Black Bottom Detroit

Black Bottom was a thriving African American neighborhood on Detroit’s east side from the early 1900s through the 1950s. Known for its vibrant culture, thriving Black-owned businesses, and influential jazz and blues scene, it became a center of community, entrepreneurship, and creativity. In the 1950s and 1960s, much of the neighborhood was demolished during urban renewal projects and freeway construction, displacing thousands of residents. Today, Black Bottom remains an important symbol of Detroit’s rich Black history, resilience, and cultural legacy.