This petition's goal is for Ford Motor Company to recognize the contributions of Claude Harvard's automotive engineering inventions. 

Claude Harvard was, arguably, the first "Negro" graduate of the Ford Trade School. During his time at Ford as a student, and, later, as an employee, Harvard imagined, designed and built dozens of inventions. His work contributed to his employer's economic success and cutting edge automotive technological ideas of the time. Today; however, Harvard's creative engineering contributions to American automative history remains unacknowledged.

Claude Harvard's first engineering contribution to automotive development was the Piston Pin Inspection Machine. He invented this machine while still a Ford Trade School student. The Piston Pin Inspection Machine made significant contributions to Ford Motor Company's reputation for quality control engineering and craftsmanship.

His contributions have been overlooked for decades and are an example of the many unnecessary gaps in American history. Recognizing Claude Harvard's contributions is one way the Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Hackett of Ford Motor Company and VP Diane Samuels of the Ford Foundation can turn their words about undoing systemic racism and implementing DEI strategy into action. 

On June 2, 2020, the CEO and Executive Chairman wrote a letter to their employees, "We cannot turn a blind eye' to 'tragic death' of George Floyd and America's systemic racism." In that letter, they say they are committed to "creating a fair, just and inclusive culture." In Ford Foundation’s 2021 DEI annual report, Vice President Diane Samuels wrote, “At Ford, disrupting inequality demands each of us to grow more fully into our social justice values. We do this for the sake of integrity and accountability around what we espouse: a belief in the inherent dignity of all people - beginning with those we call colleagues and partners at work. We won’t let this moment pass without taking meaningful action.” It is evident that equity and accountability are part of the strategic plans at Ford Motor Company and the Ford Foundation.

This petition asks executives at company and foundation to extend their commitment to DEI and accountability by recognizing Claude Harvard in a clear, concrete, and public manner befitting the legacy of his work.

During his time at the company in the 1930s:

• Claude Harvard facilitated a meeting between Henry Ford and George Washington Carver.
• Claude Harvard represented his Piston Pin Inspection Machine at the 1934 World's Fair - despite racial practices that initially kept him from attending.
• Claude Harvard had over 20 inventions.

Recognizing Claude Harvard's engineering contributions is one of many actions Ford Motor Company can take to begin creating an inclusive culture.