The only thing more fun than being at the cookout is how you get there! The type of car you drive to the cookout can be a powerful symbol, representing upward mobility, financial stability and a statement of being able to provide for yourself and your family.
The automobile holds major significance within the Black community. Known as a symbol of freedom, it offered a way to escape the confines of Jim Crow segregation in the early 1900s. The car became a personal sanctuary, a space where Black individuals could travel on their own terms.
Frederick Douglas Patterson is known as the first African American to own and operate a car manufacturing business. In 1915, he created the Patterson-Greenfield automobile for his father’s company, C.R. Patterson & Sons, which was the first Black-owned car manufacturer in the United States.
On Resurrected Rides, Saturday Night Live alum and series host Chris Redd is showcasing the new evolution of cars. EBONY asked him the three dream cars he would roll up to the cookout and why they’re the perfect rides to have in tow.
For the futuristic driver: “The 2025 Mercedes Benz EQS AMG to show how dope it is to basically drive an iPhone while being environmentally conscious.”
For a retro moment: “A black 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass with tan trim, just to let folks know I’m living dangerous, but I want a full plate tho,” he joked.
For all the feels: “An all-black or all-white 1979 Lincoln Town Car with the original or restored outside and new insides. I’d want to post up outside with the smokers and vibe,” he shared.
Ressurected Rides is streaming on Netflix.