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Social Life
African Americans in Ann Arbor had very active social lives. From involvement in civic groups to fun on the weekends, social life helped build a strong sense of community. African Americans were not just members of civic and social groups, they started many groups that still exist today. As the following clips demonstrate, social life was vital to preserving a strong African American community. | |||
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List of Video Clips on Social Life |
| Quicktime Movie | Description of Video Clip |
| Fun in the Neighborhood (01:16) | Letty Wickliffe recalls the safety and security of the tight African American community in the early part of the 20th century. |
| A Woman's Town (01:21) | Find out what made Lucille Porter's aunts call Ann Arbor a "woman's town." |
| Social & Civic Groups (02:14) | Lucille Porter describes the strong presence of African American clubs in Ann Arbor. |
| Dunbar Community Center (01:09) | The Dunbar Community Center was a central force of social life for young African Americans. Martha Washington Graham remembers the Dunbar in this clip. |
| Cooking Classes at Dunbar (01:58) | The YWCA offered cooking classes, but African Americans were not welcome. So, the Dunbar Community Center began offering cooking classes for African American students. |
| Movies & Ice Skating (01:08) | Blondine Munson and her friends used to go to the movies or ice skating for fun on the weekends. |
| Parties in Kerrytown (00:59) | Bob Jones was one of the first African American police officers in Ann Arbor. He and his wife Emma hosted parties for the teens in Ann Arbor. |