City of Detroit Partners with Cultural and Historic Spaces to Commemorate Black History Month 2023

The City of Detroit is proud to announce a partnership with cultural and historic spaces to present an unprecedented commemoration of Black History Month 2023. 

"Mayor Mike Duggan has made clear that it is our duty as public servants to ensure opportunities for all residents to have everything they need to thrive in work, education and joy," said Rochelle Riley, the city’s Director of Arts and Culture. "That includes ensuring that we embrace the cultural diversity of Detroit. So, we are wholeheartedly embracing Detroit’s complete, myriad, spectacular, heartbreaking and persevering African American art and history. We want communities across metro Detroit to experience a beautiful and diverse array of arts and culture and to learn a powerful history that has often been hidden in several lifetimes." 

The month-long celebration will feature several events, including: 

Sacred Spaces: Detroit ACE will partner with cultural and historic partners to present Sacred Spaces, a celebration of many of Detroit's Black-owned and operated arts and cultural spaces. Participating galleries and cultural centers will host a month-long celebration of positive and meaningful images of African Americans and their centuries of contribution to American culture and history. The month will feature exhibits, film screenings, artist talks, and panel discussions. Sacred Spaces, which launches February 1, invites metro Detroit residents to visit 16 African-American-owned spaces to see creative and powerful art by more than 100 African-American artists. With support from the Ford Foundation, Sacred Spaces will end with a closing reception on February 28 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History designed to inspire reflection, discussion, and appreciation. Register for the reception at: sacredspacesreception.eventbrite.com 

Detroit Black History Lecture: City of Detroit Historian Jamon Jordan will give his annual Detroit Black History Lecture at noon, Tuesday, February 28 at the historic Second Baptist Church, 441 Monroe St., on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his first, public Detroit speech at that church on that date in 1954. Please join Detroit ACE for a first-come, first-served free lunch and educational experience. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/detroit-black-history-lecture-tickets-528412314457 

At the time of his Detroit speech, King had graduated from Crozer Theological Seminary and Boston University had just accepted his doctoral dissertation.  He had gotten married to Coretta Scott eight months prior. King, then 25, was giving a guest sermon and his father, Martin Luther King Sr., had a good relationship with the pastor of Second Baptist - Rev. A.A. Banks, who was away at the time of King's visit. Before that year was over, King would be invited to be the pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. A little over a year after his appointment, a 42-year old seamstress, activist and wife - Rosa Parks - would refuse to give up her seat to a white man on the bus. 

A 382-day bus boycott would result in the removal of Jim Crow on the Montgomery bus lines, as well as propel Dr. King to national prominence as a civil rights leader and Rosa Parks as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."  Second Baptist Church in Detroit would be the largest single church donor to the boycott, and Rosa Parks, after facing a racist blocking of employment in Montgomery, would come to the city of Detroit and live here longer than she lived in Montgomery. King would be forever connected to Detroit, and the Civil Rights Movement would be a fundamental part of Detroit's history. 

Detroit Mural City Map: In celebration of Detroit’s rich history of African American art and civil rights, the Detroit Mural City Map will feature all month a collection of 18 murals featuring Black historic figures with Detroit connections. Each mural will link to an article about the history that inspired the art. To view the Black History Collection, visit www.detroitartsandculture.com and click on the Mural Map, then Collections.  Finally, Historian Jamon Jordan will offer Detroit Black History Facts daily on City social platforms. The collection of 28 facts offers a powerful look at African American life and contributions for nearly two centuries.

The first one recounts the origin of Black History Month: 

For more information about Sacred Spaces, please contact Misha McGlown at [email protected].  

The 2023 participating partners for SACRED SPACES are:  

Arts Extended Gallery: 5359 Vancouver St, Detroit, MI 48204 

Blackbird Gallery: 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Fisher Bldg., Detroit, MI 48202 The Carr Center Contemporary: 15 E Kirby St, Detroit, MI 48202 

Design Studio 6: 8626 W. McNichols (6 Mile) - Detroit, MI  48221 

Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club: Marygrove Conservancy, 8425 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221 

The Fel’le Gallery, 19926 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221 

Harper Galleries of Art & Traditional Interiors: 173 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48207     

Irwin House Gallery: 2351 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit 48208 

Jo's Gallery: 19376 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221 

 Liberal Arts Gallery: 3361 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207 

Live Coal: 80 Clairmount Ave, Detroit, MI 48202 

Mac Galleries: 18943 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221 

Mack Alive: 3746 Fischer St, Detroit, MI 48214 

National Conference of Artists Gallery: 18100 Meyers Rd # 392, Detroit, MI 48235 (Northwest Activities Center) Norwest Gallery: 19556 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48223 Sherry Arts LLC: WCCCD Larry K. Lewis Educational Center, 8200 W. Outer Dr. Detroit, MI 48219 and WCCCD Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus. 1001 W. Fort Street. Detroit, MI 48226