The Legacy Project: Stories of Lansing’s African American Families: Lonnie Johnson (This is a series in honor of The New Citizens Press’ 2012 anniversary)
Good memories living in Lansing: Lonnie Johnson, 3-years-old at 904 S. Sycamore St. The neighborhood no longer exists, however at the time it was considered the Westside. Johnson shown here about 1942, with his mother, Alice Johnson, born in 1918 in Lansing, MI. Courtesy photo
By Nadine Defensor
The city of Lansing is home to approximately 115,000 African-Americans. It’s also the home of a rich African-American culture, where family history can be traced all the way to the country’s birth, while also witnessing its momentous historical events.