To celebrate Black History Month, we’ve compiled a few amazing facts from right here in WKHM’s broadcast headquarters of Jackson, Michigan.

Underground Railroad

Did you know Jackson, Michigan has several sites with ties to the Underground Railroad? The Underground Railroad was a system transporting fugitives from slave states in the South to free states in the North, and it passed right through Jackson.

Learn more at ExperienceJackson.com

Ebony Records

Located on Francis Street (now MLK) near High Street, Ebony Records was Jackson’s “grooviest record shop” in the 1970s and was a popular destination for the African American community. The City of Jackson is looking for more information about Ebony Records, so if you have a story to share, please reach out!

Learn more at CityofJackson.org

Benny Poole

Benny was a Jackson-based saxophonist who found international success in the 1960s with hit jazz records, but Jackson was always home. He still played gigs locally for decades before his passing in 2020. There is a mural on the Nite Lite building downtown, painted by local artist Evan Struck, with Benny’s portrait.

Learn more at Mlive.com

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