Black Bottom was a predominantly black neighborhood within Detroit that was a critical part of the city’s culture and musical scene from the 1930s until the late 1950s. The homes and businesses that defined Black Bottom were demolished in the early 1960s in order to build I-375.
The People and Places of Black Bottom, Detroitย will be presented by local historian Ken Coleman and is based off of a paper that Ken Coleman wrote for the National Endowment for the Humanities. This presentation will take place within theย Auditoriumย in the Main Library.
If you’re a history enthusiast, a Detroit native, or simply curious about this fascinating chapter in the city’s past, this event will not disappoint. Join us as we honor the spirit and resilience of the people and places that made Black Bottom an integral part of Detroit’s identity.
A special thank you to theย Black Bottom Digital Archiveย for allowing us access to their map of Black Bottom! The map of Black Bottom was compiled from Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps that were from the Library of Congress and were stitched together by Emily Kutil!
Also in the Galleria that day, there will be an author talk at 3:45 withย Curtis Chinย to discuss his recently published memoir,ย Everything I Learned, I learned in a Chinese Restaurant! For more details, see the Eventbrite listing:ย https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-talk-with-author-curtis-chin-tickets-744663738287
