The preservation of history doesn’t belong only to institutions, it lives in the hands, voices and memories of everyday people. 

In Detroit, a new generation of community historians is stepping forward.

The Black Bottom Archives' Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship builds living records of Detroit’s footprint. Through oral histories, archival research, and creative storytelling, fellows archive the stories of their neighborhoods in a year-long program.

All of the fellows' work will culminate in a public exhibit and a festival in 2026 celebrating Black Detroit history.

Lex Draper Garcia Bey is Director of Community Engagement and Programs for Black Bottom Archives. 

We begin the conversation talking about "From the Bottom, Up," an exhibition by Black Bottom Archives on display at the Detroit Historical Society. It's guided by the principle of Sankofa: “go back and get it.”  The closing ceremony is April 5 at the museum.