Saving The Jackson Home, A Key Piece of Civil Rights History

The Jackson Residence, initially in Selma, Alabama was an important place within the battle for true freedom for African-People. 

It has been moved right here to Metro Detroit at Greenfield Village in The Henry Ford, in order that it may be preserved, celebrated, and the story informed.

So I went to Dearborn and talked with the Curator of Black Historical past at The Henry Ford, Amber Mitchell. 

Dr. Sullivan Jackson and Mrs. Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson supplied their dwelling as a sanctuary and strategic hub for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and different Civil Rights leaders as they deliberate the marches that finally modified America. 

From the Jackson’s lounge, Dr. King and others watched the “We Shall Overcome” speech by President Lyndon B Johnson… publicly backed voting rights. 

The Selma to Montogomery March was deliberate there, and all of this culminated with the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. 

So get all the main points. Why it is right here. What’s occurring with the progress. What sorts of programming are they considering, and naturally, the significance of this work being accomplished at present.

Extra on the Henry Ford: https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/greenfield-village/jackson-home/

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A full automated transcript of the dialog is beneath. Please verify in opposition to the unique audio when quoting.

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Transcription of dialog with Amber Mitchell

Jer Staes: Once I first heard that you just all are bringing a home up from Selma, Alabama, I used to be, one, amazed. Two, I feel what a superb act of making an attempt to simply maintain the spirit alive of the areas that I feel generally individuals overlook about. So, why do not we begin with the very fundamentals? Let’s speak about this home and why it is so traditionally vital.

Amber Mitchell: Certain. So, the home that we’re speaking about is the house of Dr. Sullivan and Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson from Selma, Alabama. The 2 of them. Dr. Sullivan Jackson was a dentist. His spouse, Richie Jean was an educator. They each took a really private and direct motion because it pertains to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Particularly the voting rights motion in Selma, Alabama that at its top in 1965, they opened up the doorways to their very long time pal, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his Southern Christian Management Convention. They usually principally grew to become the house base for that group in Selma throughout this time. 

So from January to June of 1965, Dr. King, amongst many others, lived and labored within this dwelling, deliberate out the fundamentals of the Voting Rights Act and in addition to deliberate the Selma to Montgomery march. And I feel for lots of people, what they may bear in mind most about that exact occasion or sequence of occasions is Bloody Sunday. And that’s the march or tried march from Selma to Montgomery that came about on March seventh, 1965, led by now former Congressman John Lewis and Reverend Hosea Williams, the place they led individuals throughout the notorious Edmund Pettus Bridge, to which they have been met with the drive of the Alabama State Troopers. And so these pictures have lived within the American thoughts for — actually the worldwide thoughts for the final 60 years. And so we’re at this specific actually attention-grabbing second in 2025 the place we’re recognizing … acknowledging the sixtieth anniversary of all of these actions main as much as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I feel it is attention-grabbing to spotlight the work of the helpers, particularly on this time. You concentrate on — you recognize, I have been to the Lodge Lorraine in Memphis and different locations. However all these actions, I am not saying that that resort was like the luxurious of something, however all these actions actually began with [the] group working collectively. You talked about that Dr. King lived in the home. That was type of widespread with the motion on the time, proper? Individuals serving to one another.

Amber Mitchell: Completely. That’s core to not simply the Selma motion, however all of all facets of group based mostly actions. It’s rooted in individuals doing the work on the bottom. And actually, SCLC once they come into city in January of ’65, they’re type of late to the sport. There had been a number of many years of activism, each profitable and unsuccessful, within the Alabama Black belt the place Selma is situated. And so, you recognize, two years prior, the Pupil Nonviolent Coordinating Committee or SNCC had are available first and accomplished some on the bottom grassroots activism. 

However all of that would not have been accomplished and not using a direct activism from the individuals of Selma and the encircling space, particularly led by the Dallas County Voters League, and their staff of the Brave Eight, of which in all probability essentially the most well-known particular person on that staff was Amelia Boynton [Robinson] who once more, that Bloody Sunday imagery of individuals being picked up by their comrades within the streets and brought again throughout the bridge. Mrs. Boynton is a kind of individuals who is on the bottom and she or he’s in her 50s at this level, 40s, 50s at this level. One other one who’s a part of the Brave Eight is Miss Marie Foster, who is definitely Dr. Sullivan Jackson’s sister. She additionally was his dental hygienist in his apply. And so if it wasn’t for the work of those individuals, SCLC wouldn’t have been in a position to are available and do what they have been in a position to do. In addition to working collectively all through these six months to get the Voting Rights Act not solely simply delivered to the desk, however finally handed in August of ’65.

So how does this Jackson home match into the remainder of the streets of Greenfield Village? You do not add homes willy-nilly. You do not simply add issues at any time when. There is a breadth of buildings. You have acquired the bicycle store. You have acquired, you recognize, the outdated manufacturing unit. You have acquired issues — I bear in mind, you recognize, issues the place, you recognize, the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, all these items. However it’s an intentional transfer so as to add something to the road. Why is it so vital so as to add the Jackson home to the streets of Greenfield Village?

Amber Mitchell: Completely. So we have been approached in 2022 by Miss Joanna Jackson, the only real daughter, sole youngster of the Jacksons, with the intention of searching for a spot to steward her household’s story. She had been doing that for her whole life however realizing that there wanted to be a succession plan. There wanted to be a means for not just for the house and all of its contents to remain collectively, however for it to be taken care of in perpetuity. And I feel she acknowledged that the Henry Ford is a spot that not solely do, you recognize, tens of millions of individuals come to see what we have now in each the village and the museum and different facets of what we do right here, but additionally that um that area could be taken care of and uh handled with respect. 

And so, you recognize, such as you stated, we do not simply transfer homes willy-nilly. It is a very intensive course of. It was not taken calmly. We did not exit and principally attempt to purchase this dwelling. That is one thing that — a chance that was delivered to us and we have tried to maximise that. And so the home itself goes to be in our porches and parlors district. So that is the realm the place we discuss quite a bit about dwelling life and what does life seem like for People, you recognize, each from the 18th century all the best way as much as when the Jackson home opens, it is our — in all probability our most — what is the time period I am searching for? Excuse me. Will probably be our most up-to-date uh kind of interpretation at 1965. So it’s going to be an enormous leap for us from our present homes that type of cease round 1930 to going into the mid century, going into residing reminiscence that we have now proper now.

The factor that will get me and I take into consideration this an increasing number of as I grow old, is like, wait a second. 1965 was a minute in the past. Proper? You concentrate on it as, oh, nicely you possibly see the present Mad Males or one thing like that. I used to be like, wait a second. 1965, we’re really speaking 60 years. It is wild.

Amber Mitchell: Proper. It is 60 years, and it is attention-grabbing as a result of it feels distant, however it’s not that distant. Like, you recognize, in doing this analysis and pulling sources, pulling pictures, going by way of archives, speaking with motion veterans who have been there, who skilled all this, you recognize, they’ve a really vivid reminiscence of those actions. They’ve a really vivid reminiscence of being yelled at, being chased by canine, being hit with water cannons. They’ve a really vivid reminiscence of what life regarded like earlier than what earlier than these positive aspects that have been made for us. 

And actually as of proper now, it couldn’t be extra related, proper? You already know, we frequently give it some thought, you recognize, as, you recognize, time strikes ahead, issues have a tendency to remain the identical. And actually, we’re on this actual attention-grabbing microcosm of change and transformation and re-looking on the previous to ensure that we’re understanding its energy for the current and hopefully not having to battle those self same battles again and again, proper? And so, you recognize, right here on the Henry Ford [Museum], you recognize, utilizing the previous as a device to maneuver ahead is one thing that we do each day. And we’re actually excited to have the ability to speak about a uniquely American story by way of the Jackson Residence challenge.

How vital is it to seize these locations and these conversations whereas they’re nonetheless on the fringe of residing reminiscence? As a result of I take into consideration all of the tales by way of time which were adjusted by historical past. Earlier than we began recording, I used to be mentioning uh about transferring homes and the U.S. Grant home was moved in Detroit. Effectively, the story of Ulysses S. Grant was extraordinarily altered by way of time and admittedly, in my view, given a reasonably dangerous rap in numerous methods due to backlash. So how vital it’s to seize these tales now as a result of I feel previously there wasn’t that potential to be like, hey, this is a video of this. Hey, this is the place that it was. Hey, we’ll maintain it now in order that we have now an correct illustration of what truly occurred.

Amber Mitchell: Yeah. I feel for tales of individuals of shade, however particularly tales of African People, with it all through our historical past of america, historical past in and of itself is a apply of energy for lots of parents. Who has the flexibility to inform the story? What story is being informed and who’s disregarded of that story. And so for myself as a historian of African American historical past and curator right here, it is actually vital that we not solely discuss to those that have been there, and we ensure that we get their tales down from their views, however we are also utilizing that along with histories which were written and people who have possibly been forgotten during the last a number of years. 

You already know, I feel for lots of parents — you recognize, they may not have time to take a seat down and skim an enormous thousand phrase web page guide or a thousand web page guide, excuse me, on say the lifetime of John Lewis, which there is a very new guide out that is superb and I might extremely recommend studying that thousand pages. But when you do not have time or you do not have that potential, what you are able to do is possibly go to a museum. What you are able to do is possibly hearken to an oral historical past. What you are able to do is possibly learn a weblog submit on that museum’s web site. I feel what we do greatest as museums and historic websites and different public historical past areas is ensure that historical past is accessible for people at any and all ranges, in order that they’ll greatest perceive the world round them, give themselves context and critically take into consideration how this really impacts them at present and hopefully um do one thing with that vitality.

I like studying books. Don’t get me improper. However there’s something about experiencing the area, just like the occasions I have been to the Henry Ford and discovered new issues and even like I take into consideration, you recognize, it is virtually cliche however the Rosa Parks bus, proper? Once you sit within the bus and be quiet and also you expertise a second otherwise you go to oftentimes you have acquired the slave housing. Certain. Yeah, the tales round that and even on a lighter be aware, the old-timey baseball. The expertise makes it extraordinarily actual in a means that may join, I feel with anybody and even essentially the most hardened hearts.

Amber Mitchell: Completely. So, you recognize, individuals study greatest by way of doing. And there’s a sure energy in place and being in an area the place a sure occasion occurred. You already know, there’s — like I discussed, this can be a very well-documented occasion. The occasions of 1965 main as much as the Voting Rights Act. We’ve got video, we have now photographs. However to have the ability to be within the area the place that photograph was taken, surrounded by the artifacts that have been additionally being utilized by those self same individuals 60 years in the past, it is a transformative expertise. 

There’s actual energy while you stroll into these locations, and a capability to not solely simply change your individual expertise for that day, however doubtlessly change your life and the best way that you just perceive the world round you. And so, you recognize, the Henry Ford, is a superb place to have the ability to try this and we’re actually wanting ahead to having the ability to carry individuals into a brand new means of understanding our collective story by way of the Jackson dwelling. You already know, for instance, in that exact home, you recognize, Miss Richie Jean, her complete factor was about ensuring that there was a spot of relaxation and respite for the motion makers, proper? We have a tendency to consider these people as virtually like freight trains. They simply maintain going and going and going. They’re human beings. They’re individuals. And in that area, she allow them to be simply people and other people and relaxation. And he or she, you recognize, she would cook dinner and ensure they’d a spot to remain, a very good meals to eat, um a secure place to to get ready for the subsequent stage of activism that they wanted to do as a result of that is an vital a part of ensuring that we’re in a position to battle and proceed to battle the battles that have to be fought.

Effectively, it might appear counterintuitive, however relaxation is resistance.

Amber Mitchell: Relaxation is completely resistance, you recognize, Relaxation is completely resistance. You already know, if you have not learn the guide by Trisha Hersey, shout out to her. Relaxation is resistance is a strong device and you can not do the work that must be accomplished with out getting your relaxation.

I do know listeners wish to know a bit of bit in regards to the brass tacks. Of how on earth you bought this factor up right here. And what measurement are we speaking about? Like sq. footage-ish and the way did that stand up right here?

Amber Mitchell: Certain. So the home itself is about 2,000 sq. toes. It is in-built 1919 and designed by Wallace Rayfield, who’s the second licensed black architect in america. He type of builds the whole lot of of Black Alabama. So from Montgomery to Tuskegee to Selma and different locations within the metropolis, I imply, excuse me, within the state, he actually leaves a footprint. The home in of itself, the best way that we ended up doing is we took the whole lot out. So the entire furnishings, all of the issues that have been left by the household that we acquired in our acquisition, have been packed up very, very, very delicately and really time-stakingly, and introduced up right here, shipped up right here. The house in of itself was braced inside. The roof was taken off. The porch was taken off. Principally the home windows, doorways, all these issues have been packed up individually and shipped up. 

After which the house was primarily minimize in half and principally packaged inside a water-resistant  for lack of a greater time period, trailer and introduced up in two halves. So it drove one every half drove 900 miles from Selma to Detroit over the course of a couple of month or so. After which every half as a result of we had to make use of the identical staff for the 2 halves. It was saved offsite at a facility for a couple of months as we ready the inspiration for the house to go on in its ultimate place on Maple Street — Maple Lane, excuse me, in Greenfield Village. After which it was introduced in these two halves. One was positioned on one aspect, the opposite positioned on the opposite aspect of the inspiration. And actually, we had a superb staff of absolute specialists, who haven’t solely simply been with us because the very starting, however proceed to work with us to carry the home to fruition. And so the truth is, I simply need to say, you recognize, we had a gentleman who drove the 2 halves of the homes up. He is about 25 years outdated, and after I inform you he whipped that home round like a F-150 backing it up onto his place on Maple Lane, I’m not kidding. He acquired it. He acquired the second half actually inside the sawblades width of the best way it was minimize down the center of the house. So it was an incredible, superb challenge.

Shout out to our truck drivers.

Amber Mitchell: Shout out to truck drivers. Go UAW! Go you recognize. Go Teamsters, all people, you recognize, shout out to those that have the talents as a result of I haven’t got them. Proper? I am a historian. I am a curator. I learn. I write. Let me discuss to people. Let me clarify tales. Ask me to drive a truck. You already know, if it is too massive, we simply not going to maneuver. So, you recognize, it is this challenge, the extent of specificity, the extent of experience and the extent of pleasure that has been taken and ensuring that, you recognize, you do not you do not transfer a house calmly. 

This is not one thing that we simply got down to do, you recognize, once we have been approached by Miss Joanna in 2022, that is one thing that we needed to do actual excessive, not solely simply soul looking out as an establishment, however ensuring that that is one thing that we have been able to do. And fortuitously, we have now the oldsters right here who know the way to do this type of work. And if we do not know, we all know learn how to get in contact with those that know the way to do this type of work. So, it has been a extremely superb challenge and it is not accomplished in any respect anytime quickly. Fortunately, you recognize, we’re nonetheless within the technique of the roof truly simply acquired put again onto the house. 

We’re recreating the 1965 look of the entrance porch due to course this was a home that was lived in. Proper? Effectively past our interval of significance of 1965. And so, you recognize, if you consider what number of occasions have you ever possibly re-designed your kitchen or painted your partitions or possibly redid your yard. This is identical factor. This can be a home that was lived in till about 2013. 

And so what we have needed to do is that this actually attention-grabbing historic detective work that has been a mixture of oral histories with household and pals and individuals who have skilled the home firsthand, clearly utilizing Miss Richie Jean’s guide, the Home by the Facet of the Street, in addition to household photographs to hint again what did this entrance porch seem like? What did the home seem like? And so once more, we have now actual specialists right here on employees which were doing this work, getting all the way down to what some would possibly suppose as minuscule particulars about, nicely, what sort of carpet was on this home? What shade have been the wallpaper? What shade was the wallpaper? What sort of fragrance did Miss Richie Jean put on? What sort of cigarettes did Martin Luther King smoke? You already know, these — down to those little issues that we are able to use to assist inform these deeper tales, to make these individuals human and make this historical past actual.

I feel that is so vital. You already know, it takes a village to make all these items occur. You stated it may be a minute, however how lengthy are we for a timeline in Greenfield Village for individuals to expertise this? You have got an concept.

Amber Mitchell: Sure. Sure, sure, sure. So the house itself will probably be open in summer time of 2026. So seemingly that is going to be, we’re in all probability going to have a giant, not in all probability we’re. Let me cease saying that. We’ll have an enormous splash — grand opening occasion the weekend of June tenth by way of 14th of 2026. There’s going to be a lot occurring um and we’re nonetheless working by way of what numerous that appears like. However we additionally understand that there is going to be lots of people who wish to see this dwelling. Not simply individuals right here in Michigan, however people who’re consistently studying from the historical past of the Civil Rights Motion, people each from Alabama and everywhere in the nation and people internationally who’re impressed by these tales. Um, and naturally, this dwelling is not going wherever. It will be right here for the remainder of our life as an establishment, which hopefully is one other 100 years, 200 years from now, however it’ll be nicely taken care of and have the ability to encourage the subsequent technology of motion makers and alter makers on this nation.

So when someone comes all the way down to Greenfield Village this season, they are going to have the ability to see what among the exterior —  like within the course of work. You may know it is being labored on.

Amber Mitchell: Yeah, precisely. So it, you recognize, final season when it was put in, it was principally two big inexperienced blocks, inexperienced rectangles that have been sitting on Maple Lane simply in between the George Washington Carver Memorial and McGuffy Schoolhouse. This 12 months it’s unwrapped. Proper? So they are going to see the outside of the home, and the method of rebuilding numerous these things. So they are going to see the rebuilding of the entrance porch. They will see the set up of the driveway as a result of we’re placing a driveway in. Um they usually’ll additionally see the constructing of our annex area in the back of the house. This area will enable us to inform a deeper story about the home. 

There have been over 8,000 artifacts that come out of this specific dwelling acquisition, which is a mammoth endeavor for us. Often we get about 4,000 artifacts per 12 months that we course of right here. So we primarily have a small Jackson dwelling solely staff who’s simply engaged on this challenge. 

However we additionally acknowledge that there is going to be lots of people who, past possibly Bloody Sunday, in the event that they know that, they do not know actually something in regards to the context of the Voting Rights Act, the Voting Rights motion and the way it matches inside not simply American historical past, however civil rights historical past. And in order that area will enable us to inform that deeper story earlier than individuals enter the house. And they also’ll see that being constructed as nicely. 

We’ll even have quite a lot of totally different occasions that lead as much as the opening of Jackson Home. We’ve got a weblog sequence on our web site proper now on the Henry Ford.org that is exploring totally different facets of the historical past of the Jacksons, of Selma, of Voting Rights and naturally of the work that we’re doing right here. Issues may even proceed to be populated on all of our social media platforms, YouTube, numerous different issues that we’re doing proper now. 

I feel if people resolve they wish to come out to the museum. We do have an exhibit that has simply opened up within the final couple weeks, that’s an introduction to the Jacksons and the sixtieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act known as “We Shall Overcome.” It’s proper subsequent to our um your house in time exhibit simply throughout from the place uh our type of versatile gallery areas is on the museum ground. And there is quite a lot of artifacts that got here out of the house which can be out on show in addition to details about the Jackson Residence and a video in regards to the Voting Rights Act. So, there’s quite a bit to do uh beginning proper now to study extra in regards to the Jacksons, to study extra in regards to the Voting Rights Act, um and naturally to remain concerned with the Henry Ford.

Effectively, and other people overlook, that is the primary tourism attract Metro Detroit.

Amber Mitchell: It’s. We’re the most important or one of many largest museums within the Midwest and one of many largest within the nation. You already know, particularly Greenfield Village, I do not suppose there’s actually any outside historic area that basically competes with us when it comes to the variety of buildings. We’ve got about 85 totally different buildings outdoors in Greenfield Village, all historic, whether or not they be historic companies or historic houses that enable us to discover these locations and areas which have modified America or possibly simply are attention-grabbing to you and your loved ones. And naturally, there’s all the time the carousel and the Mannequin T if and naturally Thomas the Prepare when he is available in Could. So, you recognize, it is all the time a very good time right here on the Henry Ford, however it’s additionally an academic time on the Henry Ford as nicely.

I admire you a lot. Thanks to your time on Every day Detroit. I actually admire this dialog.

Amber Mitchell: Great. Thanks, Jer to your time as nicely.