Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

So in the past few years, I was lecturing at the Ford House.

I was lecturing at the Wright African American Museum.

I was lecturing at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library.

And I loved it.

But first, two of Metro Detroit's most venerated museums find themselves in an extremely challenging financial position following what I can only call a series of unfortunate events.

The Charles H. Wright Museum for African American History and the Detroit Historical Society have both experienced big cuts in federal funding.

A state move to help them make up that money fell by the wayside due to a procedural error.

So now the Yes to Our Story campaign at YesToOurStory.com is asking voters in two counties to raise the money to keep the museums running.

It just couldn't have been a better experience of them you know, negotiating together to create this one singular body, this authority.

And then it also has to pass in both counties by 50% plus one for it to pass at all.

Neil Barkley is president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

We've also been speaking with Ilana Rue of the Detroit Historical Society, which also manages a number of other historical properties around the city.

So that would be wonderful.

But if you're in Detroit, it's at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History.

And it's on display until December 6th of 2026.

Amazing.

I am Jer Staes.

Today we're talking about preserving Metro Detroit's stories through the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

and the Detroit Historical Society.

Thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting the show.

Um, so it, it, it came together pretty quickly, and we had an opportunity to do work, uh, in St. Paul at Penumbra Theatre.

Uh, we had an opportunity to do it at the Wright Museum in Detroit.

Mm.

We had an opportunity to return home to Los Angeles to do it at a new theater.

Highly recommend it.

And then also in this area is the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

I will say this definitely is an emotional experience, so just be prepared when you go to the exhibit.

But they do a really great job.