A Bond of Steel & Flesh

by Toye Eskridge

Exhibit spotlights historical affinity between black men and cars

It’s been said that a man’s first love is his first car. And his second. And his third. That mythic, magical bond between man and machine has been fodder for books, songs and movies for years. It knows no color barrier, either.In fact, since the 1920s there has been a special bond between black men in this country and their cars. CA visual arts instructor Jason Franklin recently used his considerable skills to document this passion.

The Cruise-In

After noticing all the nicely kept cars, classic and new, at his wife’s family reunions over the years, Franklin decided to create a retrospective on black American men and their cars. Titled The Cruise-In, the exhibit was on display Oct. 15-Nov. 15, 2010, in the lower level gallery of the Cary Acacdemy Fine Arts Building.  An extended version of the show will be exhibited by the Town of Cary from January 11- February 20, 2011.

“I had been taking pictures of many of my male relatives’ cars at the reunions for a while,” Franklin explained. “I was captivated by how well-kept they all were and could see the care and love being put into maintaining them. I finally decided to do something about this love relation that so many African-American men have for past and present automobiles.”

Using a Friday Fellowship, Franklin started work on The Cruise-In last summer. His exhibit consisted of photographs of the selected men and their cars, videotaped interviews of the men, and paintings of the men and some of their cars.

According to Franklin a special affinity between black men and cars developed in the 1920s and has been carried through the generations.

“Blacks have connected with cars because in the 1920s and ‘30s they didn’t have a lot of access to buying homes, but they could buy cars. So there developed a connection with cars and a great pride of ownership.”

A Car Show at CA

An opening reception for The Cruise-In took place Saturday, Oct. 16, from noon to 2 p.m. Patrons marveled at Franklin’s paintings and also admired some steel art objects: 10 classic cars. Several of the men represented in the exhibition brought their cars and displayed them on the field behind the Middle School.

Some of the gleaming beauties arranged in a semicircle under a Carolina blue sky were a red-and-white 1957 Ford Fairlane and a black, brawny 1972 Chevy Nova.

Donald Griffith of Danville, VA, brought his brown 1967 Chevelle convertible to the show.

The tale of Griffith and his Chevelle is typical of the loving devotion that Franklin’s exhibit chronicled. “When I bought it, it was a piece of junk,” Griffith said. “It had been underwater, wrecked in three places, top rotted off, floor panels rotted out. It took two years to bring it back to life.

“New cars are good, but old cars are classic,” he continued. “I have a 2009 Hyundai; it’s nice. When I drive the Chevelle around 67 people may look at it. But when I drive the Hyundai no one looks at it!”

Camaraderie Formed by Cars

Many of the men who brought cars to the exhibition are members of car clubs. They not only love to drive their cars, wash and wax them, and painstakingly detail them, but they love to talk about them.

Griffith sported his Time Machine Car Club jacket as he showed interested bystanders his car.

“We all like the camaraderie of the clubs,” he said. “We get together and talk. We go on cruise-ins like this. You only need a love for old cars to join.”

Darrell Davis, also of Danville, is president of the Goodyear Car Club and a member of the Time Machine club. He brought two cars to the show:  a black 1977 Chevy Nova and a blue 1963 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

“When Jason told me about the project at a family reunion I knew I could help. I have a lot of contacts in in car clubs. This exceeds my expectations. I’m blown away (by the exhibit).”

Davis, who also owns a blue 1969 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1976 Datsun 280z, added, “Back when I was a little kid I liked any kind of wheels. It’s just a passion. If I’ve had a bad day I drive one of my cars for a mile, and then it’s a good day. Old cars are where it’s at. I can talk about them all day.”

Like Father Like Son

Tony Wright of Winston-Salem literally learned at his father’s knee about cars. He credits Tony Wright Sr. with instilling in him a love of the automobile. While his father brought a red 1946 Chevy Fleetline to the show, Wright drove his black 1977 Buick Electra 225.

When asked about his unique ride, Wright explained, “I wanted something different. Lots of people have Chevies, but the Buick is different. I purchased it about four years ago and have been restoring it: rechroming the bumpers, new tires. It’s still a work in progress. I’ll redo the seats next.”

Some men brought new cars. Taylor Miller of Winston-Salem drove his 2010 orange Camaro.

“I really love cars from the ‘60s and early ‘70s, the muscle cars,” said Miller, who owns a 1968 Chevelle and a 1987 Mazda RX-7. “I like the power, the distinct body style. You see some now like the Doge Challenger trying to go back to that old style.”

“A Special Affinity”

Charles Hubbard, aka Hubcap, has owned his restored 1957 Ford Fairlane for 30 years.

“It brings back memories of growing up,” said the Danville resident. The first car he owned was a 1961 Chevrolet.

“Classic cars have a whole lot of prestige; they bring back memories,” he continued. “Life was simpler when these cars were on the road.”

Hubbard, whose niece is married to Franklin, helped Franklin research his project. He took Franklin to car shows in Chatham and Danville, VA, and introduced him to a lot of owners. Hubbard empathized with the project; he understood from long experience the reasons behind the bond – the connection – forged by black men with their cars.

“I’m 59 and back in the day all we could afford was a car,” he said. “My father was a sharecropper. Car dealers would bring cars by the house around tobacco-selling time seeing if anybody wanted to buy. Nobody was coming by to say ‘How about this property to buy or this house?’ It was just cars. So there’s a special affinity there.”