Lifetime Achievement Award for Washington Post journalist

Brown will be recognised as one of the nation's most influential auto writers, at the black-tie gala, held in the Sound Board theatre at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, during Press Week of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The Urban Wheel Awards Show is the "official multicultural event of the NAIAS".

Interestingly, Brown started covering cars at The Post primarily as a way to ensure his longevity at the newspaper. Advised early on to find something to do that wasn't already being done and, further, to live it and love it, Brown settled on cars.

Integral components to modern existence

While he pens detailed accounts of a car's good and bad points, just as many auto reviewers do, Brown also digs deeper. In Brown's world, cars are integral components to modern existence rather than mere accessories to what we do. In his reviews, Brown consistently ponders those generally overlooked aspects of automobiles that, when you think about them, actually bear considerable contemplation.

Over the course of his 30-plus years in automotive journalism, Brown's passion, enthusiasm and overarching intellect have garnered him the respect and admiration of the entire automotive industry. A pioneer in every sense of the word, Brown's accomplishments have blazed a trail many other African-American journalists, both mainstream and automotive, continue to follow to find success.