Reclaiming the Northern Black Freedom Struggle
A Conversation with Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, Author of King of the North
Exhibit at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation®
- Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Time: 2:00 p.m. (Q&A and book signing to follow)
- Location: Anderson Theater, Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
This event is free to the public, but registration is required. RSVP here.
Join us at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation for a special afternoon author talk with historian and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jeanne Theoharis as she explores her newly published book King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South in conversation with Amber N. Mitchell, Curator of Black History at The Henry Ford.
Shortlisted for the 2025 Museum of African American History Stone Book Award, King of the North offers a radical reframing of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., illuminating his activism beyond the American South. This event aligns with The Henry Ford's annual commemoration of Dr. King's legacy and our ongoing dedication to sharing America's stories of courage, equality and resilience.
In Theoharis' bold retelling, Dr. King emerges as someone who not only led a movement but, from Boston to Los Angeles to Detroit, challenged segregation, as well as policing, housing and job discrimination with urgency and purpose. King of the North speaks directly to our struggles over racial inequality today. Just as she restored Rosa Parks' central place in modern American history, Theoharis radically expands our understanding of Dr. King's life and work — a vision of justice still unfolding in the present.
As we prepare to open the Jackson Home in Greenfield Village in June 2026, a site deeply connected to Dr. King's leadership and commitment to justice, this conversation provides a powerful opportunity to reflect on his enduring impact and legacy.
The conversation will be followed by a brief Q&A and book signing reception with the opportunity to purchase a copy of King of the North.
About the Author
 | Dr. Jeanne Theoharis is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College of City University of New York and the author or co-author of 12 books and numerous articles on the contemporary politics of race in the United States. She is the author of The New York Times bestselling biography The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks and winner of the 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work Biography/Autobiography and the Letitia Woods Brown Award from the Association of Black Women Historians. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks has been adapted into a documentary of the same name, executive produced by Soledad O'Brien for Peacock where Theoharis served as a consulting producer. Her young adult adaptation with Brandy Colbert, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks for Young People, was included in the Best Books of 2021 by the Chicago Public Library and Kirkus Reviews. Her book A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History won the 2018 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize in Nonfiction and was named one of the best Black history books of 2018 by Black Perspectives. Theoharis' writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, The Nation, Slate, The Atlantic and many more. She is also the recent author of King of the North, “a powerful must-read that sheds new light on King and the Civil Rights Movement." |
About the Moderator
 | Amber N. Mitchell has been Curator of Black History at The Henry Ford since 2023. As a public historian, Amber strives to center the stories of African-descended peoples within the American experience and transform cultural and historical institutions into accessible reflections of our multidimensional communities. |
Registration Information
The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Seats are limited.
There is a maximum of six registrants per entry. Registrants will receive confirmation and event reminders via email. Please show these confirmations upon entry to the event.
Registration will close on Thursday, January 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET or earlier if capacity is reached.
Entry & Parking Information
Doors will open to Anderson Theater at 1:30 p.m. The program will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by a brief Q&A and book signing reception.
This is a free public event; museum admission is not required.
Free parking is available in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation lot off Oakwood Boulevard near the museum Welcome Center. The Clocktower entrance on the brick circle drive may be used for pickup/drop-off for guests who need special assistance.
Please note that parts of Oakwood Boulevard may be impacted by construction. Be prepared for traffic delays or detours. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Accessibility Information
The Henry Ford is committed to making our events accessible to everyone.
- Anderson Theater's main floor is fully accessible. The second floor balcony is accessible via stairs only.
- This event will be ASL interpreted.
If you require an additional accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact our accessibility team via email at accessibility@thehenryford.org.
