Natalie Kosaian
Research Mentor: Robert Mickey
Mentor Department: Political Science, LSA
Author(s): Natalie Kosaian, Robert Mickey
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 1
Abstract
This project examines how the Washtenaw County government contributed to racial discrimination against African American residents. While discussions of historical racism often focus on federal or state policies, this research centers on the county as an active decision-maker whose actions caused lasting harm. By focusing on local government records, the project highlights how racism was produced and enforced at the county level rather than imposed solely from above. The research is based on an archival analysis of official Washtenaw County documents, including administrative records and government proceedings. These materials are used to identify moments where county policies or actions directly disadvantaged African American residents and to trace the long-term effects of those decisions. Working with primary sources allows the project to ground its argument in documented institutional behavior. I use these materials to investigate various dimensions of disparate treatment and racial discrimination within the Washtenaw County Jail during the 1960s and 1970s, with particular focus on the treatment and length of detainment of African Americans within the jail.
