Friends of Royal Oak Township, Inc. (FOROT) is honored and pleased to present our “Truth Toward Reconciliation: The Vision, Journey, and Voices of Royal Oak Township,” historic initiative. The project involved two short films, Part I: A Tale of Ten Cities and Part II: The Phoenix Rising.
The exciting cinematic experience, our first short film entitled, A Tale of Ten Cities, offers a true historical representation of a 200-year journey of South Oakland County. This innovative initiative shed light on historic annexations and the development of ten municipalities from the original Royal Oak Township geographic area. Once a thriving 36 square-mile Black community, it was gradually reduced to just 0.55 square miles through redlining, annexation, and decades of systemic erasure.
On June 11, 2025, this local screening at St. John Episcopal Church took place in one of the very ten cities named in the film, offering a unique opportunity to reflect, connect, and honor the communities shaped—and reshaped—by policy and resistance.
A Community Unfolded. A Truth Revealed.
History & Healing
Angela Dillard, Lauren Hood, Marcia Black, Baba Cheikh Mbacké
FOROT was invited to participate on a panel at U-M's month-long celebration of MLK on January 15th, 4:00-6:00pm on the Ann Arbor campus. The program event theme "Hope & History" focused on reparations in Detroit (and beyond) and utilizing the knowledge found in resources such as storytelling, oral histories, and archives that center the lived experiences of Black people. Projects like the Black Bottom Archives and the Friends of Royal Oak Township’s Truth Toward Reconciliation initiative gave agency of the possibilities of reparations as a form of remembrance and healing.
The event was presented by the University of Michigan Department of Afro-American and African Studies, Department of History, and Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies.
Angela D. Dillard, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education was the (moderator) provided opening remarks and framed the panels discussion.
Lauren Hood opened with reflections and provocation on reparations work and the idea of repair, emphasizing the importance of continuing to open doors as we navigate the path toward reparations. She spoke about the strides that people of African ancestry have made in the United States and specifically U of M. Highlighting the present panel was representative of the African race on a major European University.
Baba Cheikh shared the importance and intersection of culture and history and how FOROT has centered its work and programs on the interrelated components. FOROT’s short film, A Tale of Ten Cities, complimented his presentation and the importance of history in the development of the film and founding of the organization. How history residual effect has left lingering deleterious effects because of annexations, redlining and miseducation.
Marcia Black from the Black Bottom Archives spoke extensively on the necessity of telling historical stories that center Black lives and experiences as a precondition for the current/future work of repair. Marcia touched on the fact that reparations are more than just monetary distribution, there must be engagement, respect and apology. She furthered shared in the redevelopment of I-75, specifically Black Bottoms prior location, and how the community is invited to lend their voice to what they would like incorporated in the redevelopment.
A combination of University of Michigan Professors, Chairs and Provost welcomed attendees and introduced the presenters, framed the panel discussion, and thanked them and closed the event.