Broxton uses both in-store and social media to tell the stories of pioneers like Garrett Morgan, the inventor of the traffic light, and C.R. Patterson, the first Black automaker.
Milwaukee’s Natasha Broxton is a rarity in the automotive industry, she runs one of the nation’s only Black-owned auto parts recyclers in the country, and as a woman, she is also a marginalized demographic in the automotive industry, which has historically been white and male.
According to WTMJ-TV, Broxton also knows that the automotive industry doesn’t always highlight the contributions of anyone who isn’t a white man, and through her Automotive in Black initiative, which she recently launched in honor of Black History Month, she is looking to preserve and tell the stories of Black pioneers in the automotive industry.
Broxton uses both in-store and social media displays to tell the stories of pioneers like Garrett Morgan, the inventor of the traffic light, and C.R. Patterson, the first Black automaker, because some of those stories are not as well known as other historical figures.
“They inspire me to keep going. It’s not put out there. We know about MLK, we know about Rosa Parks—but what about all these other contributions we’ve made to history that aren’t broadcasted?” Broxton told the outlet.
She continued, highlighting Morgan’s contribution to automotive history.
“One of the inventors I learned about, Garrett Morgan, created the stoplight. One of the creators of the Ford Bronco was a Black man—like, who would know that? One of the reasons I’m doing this is because I know this knowledge—this education, this history—can inspire someone else. Our young people need to see this,” Broxton said.
“You know, when I first got into this, it was predominantly a male environment, but I can also say that I’ve been a witness to how it’s changed. There are more females within automotive, not just in Color and Materials, but also designers. So, I think there’s a great opportunity for females in automotive,” Turner said.
Source: Black Enterprise
