Work & Community
The First Families and individuals who came to Midland in the 1960s and 1970s did so because Dow recruited them. Under the leadership of Ted Doan, Dow changed course on its hiring policies and voluntarily participated in Plans for Progress, a precursor of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Although some people have since moved to Midland for jobs with other companies, Dow remains the predominate source of professional jobs.
Since the 1960s, Midland has grown although it has maintained its small company town feel. Midland gained more restaurant chains, hotels, and movie theaters. Shopping and other amenities expanded.
Some talked of how the city did not always feel the same as their workplaces in terms of understanding and diversity. Sometimes work felt like a bubble, but also sometimes Midland itself felt like a bubble from the rest of the country.
The community has witnessed acts of racial violence including KKK demonstrations and cross-plantings and at least one noose hung in the yard of Black residents. Most recall smaller burdens such as being asked to speak for their race and being called upon to educate their neighbors. Each generation has watched their children navigate lack of representation in school curriculum and lack of support when incidents happened during the school day. Some people found their niche while others found a cold shoulder.
Midland has long thought that it could not be racist, but it seems that Midland has just been good at ignoring the problems, preferring silence to confrontation.
Oral Histories
Victor Atiemo-Obeng / Ebenezer Debrah / Linda Holoman / Smallwood Holoman / Kimberly Houston-Philpot / Delois Leapheart / Felix McElroy / Charity Redfern / Janis Smith / Erin Patrice Walker / Lois & David Wilkins
Victor Atiemo-Obeng
“For a city this size, it’s actually a
remarkable place. It’s aN
INTERESTING PLACE.”
Victor Atiemo-Obeng first came to Midland as a summer intern in 1970, and then came back to Midland to work for Dow Chemical in the 1980s. He talks about how he had been used to much bigger cities, but he has found Midland to be a safe place that offers many amenities. In addition to sharing about his work experience and family life in Midland, Victor offers some life philosophy about knowing who you are and what you are capable of, and how we need to let youth learn and grow into their passions rather than expecting them to decide
too soon.
Ebenezer Debrah
“The world is changing around us, and
you can either embrace it or run away
from it. And chances are that the
organizations and communities that run
away from it are going to be left behind.”
Ebenezer Debrah opened up about the subtle ways racism was expressed in the workplace, such as questioning how he got there – the implication being how did an African become a scientist. He shares that in the past it made him angry, but now he lets it go because he understands it’s due to ignorance. He’s willing to have the conversation, recognizing that he can’t change everything, but he can influence the world through others.
Linda Holoman
“Racism is real and so is white privilege. And I think that as long as you are living in that, you don’t see everything else. So someone has to come along and remind you.”
Linda Holoman came from California and found her world in Midland to be small. She intended to work and continue her education, but after their (white) childcare worker said her husband did not want her to work for a Black family anymore, Linda decided to she needed to stay home with her kids. She later had a successful career. Linda shared how in the beginning people were not overtly discriminatory, but Black people were viewed as a novelty. She thinks people are more vocal now about saying who gets to belong and who doesn’t. On why Midland’s demographics haven’t really changed, Linda assesses that Midlanders don’t want it to change.
Smallwood Holoman
“So we all have our faults, but we all have a whole lot of good we can share together.”
Smallwood Holoman came to Midland to work as a chemist for Dow, and he found his work to be gratifying and rewarding. He did have some interesting experiences as the only Black person in his lab, and he explains how he handled that. Smallwood became very involved with Midland Public Schools, as a father and a member of the school board. He served as a board member for ten years and noted that “schools are the center of our communities.” Smallwood shared many insights about the community, the schools, and his philosophy on how we work through the issues that surround us.
Kimberly Houston-Philpot
“I think what we do in life is we walk into a space, and we look for ourselves.”
Kimberly Houston-Philpot worked for Dow Corning for 32 years, and then worked for Central Michigan and also served as interim director for YWCA GLBR. While refinancing her first Midland house, she discovered in the title history that she would not have been allowed to own her house before the 1950s due to a housing covenant. Kimberly was very aware that some people dismissed her due to race but that was not her focus in life. She spent her years in Midland working to build community and teach that all people have value.
DeLois Leapheart
“I remember those days where this community had a rhythm and it did not involve working women. But that has changed.”
Delois Leapheart came to Midland in 1983 as the “trailing spouse.” She shares about the difficulties with the community culture being one that expected women to stay home with children. Even so, Delois had a successful career at Dow, Northwood, and is the Executive Director of Adoption Option, a nonprofit she felt called to create.
Felix McElroy
“The arc of progression is very shallow, and it doesn’t move very
far in Midland.”
Felix McElroy came to Midland in 1978 to work for Dow, and he found Midland to be a smaller community than he was used to. As part of an interracial couple, Felix had an uncommon vantage point on the difficulties the white and Black communities had with one another. He felt everyday seemed to present a new challenge. He shares that while Midland has an ugly side, it also has a kinder, gentler side and his family experienced both.
Charity Redfern
“Easier to ask if there is a
time I remember that wasn’t
racialized, and not really.”
Charity Redfern shares the challenges of raising Black children in Midland Public Schools. She stayed very active in volunteering and monitoring how her children were treated in classrooms and afterschool activities. By high school, kids grew bolder in expressing racism, and the schools really did not want to address it. Charity also remembers frustrations with law enforcement, including having the police called because they were “moving in too loud.”
Janis Smith
“I need you to understand that Dow didn’t hire Black people out of the goodness of their hearts. It was because of the law.”
Janis Smith explains why Midland was often a great place to live – the opportunities, the arts, education, sports – but how it was often hard, especially raising children. Janis shares that Midland did not provide a warm welcome, and they often had to lean on Bay City and Saginaw for help and services. She acknowledges that there has been some progress toward inclusivity – “not giving stars yet,” but some progress.
Erin Patrice Walker
“…Have to teach them the difference between genuine love and somebody liking you for what you can give them.”
Erin Walker’s kids were valued for their athletic and artistic talents, but that wasn’t always the same thing as being accepted for their whole selves. Although Erin misses the diversity of the city life she grew up with, she values opportunities Midland offered and remains rooted here for family. She also provides an honest reflection of the ways in which her family was excluded, and how after awhile and a willingness to educate your neighbors, she has to wonder if it’s just repeating herself or actual education anymore.
Lois and David Wilkins
“[Midland is] not a community in the broadest
sense that embraces diversity, let alone Black
Lives Matter, let alone as something unique
and important.”
Lois and David Wilkins came to work for Dow in the late 1980s. David’s position had them transfer in an out of Midland a couple times and Lois shifted her focus to volunteer community work. The Wilkins experienced many acts of racism including finding a noose hanging in one of their trees and being told their son should not date white girls, among other examples. Ultimately, on David’s last transfer back to Midland, they opted to live in Freeland instead. The Wilkins found a community that lacked knowledge about Black culture and history. Dow evolved because it is international, but that is not indicative of the Midland community.