Black Washtenaw County (BWC) is a community-engaged research project focused on the histories of racial segregation and African American community formation in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Leveraging findings from its 2021-23 Project Grant from the Humanities Collaboratory, the team is now preparing online resources, events, and a traveling exhibition to connect with public audiences.
A working group of BWC team members are developing the traveling exhibit, led by Joyce Hunter, President/CEO of the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM), with research support from graduate students Mia Glionna (School of Information MA), Soyoon Ryu (LSA PhD–History of Art), Bailey Sullivan (LSA PhD–History of Art); undergraduate student Meghana Tummala (Taubman College) and Taubman alumna Charlene Hobbs.
Titled Four Black Families of Washtenaw County, the exhibit will trace the histories of the Jewetts and the Arays, based in Ann Arbor, and the Kersey and Bass families of Ypsilanti. Members of these influential Black families were professionals, teachers, and community leaders, and members of each still live in the county today.
“We are working closely with the descendants of each of the four families, and we are asking them to provide a narrative, family tree, and digital photos, etc.” shared Hunter. “We’re partnering with the African American Cultural & Historical Museum, the Ann Arbor District Library, and the Bentley Historical Library.”
The traveling exhibition is being designed to serve local residents.
“The intended audience will learn about county history, Black experience within that local history, and the values and concerns of these four Black families over the generations since their arrival,” according to the team.
The Black Washtenaw County team’s Year 2 PI is Claire Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History of Art and Architecture.