Detroit Siblings Protect 40,000-Piece Black Media Collection

Two Detroit natives now run a nonprofit to protect an unmatched collection of Black film and media items. The Black Canon, led by Alima Wheeler-Trapp and Ali Wheeler, watches over 40,000 pieces that their father, James Wheeler, spent his life finding.

"The Black Canon is basically my father's life work," Wheeler-Trapp told CBS Detroit. "If we don't preserve these artifacts, they could actually be lost."

From movie posters to rare photos and scripts, the items tell a hundred years of Black entertainment stories. After moving north from Arkansas in 1958, James Wheeler made it his mission to save these pieces of history.

This treasure shows us what many forgot about film's past. "People don't know that there were 350 to 400 race films with all-Black casts, Black directors, and Black producers showing Black people in a positive light," Wheeler-Trapp said.

For Ali Wheeler, this work means everything. "Personally, it's extremely meaningful," he said. "He spent more than half of his life collecting these items."

While other kids filled boxes with baseball cards, James Wheeler chased down bits of Black media history. His drive created what his kids now call an "amazing archive" of American culture.

By protecting these items, the siblings keep their father's dream alive while making their city shine. "I think of what my father did to persevere and collect this, and what me and my sister are doing right now, and that's what makes me 'Detroit Proud,'" Ali Wheeler said.

Starting October 4, 2025, visitors can see parts of The Black Canon at the Detroit Historical Museum in a show called "Portraits and Power." Check the museum's site for more info.