Dr. Ossian H. Sweet Foundation

05/01/2026

On Saturday, April 21st, I had the pleasure of presenting at the 5th Annual Fair Housing Awareness Bikeathon. Nearly 200 cyclists made their first stop on a 14-mile route at the Historic Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House, and I had the honor of sharing an important part of our history with them.

Standing there, you could feel the weight and power of the story. It is a story about courage, fairness, and the right to call a place home. For a moment, the past felt close, and its meaning was clear to everyone present.

It was a beautiful morning filled with purpose, learning, and connection.

Special thanks to Teisha Lott, formerly of Brownstone, for a powerful and moving rendition of the Negro National Anthem. Your voice did more than sing, it set the tone and carried the moment. Thank you to my fraternity brother, Terry Ward, for helping bring this together and making sure it all came to life. And thank you to Karlene Tucker Scaggs for having the vision to place the Sweet House on the riding route, turning a simple stop into a moment of meaning.

04/17/2026

Thank you to Shamyle Maya Dobbs for connecting me with Professor Peter Hammer, who chose to hold his final class of the semester for Wayne State University Law students at the Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House on Wednesday, September 15th.

I had the honor of welcoming the students and sharing this important history, and I was able to sit in as well while James Martinez led a thoughtful discussion with a room full of future lawyers. It made the moment even more meaningful.

04/15/2026

Thank you Darryl Woods, Sr for creating a magical moment. The students who visited this Monday from Brewer Academy were amazing!

03/28/2026

🌸 Women’s History Month | The Story of Mildred R. Madison 🇺🇸

Mildred R. Madison never needed a spotlight to change history — she simply went to work.

In Cleveland, she broke barriers as a civic leader, educator, and the first Black president of the League of Women Voters. When the nation looked for a stage for the pivotal 1980 presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, she helped bring it to Cleveland — proving her city belonged at the center of American democracy.

When she later came to Detroit, she saw a different problem: a City Council elected entirely at-large, where neighborhoods often felt unheard. So she organized, educated, and persisted. Because of her leadership, voters approved a new system — seven district council members and two at-large seats — giving every community a voice at the table. Detroit still lives under that more representative system today.

A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mrs. Madison embodied service, scholarship, and sisterhood. And her commitment to democracy never faded. Well into her 90s, she was still voting, still encouraging others, still believing that participation was the price of freedom.

She didn’t just serve two cities — she strengthened them.
She didn’t just believe in democracy — she practiced it.

✨ Because Mildred R. Madison lived, Cleveland stood taller and Detroit spoke louder.

💐 Rest in power to a quiet giant whose legacy will echo every time a citizen casts a ballot.

03/12/2026

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Gladys Atkinson Sweet

When we remember the 1925 Sweet Trials, we often think of Dr. Ossian Sweet and the famous lawyers who defended the case. But one of the strongest figures in that historic struggle was his young wife, Gladys Atkinson Sweet — a mother, a citizen, and a woman of extraordinary courage.

On September 9, 1925, a violent mob surrounded the Sweets’ new home on Detroit’s east side. Rocks shattered the windows. Terror filled the night. When gunfire erupted, everyone inside the house was arrested — including Gladys.

At the jail, she endured hours of harsh interrogation. Prosecutors expected fear. What they got was defiance.

Yes, she knew it was a white neighborhood.
Yes, she expected trouble.
Yes, there were guns in the house for protection.

And when asked why she moved there anyway, Gladys gave a statement that still echoes through history:

“I think it is my perfect right to move where I please.”

She refused to be intimidated. When pressed to “remember” details that could be used against the defendants, she calmly replied:

“I don’t remember what I don’t remember. You can’t make me.”

Released on a $10,000 bond, the NAACP made Gladys the face of the defense. She traveled the country speaking in Black churches and community halls, telling the story of the terror that came uninvited to her front door. Her words moved the nation. The defense fund grew from a hoped-for $50,000 to more than $76,000.

Gladys Sweet was not just Dr. Sweet’s wife. She was a powerful voice for dignity, citizenship, and the right of Black families to live in peace.

This Women’s History Month, we honor a young mother who stood unshaken in the face of hatred — and helped turn a Detroit tragedy into one of the most important civil rights trials of the 20th century.

🕊️ Gladys Atkinson Sweet — brave, resolute, unforgettable.

01/23/2026

Last night was special, not because of fancy words or big speeches, but because of people coming together with open hearts and open minds.

I had the honor of welcoming Cohort Detroit into the historic Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House. Inside this home, history still speaks. It tells the story of Dr. Ossian H. Sweet, a man who stood for his family, his dignity, and his right to live freely.

I shared this story from the point of view of community, liberty, and understanding. Not to reopen old wounds, but to help us learn from the past so we can build a better future. We talked about courage in hard moments, standing firm without hate, and choosing understanding over fear.

This was not a lesson meant to divide.
It was a lesson meant to bring people together.

This photo captures more than a moment. It captures listening, learning, and connection. It shows what happens when people choose to sit together, ask questions, and grow together.

History lives in this house.
But last night, the future showed up too.

Thank you, Cohort Detroit, for spending the evening here and for helping turn yesterday’s lessons into tomorrow’s hope.

12/20/2025

Thank you to Detroit Police Commission Vice Chair Darryl Woods for arranging the swearing in of our newly elected police commissioners at the Historic Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House earlier this week.

Being sworn in at the Sweet House truly matters. This historic home stands for courage, fairness, and standing up for what is right. For the Detroit Police Commission, it was a powerful reminder that their work is about serving the people and protecting justice in our community.

The board is responsible for representing civilian interest in police misconduct cases, essentially policing the police.

11/18/2025

Grateful to American Black Journal for having me on to share the significance of the Sweet legacy.

10/24/2025

On Wednesday, the Historic Dr. Ossian H. Sweet House welcomed a wonderful group of students and faculty from Wayne County Community College District, led by Dr. Yvette Anderson.

It was an honor to share the powerful story of Dr. Sweet in the very home where history was made. The lessons of courage, justice, and community still speak loudly today, and it was inspiring to see everyone connect with that history in such a meaningful way.

I’m truly thankful for their visit and the chance to keep this story alive together.

10/23/2025

On September 3, 2025, students from the University of Liggett pulled up to the corner of Garland and Charlevoix to take in the powerful history of the house that still speaks truth, courage, and community to this day.