forgot — C R Patterson & Sons | American Black True History |

The Black Automaker America Forgot — C R Patterson & Sons | American Black True History |

Before Ford — a Black family built a car."

Most people know Henry Ford. But very few know the name C.R. Patterson. In a time of deep segregation and racial prejudice, a former slave and his son built something impossible: The first and only African American-owned automobile manufacturer in history.

This is the untold story of C.R. Patterson & Sons—a company that started making horse-drawn carriages in Greenfield, Ohio, and transitioned into building high-quality automobiles in 1915. While Detroit was focused on mass production, the Patterson's were focused on craftsmanship and luxury.

In this video, we dive deep into the archives to uncover how this family built an empire from scratch, competed with the giants of the industry, and left a legacy that America almost forgot.

🚗 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

From Slavery to CEO: The incredible journey of Charles Richard Patterson escaping slavery to establishing a successful business in Ohio.

The Transition: How his son, Frederick Douglass Patterson, saw the future and shifted the company from carriages to the "Patterson-Greenfield" automobile.

The Machine: A look at the 1915 Patterson-Greenfield car—superior in quality to the Model T, but harder to scale.

The Struggle: The battle against big Detroit manufacturers and the financial hurdles that eventually forced them to shift gears.

🤔 QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

Had you ever heard of the Patterson-Greenfield car before this video?

Do you think the American auto industry would look different today if banks had supported Black-owned businesses back then?

Would you prefer a hand-crafted car like the Patterson or a mass-produced car like a Ford?

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