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Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
This photograph depicts the exterior of the building which housed Bethel A.M.E. Church from 1895 to 1971 (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, n.d.). While possibly older, this photo appears in a 1957 Souvenir Program provided by the Church in celebration of the religious organization’s centennial year (Bethel AME Church of Ann Arbor, n.d.).
Eldridge & Zonnechris Askew In The Bethel A.M.E. Nursery School Parade
This is a photograph of nursery school students Eldridge & Zonnechris Askew at a Bethel A.M.E. community event (Eldridge & Zonnechris Askew In The Bethel A.M.E. Nursery School Parade, August 1949, n.d.). Bethel A.M.E. was a stronghold of community gathering and action in the Black community of Ann Arbor's North Central area (Shackman, 2000).
Bethel Church to Have Music Festival
This newspaper clipping advertises an upcoming sermon by Lt. David A. Blake, Jr., son of Rev. David A. Blake Sr., who served as minister at Bethel A.M.E. from 1933-1937 (David Addison Blake Sr (1887-1970), n.d.). As a central Black church of the North Central area, Bethel A.M.E served as a community stronghold for Black residents to discuss concerns about race relations and housing discrimination in the city (Shackman, 2000). Several notable community leaders came from the church, including Rev. David A. Blake Sr. and Rev. Lyman Parks, who later played a role in the desegregation of Ann Arbor public schools (Jones School, n.d.).
Bethel To Hear Former Pastor
This newspaper clipping describes an upcoming sermon by Rev. David A. Blake, Sr. at Bethel A.M.E. Church. Bethel A.M.E. was a central location for the Black community of the North Central region of Ann Arbor, where community members met and discussed issues of housing and school segregation in the city (Shackman, 2000). Blake served as minister of Bethel A.M.E. from 1933-1937, known for hosting Race Relations Day events where multiple Black church congregations gathered to talk about community action surrounding racial discrimination in the area (David Addison Blake Sr (1887-1970), n.d.). He went on to join the board of directors of the Ann Arbor Cooperative Society and eventually was elected the first Black American to serve as a Board Supervisor in Ann Arbor as a Board Supervisor of the 4th Ward in 1951 (David Addison Blake Sr (1887-1970), n.d.).