Commemorative Issue
The Un-remembered Detroit History

By Arthur R. LaBrew

This particular history was first begun to find materials about Detroit’s musical heritage. In casting his net, Arthur LaBrew caught many exceptional materials that related to Blacks in early Detroit. In finding so much raw data he discovered that so much existed which had not been properly placed in historical focus. The most glaring omissions were the names of these early people and the various activities in which they immersed themselves.

So instead of isolating only the musical and fine arts materials, he decided to incorporate them within the body of general materials about the history of Detroit’s Black society.

ARTHUR R. LaBREW’s primary concerns were that many people active in creating a new society would be forgotten in the historical quest for those whose names appeared more frequently than others.

Then, too, there were the factors as “How were Blacks treated by the masses of white citizens; the news sources; the state and national legislatures, the commercial business community, etc.” Interwoven, LaBrew’s documentary touches upon much of these concerns without lengthy comment.

The 1880s and 1890s are periods with a treasure trove of information especially relating to music and the fine arts. LaBrew uncovers music materials by Detroit’s black composers which not only enhances their personal triumphs but in cases like Theodore Finney and step-son, William, John W. Johnson, Fred Stone, Harry P. Guy influenced the entire nation through publication by the leading publishing houses.

In his pursuit of information, LaBrew has added many significant discoveries of events and Black people throughout America and, indeed, in other parts of the world. His chronological treatment of Detroit’s Black community is worthy of study by those most interested in preserving other nuggets of information about its people and their particular accomplishments.

Detroit prides its self that its musicians, poets, thespians, writers, dramatists matches other important cities in the world. However, unless future writers and historians continue to compile these things, they will remain only faint memories in the minds of only a select few. These volumes, to everyone concerned with Detroit’s future, should certainly be on everyone’s book shelf!