The Black Bottom neighborhood in Detroit was located on the Near East Side, inscribed by Gratiot Avenue, Brush Street, Vernor Highway and the Grand Trunk railroad tracks. From the early 1900s until the 1950s, the neighborhood was Detroit’s burgeoning Black cultural hub. Following the mass migration to the North by Southern Black people, Black Bottom housed much of the Black population of the city and boasted hundreds of Black-owned businesses. Though the neighborhood was formed due in large part to racism and segregation, Black Bottom residents created an oasis of Black culture with the many nightclubs, theaters, grocers, schools, barbershops and stores that lined the residential and commercial streets and made up the popular strip on Hastings Street. This self-sustaining community of Black people in Detroit was an example of the success and vitality that are possible when community members support each other socially and economically.

This type of displacement is not unfamiliar to the Black Detroiters of today, as our city’s current revitalization creates another “new” Detroit. This present-day “rebirth” is causing the displacement of the (mostly Black) long term residents, homes and businesses that populate Cass Corridor, Downtown and Midtown. The narrative of Detroit is shifting from old and abandoned to young and revitalized, but native Detroiters are getting little say in how that narrative is shaped. We created the Black Bottom Archives as a way to give residents of the city the control of our own narrative. The next “new” Detroit assumes that Black Detroiters are long gone, but the Archives offers a way to assert our existence, showing the “new” Detroit we demand to be seen and heard, and are not forgotten or erased.

What Is the Black Bottom Archives?

The Black Bottom Archives is an online magazine and community space that uses digital media to preserve the legacy of the historic Black Bottom neighborhood, while also creating and building new communities. This virtual platform allows Black Detroiters to hold space for themselves and speak from their perspectives about race and social justice, as well as share information like healthful living tips. In recognition of Detroit’s place as a historical influencer of music and popular culture, the Archives’ “Black Arts” section spotlights local artists through interviews, music streaming and photo galleries. This virtual community is amplified by our streaming of local podcasts and web series, providing members with the opportunity to share in the creative endeavors that exist in our city.

The historical Black Bottom neighborhood is remembered for its strong sense of community and the many ways in which that sense was supported through the local economy and community programs. The Black Bottom Archives preserves this legacy of Black entrepreneurship and support of Black-owned businesses through a Black Business Directory that works to make businesses more accessible to consumers and amplifies the voices of neighborhood business owners who are not being supported through Downtown redevelopment. The Black Bottom Book Club provides readers with a space to discuss culture and contemporary social and political issues as they relate to the Black literature and non-fiction.

Envisioning a Community-Rooted Space

Our version of Black Bottom is not meant to be an exact replica of the neighborhood that once was. Rather, we envision an online community that allows its members access to their city, their stories and each other. Making the connection between arts and culture, education, and community-building, the Black Bottom Archives seeks to be the driver that connects the city’s past with its present. In the age of technology, of internet accessibility, of social media popularity and the resulting engagement, we champion the importance of this virtual space. It is important to preserve our culture and our ideas; it is important to have a hub like the Black Bottom Archives—an online community that Black Detroiters can access to read about what’s happening, keep up with community events, support local and online businesses, and interact with community members.