Historical pillar include several long-range projects, which include acquiring a historical site designation for a school building located in Royal Oak Charter Township and a free-standing historical library archival library. Our preservation efforts include community engagement, presentations, and activities to acquire and archive historical materials that depict the 1833 founding of the community. It has taken ten years to launch the historical pillar, a long-range initiative, which has been contingent on the acquisition and availability of funding. Our primary goal is to preserve and share the history and legacy of Royal Oak Charter Township to current, past, future residents, and visitors. Friends of Royal Oak Township and the Truth Toward Reconciliation Initiative Affiliates recognize and REMEMBER that it was in 1921 (100 years ago) that led to the creation of a historically black community. We invite individuals, organizations, faith-based institutions, city council or commission to join in our recognition and historical truth-telling initiative, so many perspectives. Standing strong, efforts have failed in the attempt to erase an African American community that has been in South Oakland County for more than 100 years. The voices of dignity, the voices of love and truth have sustained the families and residents of Royal Oak Charter Township championing the spirit of what community resistance looks like.

The planning for an idea that began 13 years ago came to fruition with installation of the marker today. The Michigan Historical Commission approved a historical marker for the Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School. It is located in Royal Oak Charter Township (Oakland County, MI), a historically Black community dating back to 1833, Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School was at the center of a protracted school desegregation battle which pitted the Ferndale Public School District against the U.S. Supreme Court between 1969 and 1981.

The Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School was built in 1926 during an extended period of population growth in Ferndale which contributed to overcrowding in Ferndale schools. Despite district policy, students were not transferred out of Grant to other schools operating under capacity. Overcrowding at Grant became so extreme from 1939 through 1942 that the school implemented half-day sessions to educate its students; this overcrowding was often artificially prolonged between 1926-1970.When the school district refused to negotiate with the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and failed to provide a desegregation plan for Grant Elementary School in 1969, it became the focus of a decade long legal battle. HEW conducted an official hearing in 1969 that ruled Grant school was de jure segregated and terminated the district’s federal funds. Consequently, Ferndale School District (FSD) became the first district in the North to be officially found in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the first to have its federal aid revoked. The court ordered desegregation plan in Ferndale went into effect January 5, 1981.

According to Brigitte R. Hall, FOROT Founding President and current Executive Director, “we are so proud to honor Ulysses S. Grant school, it was the building blocks of our culture and education.” Royal Oak Charter Township is now comprised of approximately 97% people of African ancestry and a disproportionate number of medically fragile elders.”We encourage you to visit and read the text on both sides of the marker and capture an image of this historic marker. Community members in addition to state, county, local officials, civic leaders, and supporters will be invited to the unveiling. Stay tuned!