Brightmo’ till the World Blow
Black Bottom Archives
Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship
Brightmo’ til the World Blow (BTTWB) is a multimedia exploration of neighborhood pride, grief, and resilience in Detroit’s Brightmoor community.
Through oral histories, photography, and drawn portraiture, the project documents residents’ experiences before gentrification, while honoring those enduring trauma and daring to heal through it. Brightmoor is undergoing a dramatic transformation with the proposed stormwater improvement project, a new lake being built in the neighborhood. This project reflects on the power of water as both a literal and symbolic force: just as the lake reshapes the land, libations of liquor will be poured as a ritual liquid sacrifice, honoring ancestors, community endurance, and the flow of memory.
DAnnah wilson
Dannah Elise Wilson is a Detroit-born artist, historian, and educator whose work centers storytelling, education, and community education. A University of Michigan graduate and two-time Spirit of Detroit Award recipient, she gained national attention for her viral speech opposing Betsy DeVos and has since contributed to Teen Vogue, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and multiple film projects. She leads a global media practice through Dannah Elise Photography, serves on the Sister Cities Next Generation Committee, holds a UNESCO MGIEP education fellowship, and directs the Detroit Public School History Museum, where she is developing a mobile exhibition. Dannah was recently appointed to build the first youth-centered role in the City of Detroit Ombudsman Office—expanding systems education, advocacy, and agency for Detroit’s youth.
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This project was created through Black Bottom Archives’ Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship program. For more information about the Fellowship, please click here.