Edward T. Welburn: The First African American Car Designer at GM

Edward T. Welburn was born on December 14, 1950. His father and brother owned a car body shop, and Welburn spend couple hours every day drawing vintage cars. As result, he grew up with a significant passion for car designs. When he turned eleven, he realised that he wanted to pursue car design for his career. So he mailed GM (General Motors), and the company wrote him back with some suggestions regarding his academic paths and future internships. Considering the social circumstances in the 1960s America, especially in the car design industry where white males dominated, GM's response to Welburn's letter was quite significant. 

A few years later, Welburn went to Howard University's School of Fine Arts. He studied design, sculpture, and painting at the university. He maintained communication with GM, and by the time he was a junior, he got his internship at the company. A year later his internship, he became the first African American car designer at GM. From 1975, Welburn worked at Oldsmobile, one of GM's brands, for 20 years. During that time, he not only designed Oldsmobile's commercially popular models, he also designed the brand's concept super car, the Aerotech. Welburn recalled the moment he proposed a sketch he drew on a napkin to his boss, who said, " this is it." When Welburn said he had more ideas, the boss said, "What are you talking about, this is it." Later on, when this car was produced and went on a test track, it hit 259 miles per hour. The driver of the Aerotech, A. J. Foyt, also one of Welburn's idol, said that day was one of his happiest days. 

Welburn also spent some time at other brands within GM such as Saturn, Opel, and Cadillac. He has led and overseen the designs of Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac "Beast" which is the President's limo, and more. From 2003 to 2016, he was GM's Vice President of Global Design. 

Welburn is a very important figure in the car design industry, not just in America, but in the world. He showed that social and racial minorities can take a leading role at one of the biggest company's design branch. As Welburn became a leading designer at GM, he influenced millions' experience with their cars and developed GM into one of people's favourites and one of the most competitive manufacturers of automobiles that rivals Ford, Mercedes, BMW, and more. It is also important to note that many cars he designed often became one of the most recognised American icons.