The Jackson House: From Selma to Detroit

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Join us for a free panel discussion in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation to contextualize the historical significance of The Henry Ford's major acquisition of the Dr. Sullivan and Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson House.

The Jackson House is a unique time capsule documenting one of the most momentous movements in U.S. history: the Selma to Montgomery marches, a sustained effort to ensure that all Americans would have the civil and voting rights promised to them.

Standing as a symbol of courage and strategy, the Jackson House was acquired in 2023 from the home's owner, Jawana Jackson, who asked The Henry Ford to acquire, relocate, and elevate the historic home, enshrining it within the legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Learn more about the process and vision for the Jackson House's role in shaping a brighter future for generations to come from our esteemed panelists, including Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Jonathan Eig, Nelson George and Jawana Jackson.

The Jackson House will open in 2026 in Greenfield Village.

Registration Information

The panel discussion is free to the public, but registration is required. Seats are limited.

There is a maximum registration of 10 guests per entry. Registrants will receive an event reminder via email the week of the event. Please show this email upon entry to the event.

Registration will close on Tuesday, August 6 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Register

Distinguished Panelists

Moderated by Jamal Simmons, CNN Commentator and Former White House Official.

	Dr. Michael Eric Dyson Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is one of the nation's most renowned professors, gifted writers, inspiring preachers, knowledgeable lecturers, and prominent media personalities. Dyson is currently Distinguished University Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies and Distinguished University Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University. Dyson is the author of over 25 books, including seven New York Times bestsellers. Dyson's esteemed literary output won him the 2020 Langston Hughes Medal, which in the past was awarded to James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and August Wilson. Dyson has also won an American Book Award, a Southern Book Award, and two NAACP Image Awards.
	Jonathan Eig Jonathan Eig is a former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal and a New York Times bestselling author of several books. In May 2024, Eig won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., King: A Life. Eig has been called “a master storyteller” with books listed among the best of the year by The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated, and Slate.
	Nelson George Nelson George is an established author and filmmaker with a passion for telling stories of the Black experience in America. George is the author of several groundbreaking histories of African American music, including Where Did Our Love Go?: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound, The Death of Rhythm & Blues, and Hip Hop America. George has published two collections of music journalism and has directed a number of documentaries premiering on VH1, ESPN, Showtime, MAX and FX/HULU.
	Jawana Jackson Jawana Jackson is the daughter of Dr. Sullivan & Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson and previous owner of the Jackson House. Jackson and The Henry Ford share a vision of preserving and sharing the legacy of the house — seeking to raise its profile and bring it to the attention of new audiences across the nation and around the world.

Entry & Parking Information

Doors will open to the event at 6:00 p.m. There will be a cash bar serving non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments.

Attendees can park in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation lot off Oakwood Boulevard and enter through the museum Welcome Center.

Please note that parts of Oakwood Boulevard may be impacted by construction. Be prepared for traffic delays or detours. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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