african americans

Ann Arbor’s West Side held a celebration on Sunday for the grand opening of Porter’s Place and an open house at Dunbar Tower. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Washtenaw County has a new school of higher education with the recent opening of Legacy Barber College in Ann Arbor. It’s the first barber college to open in the area. For this month's "Washtenaw Business Lens," WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor joins Andy LaBarre of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber for a discussion with Gerod Sturgis about the opening of his new barber school.

The words, "I want to be ready," spring from one of the 6,000 African American spirituals that speak not just about waiting for what's next but actively preparing the ground we stand on. Here in Washtenaw County and in most communities, keeping cultural legacies alive and present requires that same kind of preparation. That’s what the Willis C. Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale stands for. Decky Alexander talked about the chorale’s history and purpose with its musical director, Dr. Lavonte’ Heard.

Washtenaw County has a new school of higher education with the opening of Legacy Barber College. The ribbon-cutting was held this morning in Briarwood Mall. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Eastern Michigan University is hosting a two-day conference on the history of Black student activism on campus. The conference is also commemorating the 10th anniversary of 2016 student protests following the murder of George Floyd. WEMU’s Ana Longoria sits down with Dr. Peter Blackmer, associate professor with EMU’s Department of Africology and African-American Studies, to discuss the past, present, and future of Black organizations.

Citizens for Racial Equity in Washtenaw (CREW) is asking the County Commission to hire an implementation manager for its equity policy. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

On Tuesday night, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson discussed what she’d do for the Black community if elected governor this November. Colin Jackson has more on a “Black Voters for Benson” event in Detroit.

11 more voices are joining the Ypsilanti District Library’s collection featuring the stories of local BIPOC and working-class farmers. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. And as happens each year, several local events commemorate the day. WEMU's Caroline MacGregor was joined by the President of the NAACP Ann Arbor branch, Andre' Watson, to talk about what is going on locally, but more importantly, what this day means to residents in Washtenaw County.

Friday marks the start of celebrations and remembrances that will continue throughout the weekend as the community observes Juneteenth. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.