A Summer Place: The Minority Experience on the West Coast of Michigan

Behavior and habits of leisure present a microcosm of American culture, underscoring the importance of studying American summer places. Cultivating sense of place remains intrinsic to our humanity, though engendering it becomes harder and harder in a modern era defined by mobility and change. Thus, as these unique places endure mounting threats to their character and existence, rediscovering and understanding timeless summer touchstones has never been more essential. Furthermore, the narrative of summer places closely parallels the narrative of American history, social movements, and the struggle of marginalized Americans. Summer places tell a small, yet integral and deeply-felt, part of the American story.