Detroit: The Black Bottom CommunityBetween 1914 and 1951, Black Bottom's black community emerged out of the need for black migrants to find a place for themselves. Because of the stringent racism and discrimination in housing, blacks migrating from the South seeking employment in Detroit's burgeoning industrial metropolis were forced to live in this former European immigrant community. During World War I through World War II, Black Bottom became a social, cultural, and economic center of struggle and triumph, as well as a testament to the tradition of black self-help and community-building strategies that have been the benchmark of black struggle. Black Bottom also had its troubles and woes. However, it would be these types of challenges confronting Black Bottom residents that would become part of the cohesive element that turned Black Bottom into a strong and viable community. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 6 |
African Americans in Black Bottom | 25 |
Life in Black Bottom | 45 |
The Struggle for Decent Housing | 55 |
Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Black Bottom | 69 |
Schools Churches and Organizations | 77 |
Sojourner Truth and the Riots | 103 |
Urban Renewal | 117 |
Bibliography | 126 |
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Common terms and phrases
1930s photograph 20th century African American Antoine Street Beaubien became began Belle Isle Black Bottom community Black Bottom residents black church black community black migrants black population black workers Booker Bottom and Paradise Bottom's Brewster Homes Brewster projects buildings Chrysler Freeway city officials construction Dancy Depression Detroit Plan Detroit police Detroit Urban League Detroit's black discrimination economic Eleanor Roosevelt employment factories Fannie former Black Bottom girls Gratiot Avenue grocery Hastings Street Herman Gardens Housewives League immigrants industrial Jackson Jeffries Projects League of Detroit Lodge Freeway Mayor Edward Jeffries Michigan National Negro Business Paradise Valley Peck photograph shows photograph was taken prostitution public housing racial Reuther riots Roxy Theater Second Baptist Church second decade Sojourner Truth Housing South southern migrants Street in Black Truth Housing Project Twelfth Street uniformed police officers United Service Organization urban renewal Washington Trade Association young black