Detroit Golf Club’s first Black woman president comes from a powerful lineage of trailblazing leaders.
Michele Samuels has become the first Black woman to be named president of the prestigious Detroit Golf Club. She carries the legacy of her great-great-grandfather, William Parker, an escaped enslaved person who helped lead the 1851 Christiana Riot and later served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Samuels expressed feeling humbled by the impact of her role on the club and community. “I sat in a session the other day that Rocket put on about the history of Black golf in Detroit, and that really gave me a strong perspective about where Black people in Detroit were kind of denied access to membership https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g42139-Activities-c53-Detroit_Michigan.html,” she told the Detroit Free Press during the 2025 Rocket Classic at DGC.
Her presidency comes after her January retirement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where she served as senior vice president, general auditor, and compliance officer over a 35-year career. She credits much of her drive and leadership to her ancestor William Parker, who chronicled his resistance efforts in an 1866 Atlantic essay titled “The Freedman’s Story.”
Parker and his wife, Eliza, sheltered freedom seekers and later settled in Buxton, Ontario, near Detroit, continuing their work with the Underground Railroad. Samuels draws inspiration from this legacy. “When I learned about it, I did draw a lot of inspiration from it,” she said. “It explained a lot about who I am, and why I’m always fighting for something and leading.”
More than a decade after joining the club in 2012, Samuels has now made history. A devoted golfer and motorcycle enthusiast, she feels honored to lead a space her ancestors once had to fight to enter.
“Love the environment, love the diversity of the club,” she said. “It’s very unique. I’ve always been a supporter of Detroit, and to be able to be part of a golf club that’s centered in the city of Detroit is just an honor.”
Between 30,000 and 40,000 enslaved African Americans are estimated to have escaped to Canada from the United States during the 19th century. Most of these escapes occurred between 1830 and 1865 through the Underground Railroad, a secret network of routes, safe houses, and abolitionist supporters. Canada, especially Ontario, became a primary destination after slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the U.S. made northern states unsafe, prompting many to continue their journey to Canadian soil. Communities like Buxton, Chatham, Windsor, and Niagara Falls became important settlements for freedom seekers. These towns provided opportunities for land ownership, education, and freedom from recapture. Many of the escapees and their descendants played key roles in Canadian society, contributing to its cultural, political, and economic development. Their legacy remains an important part of both Canadian and African American history.
