The Birwood Wall

There is a park in Detroit that has a wall that is beautifully painted with murals. However, the history of the wall is ugly. In short, a housing developer in the 30’s wanted funding from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help in the construction of a new White neighborhood that backed up to an existing Black neighborhood. Despite the great efforts of residents Elizabeth Crews and her daughter Berniece Avery to stop the wall construction, for the funding to be granted, the FHA required that the Birwood Wall be built to protect the White neighborhood value from “adverse influences” such as “inharmonius racial groups.”

Present day, I live in Detroit –  Lafayette Park. It is a great neighborhood to live in! There is no written legal requirement or limitation based on race, to reside here. A historical marker was placed in 2015 in our neighborhood indicating: LAFAYETTE PARK IS ONE OF THE NATION’S EARLIEST PLANNED, MOST FULLY REALIZED, AND MOST SUCCESSFUL URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS OF THE MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Recently though, a historical marker has been added indicating the mistreatment of the businesses and families that lived here, previously known as Black Bottom.  In the 60’s when Lafayette Park was developed along with the I-375 expressway, the land was made available by the City of Detroit instituting an urban renewal project to invoke what the city deemed a “slum clearance” plan. Black owned businesses and families were displaced without compensation – black generational wealth was decimated along with a deep sense of cultural pride and well-being. Even so, notable leaders such as famed boxer Joe Louis and first Black recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Ralph Bunche hailed from Black Bottom.

This year, the Michigan Department of Transportation plans to remove the I-375 expressway, create a traversable road, and reclaim land. The repurposed use of this land is yet to be determined. Fortunately, there is strong support for making this land available as part of ongoing reparation efforts for what took place 60 years ago.

Perhaps I highlight this history for a couple of reasons. Simply to note that the wrongs of the past often take a long time to recognize and even longer to reconcile and repair – if this is even possible. Many people recognize the damage cannot be undone and are choosing to be grateful that the atrocity is being recognized and a significant step is being taken toward reparation.

This story also highlights the importance of knowing the history of the people groups and communities of which we live and visit. Others have paid a great price for our benefit. Let’s live humbly and grateful.

Isn’t it remarkable how one cannot talk about a people groups history without talking about additional people groups histories, and actually all of creation? We are forever intertwined.

I have yet to reconcile within myself the cost that others paid for what is an opportunity for me to enjoy a beautiful neighborhood.

How Lord, can we honor those (Indigenous and Black people groups amongst others) who have suffered where we thrive? I imagine it has something to do with being a good neighbor and telling the story of those who have suffered before us so that injustices of history are not repeated.

Resources:

PBS One Detroit report on the Birwood Wall A Symbol of Racial Divide: The Legacy of Detroit’s Birwood Wall | Clip

In-depth report by Bridge Detroit of the history of the Birwood Wall neighborhood – Crews and Avery https://www.bridgedetroit.com/built-to-keep-black-from-white-the-story-behind-detroits-wailing-wall/

Free Press article about the Black Bottom historical marker https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/07/27/black-bottom-neighborhood-michigan-historical-marker/5374510001/

Google Map location of Birwood Wall: Birwood Wall / West Eight Mile Neighborhood

Book discussing segregation tactics such as redlining: The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

Black Bottom Historical Marker – https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=178275

Mike