The Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society

The Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society


"The connection to yesterday"

James-Jason-Dave-Staffordop (18K)
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Reasons to join Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society

  • Would you like to know more about your heritage?
  • Would you like learn more about the first African Americans to settle in southwest Michigan?
  • Have you always wanted to write a family history?
  • Are you thinking of writing your memoirs?
  • Would you like to learn more about genealogical research?
  • Would you like more information on having your DNA traced?
  • Would you like to meet others who have those same interests?
  • As a family historian, would you like to know what resources and tools are available to you?
  • Would you like to find ways of inspiring the youth in your family?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you have a reason for joining the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society.

Read the feature article on the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society in the Summer 2012 issue
of Historical Society of Michigan's Chronicle Magazine

Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society

Mission

The mission of the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society is to nurture respect, appreciation, and study of the African American heritage and contributions to Southwest Michigan history. This new mission statement encompasses the concept of racial equity and our commitment to continue work we began as a part of the RACE Exhibit Initiative of Southwest Michigan. In 2012 SMBHS launches a two-year Racial Healing Initiatives program (this will link to the Initiatives tab). Kickoff events include


Vision

Everyone in southwest Michigan values the heritage and history of African Americans in our region.


Statement of Purpose

We serve and empower residents of southwest Michigan to appreciate the heritage and history of African Americans in our region as a meaningful part of their contemporary lives.

  • We aspire to be the premiere resource that illuminates and connects the past, present, and future of African Americans in southwest Michigan.
  • We recognize the opportunities that our varied audiences present and the challenges we have to communicate the stories of African American heritage in ways that engage and have meaning for each learning style, each age group, and each personal history.
  • We realize the need to communicate the stories of the African American people from pioneer settlers to present-day residents as they are related to each other and even to history as yet unmade.
  • We understand that the material in the Society's archives have intrinsic value beyond their connections to our ancestors.
  • We accept our responsibility to current and future generations to curate those archival objects we accept, and to accept only those objects we can curate appropriately.
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