Community Engagement

"I celebrate the Jackson family's contribution to the 1960s Voting Rights Movement and express appreciation to The Henry Ford for relocating this valuable asset to historic Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. My hope is that the Jackson family, The Henry Ford, the city of Selma and the nation, immensely benefit from this powerful preservation initiative."

-The Hon. James Perkins Jr., Mayor of the City of Selma, Alabama

"I've known the Sullivan Jackson family all my life. When Jawana confided in me about plans to move the historic Jackson Home to The Henry Ford, I immediately supported her decision to preserve her home and its place in civil rights history. As the councilperson who represents the district of the historic Jackson Home, I, along with Mayor James Perkins and Selma City Council, look forward to beginning a dialogue with The Henry Ford. We look forward to this exciting new chapter for the Jackson Home."

-The Hon. Jannie Thomas, Councilmember, City of Selma, Ward 7

“We are honored to be able to host and preserve The Jackson Home at Greenfield Village and share its incredible history at the heart of the civil rights movement with the world. I am so thankful for Ms. Jawana Jackson’s tireless efforts to secure the future of this home and for entrusting The Henry Ford to carry on its legacy. I've always said that Detroit is a city where movements are born, where you can find reminders of the fight for freedom and equality around every corner, and this addition to our community will be right at home. It's so critically important that we continue to educate people about the history of the civil rights movement, and I trust The Jackson Home will inspire countless new leaders to continue fighting for the world we all deserve.”

-Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, MI-12th Congressional District

“As an internationally renowned American history complex and Michigan's leading cultural tourism destination, The Henry Ford is well positioned to preserve the Jackson Home within Greenfield Village and share its important stories with the world. Together with the Rosa Parks bus, already a part of the museum's collections, the Jackson Home will serve as a powerful platform for inspiring this and future generations with the stories of America's struggles for equal rights for all.”

-Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, MI-6th Congressional District

“The city of Dearborn, Michigan, is blessed with many community assets. Among them is the State of Michigan's leading cultural tourism destination, The Henry Ford. For more than 90 years, it has drawn visitors from all 50 states and around the world to its National Historic Landmark campus. Its outdoor history complex, Greenfield Village, features 83 historic structures, all but one of which was brought to the site from a different point of origin. The Henry Ford has now been entrusted by its owner to take possession and bring to the Village the historic Jackson Home from Selma, Alabama. Here, the Home will benefit from The Henry Ford's resources that will protect its physical integrity in perpetuity and share its stories of the pivotal role it played in the civil rights movement of the 1960s with millions of in-person and virtual visitors.”

-The Hon. Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor of the City of Dearborn, Michigan

"The Henry Ford has the expertise necessary to physically preserve the Jackson Home and its artifacts and to share its powerful story. In my view, the Jackson Home will be in excellent hands and will receive all of the care and attention this historically significant structure deserves."

-Laura Lott, Former President & CEO, American Alliance of Museums

"Not every historic building can be preserved in its original location and for this reason, so many important places are forever lost. Not so for the Jackson Home that will find new life and meaning at The Henry Ford's Greenfield Village. The Jacksons are unsung heroes. Their generosity and courage show us how we, as ordinary Americans, can stand up against injustice and for the beloved community. The Henry Ford has taken a leadership role in broadening the history that museums can tell and enabling us all to envision a shared legacy that makes us stronger as a democratic nation of many diverse people."

-Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Ph.D., Director and Distinguished Professor at Cooperstown Graduate Program/SUNY Oneonta and author of Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights

"It is imperative that places of historic importance marking the contributions of African Americans be restored and preserved. The Jackson Home represents one such significant property, a structure steeped in history and culture. The Henry Ford's collaboration with Ms. Jawana Jackson represents a critical step in ensuring that this iconic American property is preserved and will be visited by millions of visitors."

-Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

"The Henry Ford has been an exceptional steward of artifacts that tell our nation's stories of innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness. Its unparalleled collections documenting the American experience preserve our shared history and inspire each of us to help create a better future. With its recent acquisition of the Jackson Home, The Henry Ford will be able to present the story of its prominent role in the early days of the modern American civil rights movement and the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to millions of visitors."

-Neil Barclay, President of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History