Tryphena Asare
Research Mentor: Chelsea Salahuddin
Mentor Department: Information, Information
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 3 (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 143
Abstract
This project examines the political history of Black women in southeastern Michigan, particularly in Ypsilanti and surrounding communities. This research aims to situate Black women’s political engagement within the specific social and geographic context of the region shaped political engagement. The project investigates how Black women historically accessed, shared, and mobilized political information through community-based organizations and civic networks, and how these practices continue to influence political participation and information-seeking behaviors in the region. To find sources, the project engaged in a systematic literature review, using a pre-determined set of keywords on social science research databases, including EBSCO, JSTOR, and local informational institutions and archives, such as the Ypsilanti District Library, to gather data sources and organize them into a Zotero library by source type. Materials were identified through structured keyword searches, such as “Black women,†“Political organizing,†and “Southeast Michigan.†Preliminary qualitative analysis of data was done through the creation of an annotated bibliography in Google Docs, which will serve as the primary product of the research for this semester. My research partner and I divided the workload by reviewing and analyzing assigned materials and contributing entries that documented political involvement across southeastern Michigan. Analysis of the collected materials reveals a consistent pattern of Black women functioning as foundational political organizers within their communities. Historical sources show that Black women mobilized through churches, federated club networks, mutual aid societies, and civic organizations. These institutions were structured and connected to larger state and national networks, including the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. By assembling these records into an annotated bibliography and historical timeline, the project expands the documented record of Black women’s political contributions and increases accessibility to this history.
