Thursday Evening Speaker Series
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Movers, Shakers, and Music Makers: A Tribute to Six Michigan Women Who Changed History
Thursday, January 23, 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm
Anna Kamryn Marck – Playwright, Performer
Myra K. Wolfgang, labor union organizer. Grace Lee Boggs, philosopher and activist. Laura Smith Haviland, abolitionist and conductor on the underground railroad and others. Featuring “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Oh! What a Beautiful City,” this show will leave you inspired by the legacy of women activists in Michigan and hopeful about building a better world right in your own backyard.
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In Our Own Voice: African America Art, a Behind the Scenes Look at this DIA Special Presentation
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 6:00-7:30pm
Enhance your awareness of the creative contributions of African Americans from the 19th century through the present day. We take a behind the scenes look at The Detroit Institute of Arts special presentation, “In Our Own Voice” that explores issues of race, gender, politics, and culture.
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Healing Through Creating Via The Power of Storytelling
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm
Lawrence Castleberry - President - Detroit Black Storytellers
Using personal experience to create your own stories for self-healing while simultaneously using this as a tool to both help and teach others. So often as tellers, we research the stories of others that resonate with us that we may share. But each of use have stories to tell. We can use personal experiences to craft stories (they can be fictional based on fact) that allow us to combat our own internal battles. But as we grow by developing the story we now have a tool that when told can help others who may be going through similar experiences or equipping someone who may experience something similar later in life.
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Out of Africa: Returning to the Source
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm
Dr. Patricia Coleman-Burns, Professor Emerita of Nursing and Adjunct Professor in the Department for Afro-American and African Studies - U of M
This talk will explore the contributions of ancient African cultures to the original STEMAs - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts. Dr. Coleman-Burns has been a passionate advocate for combating gender oppression, sexism, racism and violence. Her career has focused on Black Ideology, social justice, mitigating health disparities and Women's rights.
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When Politics Were for the Bold & Brave
Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm
AMERICANS VOTE IN THE 19TH CENTURY. Bruce Zellers, Historian and Retired Professor – Oakland University
Nineteenth century elections were run by Party hacks, not demur city clerks. Votes were cast in public. Corruption was not uncommon; the threat of violence often appeared. However, participation was very high. As the new century began, the voting booth appeared, town clerks got control and participation in elections declined. Was there something to be said for the earlier model?
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African Culture's Mark on Latin American Culture
Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, more than ten million Africans were enslaved and transported to the Americas. Over 80% went to Brazil and the Caribbean, mostly to work on the sugar plantations. Today, their descendants in the region number more than 100 million. Enslaved Africans’ rhythms gave birth to music and dance genres as diverse as tango, salsa and raggaeton. Their food ways can be tasted in the preparation of plantains, the wrapping of tamales, and the richness of the regions many stews. And their religions are still practiced today under the names like Santeria, Vodou and Candomble. This talk will provide an overview of the profound mark of African peoples and cultures on Latin Americ