The African American Literature Special Collection (AALSC) was initially focused on literature written by African Americans from Detroit or who wrote about the city. It has developed into a comprehensive collection of works by and about African American authors. Topics include slavery, race relations, Black leaders, performers and athletes, United States history, political activism, folklore, Africa, and religion.

There are over 4,500 unique titles in this collection that spans from 1807 to 2014.

For more on the history of the AALSC, check out this article from the Metro Times.

The Arthur L. Johnson collection of books, videos and non-print materials reflects the history of African Americans as it relates to the civil rights movement in the United States. The purpose of the collection is to serve the teaching and research needs of students and faculty, as well as the Detroit metropolitan community. The collection began in 1993 with a donation of several print and non-print materials from Arthur L. Johnson and the establishment of the Arthur L. Johnson Endowment. Items in this collection may be located in the catalog.

AALSC items are listed in the catalog. Click the Request from Special Collections button and fill out the required information.

Some of the most prevalent authors in the AALSC are: