The Michigan Labor History Society Annual Meeting

Please join the Michigan Labor History Society on June 17th for our 2025 Annual Meeting, featuring guest speaker labor educator and union activist Steve Babson presenting:

Truth to Power: When Coleman Young Defied the Red Scare:

When the House Un-American Activities Committee came to Detroit in 1952, Coleman Young’s defiance of HUAC’s right-wing inquisitors won him a lasting reputation for courage and political candor. Learn how Young and his fellow travelers resisted the Red Scare, and how their story helps us prepare for the struggles we face today.

In the current political climate, Steve’s talk about labor standing up to political demagogues is more relevant than ever. Steve Babson has authored some of the best works of Michigan labor history, including Working Detroit: The Making of a Union Town, Lean Work: Empowerment and Exploitation in the Global Auto Industry, and The Color of Law: Ernie Goodman and the Struggle for Labor and Civil Rights in Detroit.

The annual meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 17, at 6:00 pm, at Operating Engineers Education Center in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Admission is FREE and light refreshments will be served. A brief annual business meeting will follow.

Your attendance and support help us continue to uplift the history of the working people of Michigan. Our activities include maintaining the “Transcending” Labor Legacy Landmark at Detroit’s Hart Plaza, hosting thoughtful historical programming, and partnering with community organizations on various local labor history initiatives.