DETROIT – In celebration of Black History Month, Local 4 is diving into the rich and trying history of Black Americans, especially stories from right here in Michigan.
In this segment of our History 4 All special, Local 4′s Kimberly Gill and Devin Scillian visit with Daniel Baxter, founder of the Dr. Ossian Sweet Foundation, at the Ossian H. Sweet House in Detroit to learn more about the history of the Black physician.
In the 1920s, Dr. Sweet moved into a Detroit home with his wife and daughter. Shortly after their arrival, a mob of angry white people descended on the family’s home.
In anticipation of such an uprising from the community, Sweet had several people at the home who were armed with firearms. Shots were fired in self-defense -- but Sweet, his wife and all the other Black adults were charged with murder.
Baxter gives us an in-depth look at the story of Dr. Sweet and his experience in Detroit.
Watch the full segment in the video player above.
Watch: History 4 All segments