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Recent Posts
- New Interview for the GRPS Uncovered podcast
- New GRPS Uncovered podcast for 7/7/2025
- Radical Grand Rapids: Places, Dates, Actions and People
- New book by long time community activist Paul Mayhue: Another Brother in The Struggle
- New Grand Rapids podcast sheds light on the history of the Grand Rapids Public Schools
Author Archives: Jeff Smith (GRIID)
3000 march in Grand Rapids after Birmingham Church Bombing – 1963
On Sunday, September 15 of 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was the site on a White Terrorist bombing, resulting in the deaths of four African American girls – Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair. … Continue reading
The Mustache Affair in Grand Rapids, as reported on by the Commercial Media in 1966
(Special Thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Grand Rapids City Archives for assisting with finding the material sources here.) Chapter 4 of Todd Robinson’s important and insightful book, A City Within a City: The Black Freedom Struggle … Continue reading
A Legacy of Pride and Struggle in the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Community
This week Pride celebrations are happening all across the globe. These celebrations are rooted in the Stonewall riot that took place in the summer of 1969. Pride celebrations have evolved over the years and many believe that it has become … Continue reading
Student Protests and an Unruly Audience: Earth Day 1970 in Grand Rapids
Earth Day activities were planned across the country on April 22, 1970. Grand Rapids was also included in those communities that celebrated Earth Day. Based on articles from the Grand Rapids Press, there were three separate activities that received attention … Continue reading
Celebrating the Grand Rapids Furniture Workers Strike of 1911: Lessons for contemporary organizing and resistance
On April 19, it will be 106 years since hundreds of furniture workers walked off the job in Grand Rapids protesting working conditions, wages and the lack of an 8 hour work day. We have been researching this historic event … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #12 – the struggle for LGBTQ equality in West Michigan
Last semester, art students in Brett Colley’s GVSU class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Interview with Odawa War & Peace Chief 1993
This posting is based on an interview from the independent newspaper, The Fundamentalist in the summer of 1993. The entire interview is linked in the posting, but a summary is what we are providing. One of the co-editors of the … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #11 – Animal Rights Movement in West Michigan
Last semester, art students in Brett Colley’s GVSU class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History … Continue reading
Interview with an Anishinaabe working in the the Grand Rapids Public Schools – 1992
This interview was conducted by one of the co-editor’s of the independent newspaper in Grand Rapids during the 1990s, The Fundamentalist. The interview, published in its entirety, was part of an issue of the independent newspaper that was completely devoted … Continue reading
Artwork highlights a People’s History in Grand Rapids – Print #10 – the South African Anti-Apartheid Movement
Last semester, art students in Brett Colley’s class on printmaking, invited me to come talk about the Grand Rapids People’s History Project. The intent of the class was to have students investigate their own part of a People’s History of … Continue reading
Grand Rapids People's History Project 