Detroit City Council's first African American, Erma Henderson served as president of the Council from 1978-1989.
Erma Henderson was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1917. When she was two years old her family relocated to Detroit. She attended the Detroit Public Schools and was later educated at the Detroit Institute of Technology, Wayne County Community College, and the University of Michigan. She received her Masters Degree in Social Work at Wayne State University. Ms. Henderson became a political activist at an early age, first in the Republican Party as the founder of the Women's Auxiliary of the Appomattox Republican Club, and later in the Democratic Party. Ms. Henderson has long been a crusader for civil rights and equal justice for minority groups. She was the first Black Port Secretary for the National Maritime Union and was instrumental in eliminating segregation in several Michigan hotels and restaurants. Ms. Henderson established a reputation as a coalition builder in helping African-Americans run for public office as early as the middle 1950's. She ran a successful campaign that resulted in the election of Detroit's first Black to City Council in 1958. In the wake of the civil disturbances of 1967, Ms. Henderson became the Executive Director of the Equal Justice Council the following year. In 1972, she became the first African-American in Detroit's history to win against a white opponent for a seat on the City Council. She was also the first Black woman to be elected to this position. In 1977, she was the first person of color to become President of the Common Council. This was repeated in 1981 and 1985. She worked tirelessly as an advocate for fair housing and quality of life issues for the citizens of Detroit. Combating homelessness, outlawing the practice of Redlining, and building economic ties with African nations were high on her list of priorities. Ms. Henderson was one of the most influential women in American municipal government in the 1970's and 1980's. She was active in several organizations and was on the boards of the National League of Cities, the Michigan Municipal League, United Community Services, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, as well as Trustee for Wayne County Community College, and Marygrove College. She was a Regional Director of the National Black Caucus of Locally Elected Officials and National Chairwoman for Women in Municipal Government. She was the recipient of numerous citations, awards, and recognitions throughout her career. Perhaps one of her proudest moments occurred after her retirement when she coordinated and hosted the Women's Reception for Nelson and Winnie Mandela on June 28, 1990.
From the description of Erma Henderson papers, 1972-1993 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 434841917
