Detroit’s Birwood Wall: Hatred and Healing in the West Eight Mile Community
In 1941, a real estate developer in northwest Detroit faced a dilemma. He needed federal financing for white clients purchasing lots in a new subdivision abutting a community of mostly African Americans. When the banks deemed the development too risky because of potential racial tension, the developer proposed a novel solution. He built a six-foot-tall, one-foot-thick concrete barrier extending from Eight Mile Road south for three city blocks--the infamous Birwood Wall. It changed life in West Eight Mile forever. The wall no longer serves to racially segregate homeowners and, since1971, both sides of the barrier have been predominantly black. In 2006, community activists and neighborhood residents collaborated turning the wall into a mural that’s depicts Detroit’s African-American history.
Local author Gerald Van Dusen will highlight and discuss the history of the Birwood Wall and story of the West Eight Mile community that persevered and transformed this landmark of racial discrimination into an expression of cultural pride and hope.
| Date | Wednesday, September 27, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Time | 6:00pm - 7:30pm |
| Location | Main |
| Age Group | Adults |
| Category | Book Clubs, Author Events |