Black First of the Day

1939

Detroit

In 1939 Edward Davis (1911?-1999) opened his first automobile business, a used-car lot, in downtown Detroit. Two years later the used car business was turned into a Studebaker dealership, and Davis became the first black American to own a new-car dealership. He retained the franchise until 1956, when the manufacturer went out of business. When Davis was awarded a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in November 1963, he became the first black American to run a Big Three franchise. Before operating his own business, Davis worked at a Dodge plant and later sold cars for a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership. Forbidden to sell on the showroom floor with white salespersons, he was successful in promoting himself in Detroit's black community. After retiring from his Chrysler dealership in 1971, he became manager for the city bus system and worked as a consultant to minority automobile dealers. In 1993 the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers honored Davis by establishing the annual Edward Davis Pioneer Award. The Edward Davis Scholarship Fund, in his honor, was established to support black students interested in the automotive field. In January 1999 Davis was inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame Museum, the first black man to be so honored. Davis is the author of the book One Man's Way.

Sources: "Edward Davis, First Black Auto Dealer, Honored in Detroit," Jet 95 (1 February 1999): 46-48; New York Times Obituaries (5 May 1999); Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 24, pp. 48-51.

From Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Events by Jessie Carney Smith, © 2013 Visible Ink Press®. A celebration of achievement, accomplishments and pride.