Black History

Motown Museum Hosts Second Annual Black Legacy Program Event

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE — Motown Museum announced today that it will host its second annual Black Legacy Program public event.

Published

6 years ago

February 8, 2019

AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

By AJ Williams

Motown Museum announced today that it will host its second annual Black Legacy Program public event celebrating both black multigenerational and millennial owned and operated businesses in Detroit and honoring the entrepreneurial legacy of the Gordy family on Wednesday, February 20 in honor of Black History Month. Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry made the announcement.

During the event, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. at 12c (formerly NextEnergy), located at 461 Burroughs St., attendees will hear from a panel of local Detroit business owners about the importance of black business in Detroit, as well as the successes and challenges they have faced—both past and present. Camille Walker Banks, Executive Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at Wayne State University will also provide expert business advice to attendees during the event. Paul Riser, managing director of TechTown, will serve as moderator for the discussion and will offer expert business advice.

The businesses participating in the discussion include:

LaTonya Berry (Rock the Fro);
Alice Brazelton (Brazelton’s Floral);
Edmond Douglas (Avis Ford); and
Darryl Humes (Mature Clothing).

“Berry Gordy turned an $800 loan from his family savings club into a historic music empire—and one of the most successful and recognizable black businesses in the world. That legacy of innovation, ambition and business acumen has left an indelible mark on Detroit—and on the broader cultural landscape,” said Terry. “As we celebrate Motown Records’ 60th anniversary this year, we are honored to celebrate Black History Month with our second annual Black Legacy Program event. We look forward to providing the community an opportunity to learn from the incredible instincts and invaluable insights provided by an up-and-coming generation of thriving local black businesses.”

In addition to upcoming celebratory moments and ‘Archives Dives’ during 2019, Motown Museum will host its popular lineup of core programming, including the Motown Mic: The Spoken Word poetry contest, its SPARK and IGNITE summer camps, and Amplify, a singing competition.

Announced in late 2016, the Motown Museum expansion will grow the museum to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination featuring dynamic, interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces designed by renown architects and exhibit designers. When completed, the new museum campus will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, providing employment, sustainability and community pride by serving as an important catalyst for new investment and tourism in the historic area.

For more information on Motown Museum, including hours of operation, visit http://www.motownmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared in the Michigan Chronicle.

AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

Posts by AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

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Oakland Post: Week of March 5 – 11, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 5 – 11, 2025

Published

6 days ago

March 7, 2025

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Beverly Lorraine Greene: A Pioneering Architect and Symbol of Possibility and Progress

Greene graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1936 with a degree in Architecture — a remarkable accomplishment for an African American woman at the time. She was never discouraged by the racial and gender discrimination that saturated her field.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

Oakland Post

Beverly Lorraine Greene. Public domain photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

In the mid-20th century, Beverly Lorraine Greene was recognized as the first African American woman licensed to practice architecture in the United States.

Greene was born on Oct. 4, 1915, in Chicago during an era when opportunities for African Americans, particularly women, were severely limited.

Her parents, James and Vera Greene, were deeply invested in her education, instilling in her a belief in the power of intellect and perseverance. She grew up during the Great Migration that transformed Chicago starting in 1900.

Greene continued her education, earning a master’s degree in City Planning and Housing in 1937, also from the University of Illinois. Her ambition was not merely to design structures but to shape spaces that fostered equity and community. In 1942, she became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, obtaining her credentials in Illinois. This groundbreaking achievement, however, did not translate immediately into job opportunities.

Early in her career, she faced significant discrimination from firms unwilling to hire a Black woman. However, her determination never wavered. In 1945, Beverly moved to New York City, a place she believed could offer broader professional opportunities.

She joined the architectural department of the New York City Housing Authority, focusing on affordable housing projects. Her work during this time reflected her commitment to using architecture as a tool for social justice, ensuring that marginalized communities had access to well-designed, dignified living spaces.

Greene’s talents soon drew the attention of prominent firms. She was hired by Isadore Rosenfield, a respected architect known for designing hospitals. She contributed to the design of healthcare facilities, including the modernization of Harlem Hospital. Her portfolio expanded in collaboration with architectural personalities such as Marcel Breuer and Edward Durell Stone.

Notably, she worked on the prestigious UNESCO headquarters in Paris — a landmark project that brought her skills to an international stage. Her involvement underscored her ability to navigate the intricacies of large-scale, global projects, proving that her talents transcended the limitations society sought to impose.

Greene’s career was tragically cut short when she passed away unexpectedly in 1957 at the age of 41. Though her life was brief, her impact was profound. She shattered entrenched barriers, paving the way for future generations of Black architects and women in the field.