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Historic Appointment, Historic Revelations: Black Legacy on Mackinac Island Comes into Sharper Focus

September 8, 2025

Phillip Pierce, the first Black secretary of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, has initiated crucial research revealing the overlooked Black history of Michigan's popular tourist destination. His inquiries led to discoveries about Jean and Jeanette Bonga, formerly enslaved people who opened the island's first-known hotel in the 1780s, and Emma and Joseph Ford, Black business owners and civil rights activists who operated a restaurant on Main Street from 1890 to 1903. These findings have resulted in new historical markers and public recognition, highlighting that Black entrepreneurs and workers have been integral to Mackinac Island's hospitality economy from its earliest days through the present, where Caribbean seasonal workers continue to sustain the tourism industry despite limited Black business ownership today.

Who is affected

  • Visitors to Mackinac Island who now have access to a fuller historical narrative
  • Black seasonal workers from Jamaica and Caribbean nations who staff the island's tourism industry
  • The year-round residents of Mackinac Island (approximately 500 people)
  • Current and future Black entrepreneurs considering business opportunities on the island
  • Historians and researchers studying Michigan's Black history

What action is being taken

  • The Mackinac Island State Park Commission is supporting and promoting research into the island's Black history
  • A Michigan Historical Marker has been placed downtown commemorating the Bongas' contribution
  • Researchers Jack Swartzinski and historian M. Christine Byron are conducting deeper historical investigations
  • The commission is ensuring the island's history is told more inclusively through public education and markers
  • The findings about Black historical figures are being shared with visitors and residents through public events

Why it matters

  • It corrects historical omissions by revealing that Black entrepreneurs were foundational to Mackinac Island's hospitality economy
  • The discoveries place Black entrepreneurship at the core of the island's modern identity and tourism industry
  • It provides recognition for historical figures like the Bongas and the Fords who were previously overlooked
  • The research highlights the continuing role of Black workers in sustaining the island's economy today
  • It creates a more inclusive historical narrative for one of Michigan's most treasured tourist destinations

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle