“Black Detroit – A People’s History of Self-Determination,” the 25th book by City College of New York adjunct professor Herb Boyd,
is a finalist for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in
the nonfiction category. The winner will be announced Jan. 14 in Los
Angeles.
HarperCollins Publishers describe “Black Detroit” as a “blend of
memoir, love letter, history, and clear-eyed reportage that explores the
city’s past, present, and future and its significance to the African
American legacy and the nation’s fabric.”
Boyd moved to Detroit in 1943, as race riots were engulfing the city.
Though he did not grasp their full significance at the time, this
critical moment would be one of many he witnessed that would mold his
political activism and exposed a city restless for change. In “Black
Detroit,” he reflects on his life and this landmark place, in search of
understanding why Detroit is a special place for Black people.
Boyd revels how Blacks were prominent in the city’s historic,
groundbreaking union movement and—when given an opportunity— tireless
workers who made the automobile industry the center of American
industry. Well-paying jobs on assembly lines allowed Blacks to attain
middle class status and achieve financial stability, an accomplishment
not often attainable in other industries.
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Source: CUNY
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