African Americans in Michigan

Discovering the Peoples of Michigan (DPOM)

by Lewis Walker, Benjamin C. Wilson, Linwood H. Cousins

African Americans, as free laborers and as slaves, were among the earliest permanent residents of Michigan, settling among the French, British, and Native people with whom they worked and farmed. Lewis Walker and Benjamin Wilson recount the long history of African American communities in Michigan, delineating their change over time, as migrants from the South, East, and overseas made their homes in the state. Moreover, the authors show how Michigan's development is inextricably joined with the vitality and strength of its African American residents. In a related chapter, Linwood Cousins examines youth culture and identity in African American schools, linking education with historical and contemporary issues of economics, racism, and power.

63 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2001

Reviews

[Brother Chason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview of Black People's history in Michigan along with the current (1980's- present) issues faced in the community.

The book contains two articles from former professors of WMU. The first article is the history and issues plaguing the community, the second article is a cultural anthropologists' reflections on his time researching at a NJ public high school.

Pretty good introductory book. I would read it for the second article.