FROM THE BOTTOM UP!

From the Bottom, Up presented by Black Bottom Archives, is a love letter to Black Bottom, the heartline of Black Detroit, written through memory, movement, and the voices of the community. Rooted in the West African adinkra principle Sankofa, meaning “go back and get it,” join us as we remember our past, reflect on its impacts on our present, and shape a better future for Black Detroit. 

This immersive exhibit invites all to experience the collective remembrance and collective dreaming facilitated by the Sankofa Community Research Project, which for the past two years has been recording the stories of past residents, descendants, and community members about the harm inflicted by the destruction of Black Bottom and their hopes for the 30 acres of land to be created in the redevelopment of I-375. 

Step into Black Bottom Street View, experience new archival materials, listen to the rich memories and visions of storytellers, and explore reconstructed digital maps of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Each section honors how Black Detroit has worked to preserve its history through conversations, community care, and joy.

This is more than an exhibit; it is an invitation to witness, remember, and dream.