The Urban History Seminar series feature a scholarly presentation followed by lively discussion. Delia Fernández-Jones, an associate professor of history at Michigan State University, presents “Telling Our Stories: Using Historical Scholarship to Combat Black and Latinx Displacement in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

This talk examines the history of Latinxs and African Americans along the Grandville Avenue corridor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from the 1950s to the 1970s to help understand the threats of gentrification and displacement in the present. Drawing on her book, Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking, and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan (University of Illinois Press, 2023) and community-engaged scholarship, Dr. Fernández-Jones gives insights into how she is collaborating with grassroots community organizations to help preserve Black and Latinx histories and narratives of cross racial coalition in this smaller, urban center in the face of impending demolitions and changing neighborhood dynamics.

The Zoom session will open at 6:45 p.m. with the program starting at 7:00 p.m. and concluding by 8:15 p.m. RSVP is required.

This session is free of charge; we would greatly appreciate a donation to the Museum in any amount. A Zoom link will be provided after registration.

The Urban History Seminars have been generously underwritten by the Chicago History Museum since 1983.