Abstract With a background in labor activities and civil rights, Coleman Young captured a Michigan State Senate seat in 1964, representing an east side Detroit district, and rose quickly to leadership posts in the Lansing legislature. Michigan Democrats elected him in 1968 to become the first black member ever to serve on the Democratic National Committee. In 1973, pledging to restore peace between the people and police of Detroit, Coleman Young announced as a candidate for Mayor of Detroit. He defeated...

Abstract An active member of United Auto Workers Local 15, Ernest Dillard was the first African American elected to a succession of UAW leadership posts. Jessie Dillard was one of Detroit’s leading block club organizers and civil rights activists. Both Mr. and Ms. Dillard played prominent roles in the Detroit NAACP and held leadership positions in the Michigan Democratic Party.Part I of the papers of Ernest and Jessie Dillard reflect the broad range of their professional and political...