Carrying a wide variety of cargoes to such destinations as the Potteries, the textile mills of Lancashire, the papermills of London, the colleges of Oxford, they struggled on against increasing competition from rail and road traffic to maintain their place in the country's economy. Yet, little has been recorded about the lives of the canal families, and in particular, the women.

    They also describe extraordinary events-the great migration from the South, the Depression, World War II, the 1943 race riot, the Civil Rights Movement, the civil disturbance of 1967, and the Vietnam War. Their anecdotal testimonies and reminiscences provide invaluable information about the institutions, lifestyles, relationships, and politics that constitute the black experience in Detroit.By featuring the histories of African Americans living in Detroit during the first six decades of the 20th century, this unique oral history contributes immeasurably to our understanding of the development of the city.This is the history of Detroit's African American community told by the men and women who lived it.

    Introduces the traditional life-giving story of the Corn-Mother, called selu by the Cherokee.