Img source: today.emich.edu
May 29, 2024 Story by: Editor
YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has been awarded a $75,000 grant by the National Park Service as part of the Historic Preservation Fund’s African American Civil Rights grant program. This funding is aimed at identifying and preserving sites that are crucial to the African American fight for equality.
The project, led by EMU Preservation Studies professor Dan Bonenberger, is titled “Detroit’s African American Civil Rights Survey Phase 2: Eastside.” Over the next 18 months, Bonenberger, along with students and community partners, will work to identify, document, and designate significant locations in Detroit’s east side that are integral to Black history, heritage, and culture.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Detroit Historical Society, Detroit Black Historic Sites Committee, Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, NPS, and our Black Heroes of Detroit advisory group to engage with eastside community leaders, elders, block clubs, and others so that we have maximum positive impact on how places like the Sarah E. Ray House, Robert X House, and Gladys Mitchell Sweet House are seen, remembered, and preserved,” said Bonenberger. “Thanks to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible.”
The initial phase of the project includes analyzing and digitizing documents from the Detroit Black Historic Sites Committee at the Detroit Historical Museum and incorporating these locations into the Black Heroes of Detroit geodatabase, which is being developed at EMU’s Digital Heritage Preservation Lab. This historical geographic information system will consolidate information about Detroit African American Heritage sites that have been recognized at the state, federal, and local levels. Findings will be shared with various groups for feedback and further study.
This project builds on a previous survey funded by the National Park Service, which focused on African American Civil Rights history in Detroit from 1900 to 1970 and was completed in 2019. Similar to the earlier project, this effort will leverage the expertise of local communities and Black heritage scholars to identify, document, and designate significant sites. Two locations will be nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, and a driving tour will be created to complement the Civil Rights bike tour launched by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office in 2020. https://www.miplace.org/biketour/
“The geodatabase and other findings will serve groups like the Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board and local preservationists to prioritize future efforts and serve as a resource for the Detroit Black Historic Sites Committee, eastside residents, community groups, civil rights activists, and visitors to connect with places and share stories of Detroit’s remarkable civil rights heritage and the struggle for equality,” Bonenberger added.”Detroit’s African American Civil Rights Survey Phase 2: Eastside” is among 39 projects across 16 states and the District of Columbia to receive funding from the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights grant program, which focuses on preserving sites and stories directly associated with African Americans’ struggle for equal rights. Source: EMU Today
