Detroit’s Black Hospitals
In order to tell the story of Black hospitals in Detroit, I start with a brief history of early hospitals in Detroit, including the segregationist policies that forced Black doctors…
Jazz Clubs and Black-Owned Businesses in Detroit’s Lower Paradise Valley
The lower Paradise Valley area, north of Gratiot and south of I-75, was an entertainment and business hub with a concentration of Black-owned businesses and jazz clubs. This area had…
Detroit’s Black-Owned Businesses in 1952 – New Map
In the early 1950s, Detroit’s population reached its all-time high of over 1.8 million people, and Black-owned businesses thrived. The Booker T. Washington Trade Association, an organization created to support…
Manufacturing Plants in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction – Map and Photos
Milwaukee Junction was the heart of early automotive manufacturing in the U.S. Others refer to this area as the cradle of Detroit's auto industry. The area was named for the…
How many people lived in Detroit’s Black Bottom?
How many people lived in Detroit's Black Bottom? When I first started researching Paradise Valley and Black Bottom, I wanted to know basic facts, including population and racial composition. What…
Slavery in Detroit
By Rod Arroyo Northern states, territories, and Canada have a deep history of slavery. Early French settlers were enslavers. Slavery was considered legal in New York as early as 1725,…
Book Tower Transformation in Detroit
The Book brothers, J. Burgess, Jr., Herbert, and Frank, grew up in downtown Detroit. They were members of one of the wealthiest families in Detroit. Eventually, they sought to rehabilitate…
Belle Isle Winter Photographs
February 28, 2021 was a great day for a winter photo exploration of Belle Isle. The day started with a little drizzle, but later cleared. The ground was partially frozen,…
Belle Isle Winter Tree Walk
Thanks to Nina Ignaczak from Planet Detroit, I was able to participate in a late winter Belle Isle Tree Walk. I learned some great technical terms - terminal bud, lateral…
Detroit Photo Walk 01.03.2021
Started out the New Year with an early morning walk on a snowy day in Detroit with some friends. I was able to revisit some locations from the 12.31 walk…