July 27, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will highlight Ford’s first Black female car designer and remember the life of Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Emeline King: The Trailblazing Black Woman Who Designed Ford’s Future

Emeline King made history in 1983 when she became Ford Motor Company’s first Black woman transportation designer. Inspired at age 11 after attending a Ford Design Center Christmas party with her father—a longtime Ford fabrication specialist—Emeline made a promise to herself: to become a transportation designer, work at Ford, and one day collaborate with her dad. She kept every promise.

A proud graduate of Cass Tech, she studied at Wayne State, the College for Creative Studies, and Art Center College of Design in California. Determined, she refused to interview anywhere but Ford—an unusual move that paid off when she was hired by then-Ford design chief Jack Telnack. Emeline went on to work on major projects including the 1989 Thunderbird and 1994 Mustang, bringing a thoughtful female perspective to car design—from soft knobs to skirt-friendly entry.

Her career came full circle when she and her father walked into the same showroom together—not for a party, but as Ford colleagues. Despite being laid off just one week shy of her 25th anniversary at Ford during the 2008 auto industry crash, Emeline turned to her passions: art, music, and storytelling. She later published her memoir titled “What Do You Mean a Black Girl Can’t Design Cars? Emeline King, She Did It.”

Now 64, Emeline is setting her sights on the future—planning to launch a STEM academy for girls who dream big. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t become,” she says. “If Emeline King can do it, so can you.” Her book is available on emelineking.com, Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), a private HBCU in Charlotte, has been placed on probation for “good cause” by its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), due to concerns over financial responsibility and compliance. While the university remains fully accredited, this is the most serious sanction short of losing accreditation, and JCSU has until June 2026 to address the issues. In response, President Valerie Kinloch emphasized the university’s commitment to strengthening internal controls and operations, viewing the probation as an opportunity for institutional improvement and long-term stability.

In a historic first, Morgan State University became the first HBCU to lead a solo pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale with its installation “ReCall & Response,” designed by Assistant Professor Coleman A. Jordan. Inspired by West African talking drums and built with sustainably sourced timber, the pavilion blends rhythm, memory, and cultural heritage through immersive architecture. The celebration extended beyond design, as Morgan State’s Magnificent Marching Machine performed during Art Night Venezia, following their groundbreaking appearance at the 2024 D-Day memorial parade in Normandy. These global showcases, along with ongoing international exchanges, highlight Morgan State’s commitment to cultural expression and transformative global learning experiences.

black history in quotes 

Subscribe Today

KISA News Radio’s Sunday Briefing highlights a small portion of the journalism that KISA News Radio offers.

To access our website, please visit us online at KISARadio.org.

culture

Malcolm-Jamal Warner rose to fame as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a role that earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination at 16 years old. A child actor turned seasoned performer, Warner used his early success as a launchpad for a dynamic career in television, film, and music. He later starred in shows like Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, and The Resident, consistently choosing roles that challenge stereotypes and reflect the depth of the Black experience. As a director, he helmed episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and All That, showcasing his versatility behind the camera.

In addition to acting, Warner was a Grammy-winning musician and spoken word artist. He led his own jazz-funk band, Biological Misfits, and won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his collaboration with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway. A passionate advocate for education, wellness, and mental health in the Black community, Warner often incorporated socially conscious themes into his art. Over the decades, he evolved from teen icon to thoughtful cultural contributor, maintaining a career defined by creative integrity and social impact.

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

Sign up here to receive this newsletter in your inbox or share with a friend.

Reach our team at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to recommend specific topics to be featured in our newsletter.