The Way to Right Wrongs
The National Park Service is asking for public comments on lynching sites in the Memphis region, including Brownsville, Tennessee—where Elbert Williams was killed in 1940 for organizing Black voter registration. This is more than a historical review. It is a chance for communities and descendant families to help shape how this story is remembered, preserved, and taught. For many of us, especially those with roots stretching from Tennessee to Michigan, this history is not distant. It lives in
No Kings was a Call to do the Work
Community members are organizing in Romulus in response to the proposed ICE detention center. After this weekend’s demonstration, the work continues tomorrow with opportunities to gather, learn, and take action. What’s at stake is bigger than one site. It is about how resources are used and who our systems are built to protect.
Faith, With Works, Is Alive
By Leslie McGraw I carry Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with me not as a symbol, but as a witness. The version of King that shaped my work wasn’t protected by applause or memorials. He was jailed—again and again. He was threatened, surveilled, beaten, and targeted by the state because he organized people to challenge […]
Caring for Ourselves Is Civic Work: We Are Our Own Rainbows
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. While studies show there are many reasons why someone might consider suicide, the biggest deterrents to suicide are positive social connections and access to mental health care. As a writer and activist who leans into many political spaces, taking care of myself is often in competition with other […]
5th Annual Ypsilanti Area Juneteenth Celebration
The Elbert Williams Voting Corner is excited to be part of the Ypsilanti Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 21—a day that honors Black freedom, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice. As we gather to celebrate emancipation and community, we also uplift the legacy of Elbert Williams, one of the first known martyrs of the […]
Discovering Juneteenth
Article Reprinted, Courtesy of Brownsville States-Graphic OPINION | DISCOVERING JUNETEENTHBy Leslie McGraw, Great Grandniece of Elbert Williams I didn’t grow up celebrating Juneteenth. Like many Black Americans in the Midwest, I knew of it only vaguely—something about Texas, something about the end of slavery, but it felt distant, like someone else’s history. In my 11th […]
Civic Education Night on February 20
Survivor Speaks is back with another Civic Duty Education Night in efforts to cater to community mobilizing, bringing information to the communities that have been left out of the equation of decision making. But also to help awaken the community around the power of our collective voice, voting and our civic responsibilities, and unified efforts to bring about change. The Elbert Williams Voting Corner is a proud participant and will have a booth at the event on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 4
Black History Contributions
Brownsville's 2024 bicentennial will be celebrated with the theme "A Journey Through Our History – A Pathway to Progress". The town's history is shaped by African and European cultures, contributing to a bright future. African cultures have influenced art forms globally, including music genres. Prominent individuals from Brownsville have made national and international contributions. The community celebrates African beauty standards and showcases art like "Women of a New Tribe" by Jerry Taliaf
Leslie’s Year in Review
February 5 is my personal new year each year. This past year had a lot of things to carry, but I am excited that my life and mission are converging in a way that I can more fully serve my family and community.