The near century-old monument of Italian poet Dante Alighieri on Belle Isle in Detroit has been restored. The monument was unveiled by the Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan in September. One Detroit’s Will Glover attended the unveiling ceremony to learn more about Alighieri’s legacy and how the monument’s restoration impacts the local Italian American community.
Read MoreIndian Village, a neighborhood on Detroit’s east side bordered to the south by the Detroit River, has a storied past. Visitors to the neighborhood will likely find a lot of maintenance and repair work underway for the uniquely designed houses. In recent years, property values have surged. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota tours the neighborhood and shares the history of this national historic district.
Read MoreFather Solanus Casey, a Catholic priest who served Detroiters from the St. Bonaventure monastery on the city’s east side, died in 1957 but many still feel the impact of his service. Casey was elevated to the status of Blessed by the Vatican in 2017 and he is one step away from being named a saint. Casey would become the first male born in the United States to attain sainthood. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota visits the Solanus Casey Center to learn about his life and legacy.
Read MoreMichigan State Senator Stephanie Chang announced $1 million in state funding to revitalize Detroit’s Chinatown, aiming to recognize Asian Americans and attract Asian American businesses. This initiative comes as the community reflects on the historic loss of its Chinese population to the suburbs decades ago. Midtown Detroit will oversee the streetscape improvements, expected to begin next year.
Read MoreAugust 9 marks the 50th anniversary of Gerald Ford becoming President. The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, named after Michigan’s only president, commemorates this milestone. One Detroit’s Zoe Clark interviewed Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes and Professor Jenna Bednar to discuss President Ford and the election process 50 years later.
Read More“The Riot Report” documentary examines the uprisings in the summer of 1967 by Black residents protesting police brutality, racial injustice and social and economic disparities. The documentary airs on Detroit PBS on Friday, July 26. The documentary’s co-producer and writer Jelani Cobb talks about the 57-year history of the uprisings and how they help us understand where we are as a country today.
Read More“The Riot Report” documentary examines the uprisings in the summer of 1967 by Black residents protesting police brutality, racial injustice and social and economic disparities. The documentary airs on Detroit PBS on Friday, July 26. The documentary’s co-producer and writer Jelani Cobb talks about the 57-year history of the uprisings and how they help us understand where we are as a country today.
Read MoreFor several decades, Detroit style pizza – thick and baked in rectangular pans – was known only to Detroiters and those who had visited the region, but today, the city’s signature pizza style has grown in popularity, nationally and worldwide. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota shows how Detroit style pizza has taken its place in the culinary world.
Read MoreThe origin of Detroit’s Coney Island hot dogs goes back more than 100 years, thanks to some Greek immigrants who ventured from Coney Island New York to Detroit and started selling them here. However, Coney Island hot dogs from Flint and Jackson have a different origin. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota shares the history behind Michigan’s coney dogs.
Read MoreMemorial Day holds deep personal significance for Michigan’s veterans, as it serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by their fellow servicemen and women. Three veterans talk about the importance of the Memorial Day holiday and how they individually commemorate it.
Read MoreIt has been a decade since the Flint water crisis. The public health disaster exposed tens of thousands of residents in the predominantly African American city to perilously high levels of lead contamination. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley talks about the city’s current water quality, how residents are doing, and the challenges that are still present.
Read MoreAsian corned beef egg rolls could soon become an iconic Detroit dish much like Detroit-style pizza and the city’s famous coney dogs. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota explores the history of the dish that has evolved into a deep-fried multicultural array of different food presentations across the Motor City – a story that’s Truly Detroit.
Read MoreDetroit’s riverfront is one of the city’s main attractions. It attracts an estimated 3.5 million people each year. However, back in the late 90s, there was another plan for the riverfront. One Detroit contributor Bryce Huffman talks with members of the Riverfront East Alliance about their past preservation efforts, which helped prevent casinos from being built along the riverfront.
Read MoreThe Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood is an integral part of the Motor City’s legacy, and it has been transformed into a museum to preserve its history. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan took a tour of the museum with its President and COO Jill Woodward to learn about the iconic collection of Detroit automotive history that sits within its walls.
Read MoreThe Detroit Institute of Arts’ “Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971″ exhibit highlights the trailblazing African American filmmakers and actors from the early days of cinema through the Civil Rights Movement. Host Stephen Henderson speaks with Detroit Institute of Arts Curator and Head of the Center for African American Art Valerie Mercer about the museum’s landmark exhibition.
Read MoreThe Zekelman Holocaust Center has opened its newly renovated core exhibit, which now puts Holocaust survivors’ and victims’ stories at the forefront. The exhibition uses new technology and updated historical information to recount their memories and honor their legacy. One Detroit’s Sarah Zientarski attended the opening ceremony to learn about the changes.
Read MoreWayne State University’s annual tribute to the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. returns this year with a two-day event showcasing the impact of Detroit’s arts, culture and music on the civil rights movement. Guest host Trudy Gallant-Stokes talks with Wayne State’s Director of Community Affairs Stacie Clayton and the event’s special guest Santita Jackson.
Read MoreInternationally known genealogist Tony Burroughs, who has consulted with celebrities such as Smokey Robinson and Oprah Winfrey about their family history, outlines the steps to take when researching your ancestry and shares some of the unique challenges of tracing African American roots.
Read MoreIt’s a holiday tradition some say is bigger than Christmas Day itself. The Polish Christmas Eve dinner celebration known as Wigilia has been around for centuries, and it has been celebrated annually right here in metro Detroit. Members of Detroit’s Polish community share how Wigilia has helped them find deeper connections to their family and heritage.
Read MoreDetroit-born screenwriter Rob Edwards has a new graphic novel coming out in February 2024 detailing a little-known figure of America’s Black history: Robert Smalls. Edwards joined One Detroit’s Chris Jordan at Comics & More to talk about his forthcoming graphic novel “Defiant,” its Kickstarter support, and why a comic book is a perfect, if unorthodox, way to teach kids Black history.
Read MoreThe Detroit Historical Museum unveils a new exhibit, “Detroit’s Chinatowns,” which explores the 150-year journey of the city’s Chinese community. The exhibit chronicles the immigrant experience from Ah-Chee’s arrival in 1872 to the vibrant businesses and communal life that characterized the 1970s and 80s. Contributor Chien-An Yuan has the story.
Read MoreIn the heart of Detroit’s bygone Chinatown, a vibrant oasis once thrived and diverse patrons, from celebrities to everyday families, shared more than just meals at Chung’s restaurant. Curtis Chin, a Detroit native, author and activist, takes readers on an evocative journey through his upbringing in Detroit’s former Chinatown in his book, “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.”
Read MoreThe United Auto Workers union is using a new approach to walking out, called a ‘standup strike,’ and it is striking all three companies at once.
Read MoreAs the nation commemorates the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, attention turns to the significant role that the Detroit Walk to Freedom played in shaping that civil rights march. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota explains the tie between these two historic events and how they changed civil rights in America.
Read MoreAs the nation reflects on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Detroit Walk to Freedom, an intriguing connection exists between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches and the iconic Motown Records. In an exclusive interview, contributor Cecelia Sharpe of 90.9 WRCJ, delves into this significant link with Robin Terry, Chairwoman and CEO of the Motown Museum.
Read MoreDespite backlash from the Asian American community and Detroit City Council, a historic building in Detroit’s former Chinatown has been demolished. The building was at the heart of Chinatown and held significance to the neighborhood.
Read MoreDetroit’s I-375 is the shortest highway in the country. When it was constructed, it led to the destruction of two thriving Black communities. One Detroit and BridgeDetroit team up to break down the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project in Detroit and whether the plans will benefit the community.
Read MoreBringing together community and civil rights leaders, politicians, activists and residents from across Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Branch NAACP hosted a vibrant and momentous June Jubilee honoring the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, a pivotal march in the Civil Rights Movement. One Detroit brings you highlights from the events with contributor Orlando Bailey.
Read MoreIn recognition of Pride Month, One Detroit explores the rich history of Detroit’s oldest gay-owned bar: GiGi’s. The bar is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having opened in 1973, as a cultural staple and a haven for Detroit’s LGBTQ+ community, and it also is home to the state’s oldest drag pageant, the annual Miss GiGi’s contest.
Read MoreThe Detroit Branch NAACP plans to unveil a bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Hart Plaza during its June Jubilee events. We talked with the artist behind the sculpture about his piece and how it found its home in Detroit.
Read MoreRev. Dr. JoAnn Watson reflects on attending the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom as a child ahead of the Detroit NAACP’s June Jubilee events, which includes the 60th anniversary commemoration of the march. And we get a look at the awardees and keynote speaker for the NAACP’s 68th annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.
Read MoreBridgeDetroit reporter Micah Walker gets details on the Detroit Branch NAACP’s June Jubilee weekend of events in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, which includes the Freedom Walk Summit, a new Martin Luther King statue, the Freedom Walk, and the annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.
Read MoreAmerican Black Journal reflects on the 60th anniversary of the 1963 Walk to Freedom in Detroit, which attracted more than 125,000 marchers down Woodward Avenue and featured an early version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at Cobo Arena.
Read MoreCity of Detroit Historian Jamon Jordan takes viewers on a tour of some of Detroit’s historic African American fraternity and sorority houses and the contributions these organizations have made in the city.
Read MoreDetroit’s iconic Boblo Boats have made their film debut. The two sister steamboats, the Ste. Claire and the SS Columbia, the oldest in America, are center stage for a new Aaron Schillinger directed documentary, “Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale.”
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One Detroit producer Chris Jordan takes viewers back to the two-day Detroit All-Star Garage Rock Punk Revue music festival to learn more about the origins of Detroit’s punk rock history and how it continues to evolve. He talks with festival organizer Smitt E. Smitty, host Michael Halloran, and several of the artists who performed there about the foundation many of the early bands laid, and how newcomers are turning those influences into their own unique sounds.
Read MoreA Michigan historical marker has been installed at the site of the Birwood Wall, which at one time stood as a symbol of racism and housing segregation in Detroit. The wall has since been painted to symbolize the resilience and resolve of African Americans in the area. One Detroit visited the unveiling of the historical marker to learn more about efforts to move forward.
Read MoreThe Detroit Artists Market is celebrating its 90th birthday with a new, multigenerational exhibit featuring several artists who have honed their skills in Detroit. The special anniversary exhibition, titled “Detroit Expat Artists: Homecoming,” showcases a variety of artists working in different media and genres over the last 50 years. Host Stephen Henderson talks with co-curator Stephanie James.
Read MoreDetroit Public Television and WDET-FM host the “Making Black Detroit” Town Hall. The LEE Group’s President & CEO Mark S. Lee moderates a discussion with The Divine Nine fraternities and sororities about the history, contributions and future of the Black Greek Letter Organizations in Detroit. The town hall was hosted in part with PBS’ “Making Black America” documentary.
Read More“American Black Journal” previews a new PBS documentary series, “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine” by noted historian and storyteller Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., focused on the vast social networks, associations and organizations created by and for African Americans as a means of empowerment in the face of racism. Host Stephen Henderson talks with producer and director, Stacey Holman.
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What role did Michigan and its most popular figures play in America’s response to the Holocaust? Ken Burns’ new PBS documentary, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” is generating conversation about America’s response to the Holocaust. WDET reporter Eli Newman moderates a conversation with experts from the metro Detroit Jewish and interfaith communities about Michigan’s perspective on the Holocaust and the anti-semitism that still exists today.
Read MoreDetroit radio fans likely know the name Dick Purtan, the Detroit radio legend and community philanthropist known for his whimsical mix of radio satire, one-liners and deadpan jokes, but do you know how the Detroit radio legend made his way to the Motor City? A new episode of Detroit Public Television’s “Detroit Remember When” documentary series looks at Purtan’s road to notoriety in Detroit.
Read MoreThe Michigan Barber School celebrates 75 years of teaching Black barbers and hairstylists. Michigan Barber School Director Saul Green talks with guest host Trudy Gallant-Stokes about the barber school’s founding and its success throughout the decades.
Read MoreThe Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announces a yearlong slate of events to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Guest Host Trudy Gallant-Stokes talks with anniversary co-chair and Chalkbeat Editor-in-Chief Nicole Avery Nichols about the events planned, NABJ’s history, and a scholarship program for youth.
Read MoreWGPR Historical Society President Joe Spencer and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith join Stephen Henderson to talk about an upcoming fundraising gala celebrating the legacy of WGPR-TV 62, America’s first Black-owned and operated television station. WGPR-TV 62 went on the air in 1975 and launched the careers of several African American media professionals before being sold in 1995.
Read MoreOne Detroit’s Senior Producer Bill Kubota catches up with Muslim American couple Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins from Ann Arbor for a conversation about their new PBS series, “The Great Muslim American Road Trip,” a journey of learning what it means to be Muslim in America today along the iconic Route 66.
Read More“American Black Journal” explores how gospel music grew from the blues. Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Baptist pastor and blues musician Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. to explore the connection between the blues and gospel music, and their symbolic, symbiotic relationship. Plus, they discuss gospel music’s roots in the African American community then and today.
Read MoreAmerican Black Journal Producer AJ Walker talks with Dr. Brandon Waddles, a composer, arranger, choir director and music instructor at Wayne State University, about how Negro spirituals uplifted enslaved Africans brought to this country and how it served as a universal language that helped lead them to freedom. Plus, they discuss R&B singers, past and present, whose musical roots stemmed from the Black Church.
Read MoreAs the Detroit 1967 riots began, a revelation was brewing in the city, and what rose from the ashes of the rebellion has ultimately shaped the city and how it functions today. In Dominique Morisseau’s production of “Detroit ’67,” the questions of race, social justice and progress that took center stage during the 1967 riots turn inward to see how the civil disturbance intertwined and impacted the lives of one African American family.
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Forty years after Chinese American draftsman Vincent Chin was brutally murdered outside a nightclub in Highland Park in 1982, activists from Detroit and across the nation continue to work to keep Chin’s legacy from fading in the midst of new waves of anti-Asian hate seen today.
Read MoreNearly 40 years after the racially motivated murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin in Detroit, the hate crime is being seen in a new light alongside a more recent rise in anti-Asian hate across the country; one that looks similar to Chin’s case, but some experts say is much worse. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota explores how Vincent Chin’s legacy shaped Asian American civil rights activists today.
Read MoreNearly four decades after the documentary “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” premiered, the filmmakers Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña, alongside Detroit Public TV’s Juanita Anderson, join Detroit-area filmmaker Chien-An Yuan to talk about the making of the documentary, the civil rights movement they covered in real-time, and the significance the film still holds nearly today.
Read MoreOne Detroit senior producer Bill Kubota and “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City” host Erik Smith sit down with several former members of WRIF Radio to hear more about the radio station’s rise to popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s and examine how it became one of the most well-known Detroit rock radio stations still to this day.
Read MoreLake Huron and Lake Michigan come together in the Straits of Mackinac—long considered one of the most treacherous waterways on all of the Great Lakes. For nearly 150 years, the Spectacle Reef Lighthouse has guarded ships passing through the Straits. Great Lakes now explores the preservation efforts and initiatives going into restoring the historic, iconic site.
Read MoreWhile some might think owning and operating a vineyard in Detroit might be impossible, Detroit...
Read MoreHost Stephen Henderson talks with author Rae Chesny, who is currently writing “Dear Zora” and travels the world lecturing and presenting her research on Zora Neale Hurston, shares more about the interest she’s taken in telling Hurston’s story as well as the inspiration she found from Hurston’s life for her own writings.
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Forty years after the murder of Vincent Chin and the subsequent miscarriage of justice launched the Asian American Civil Rights Movement, a coalition of national and local groups plans a four-day commemoration in Detroit featuring national conversation on democracy, racial justice and Asian American civil rights.
Read MoreWhether you’re team Lafeyette or team American, we can all agree Detroit makes the best Coney dogs. And they should— the famous Motor City meal was founded here more than a century ago in the early 1900s. But what’s the story underneath all that meat sauce, mustard and onions? Let’s take a look back at Detroit’s Coney dog history.
Read MoreStephen talks with Horace Sheffield, Jr.’s son, Rev. Horace Sheffield III, about the influence and impact his father had on the trade unions during the civil rights movement. Plus, Sheffield III talks about upcoming plans to house thousands of items from his father’s archives in a massive collection at Wayne State University and Wayne County Community College District.
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American Black Journal continues to celebrate Black History Month by taking a closer look at the legacy of Horace Sheffield, Jr., a trailblazer in the African American labor union movement. Then, producer Marcus Green profiles this year’s Kresge Eminent Artist Olayami Dabls at his MBAD African Bead Museum on Detroit’s west side. Plus, One Detroit Associate Producer Will Glover has a conversation with Detroit artist and educator Tylonn Sawyer about the importance of depicting contemporary messages in his artwork.
Read MoreIt’s fresh, pure and delicious, and it’s a brand some Detroiters might recognize. “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City,” host Erik Smith takes viewers on a nostalgic journey back to the creation of the Velvet Peanut Butter company in Detroit in 1937, and shares how the iconic peanut butter brand became intertwined with Detroit’s history.
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The University of Michigan, University Musical School and The Philadelphia Orchestra team up to bring a unique ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ concert performance to the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Then, explore the life and legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Museum of African American History. Plus, from “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City,” viewers take a nostalgic trip back to learn about the rise and fall of the Velvet Peanut Butter company. In closing, singer/songwriter Aaron Lewys performs his song “Stop Wasting My Time” for Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.
Read MoreOne Detroit’s Bill Kubota and Detroit Public Television Senior Vice President and host Fred Nahhat give a nod to Bill Bonds, the late reporter who wasn’t afraid to be opinionated. The duo remember Bonds’ legacy and discuss what he might have said about the state of Detroit and our nation today.
Read MoreOne Detroit’s Bill Kubota met up with painter Jonathan Harris in Detroit on signing day, where he signed and sold out of 250 prints of his now viral painting “Critical Race Theory.” The two discuss his painting’s swift rise to global acclaim, and Harris shares what he thinks about critical race theory in the classroom.
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One Detroit’s Bill Kubota meets with Detroit artist Jonathan Harris to talk about his viral painting ‘Critical Race Theory’ and the conversations its sparking across the globe. Then, One Detroit’s Will Glover connects with BridgeDetroit reporter Nushrat Rahman to discuss the high childcare costs in Michigan and the financial assistance available to families. Plus, learn how diversity, equity and inclusion have progressed in the workplace since the death of George Floyd and remember the late newsman Bill Bonds, who would have turned 90 years old this month.
Read MoreHost Stephen Henderson sits down with Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, the president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), for a captivating conversation about ASALH’s founding of Black History Month and it’s importance in today’s racial landscape.
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Host Stephen Henderson learns more about the history of Black History Month, its founding and its importance today. Then, Stephen talks with the Detroit Book City bookstore about their upcoming African American Family Book Expo meant to further literacy in communities of color. Plus, we’ll share one of the winning performances at this year’s 25th annual Sphinx Competition.
Read MoreAs part of Detroit Public Television’s documentary “Detroit Designs the World,” we transport back to 1950’s Detroit when architect Minoru Yamasaki (1912 – 1986) began to make his mark on the Detroit skyline. Detroit architecture, design and history experts explore Yamasaki’s designs across Detroit, examine the beauty and diverse influences of his designs, and reflect on the legacy he left in the Motor City.
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One Detroit’s AJ Walkers met up with the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Motown Museum to check out a preview of their upcoming ‘Higher Ground’ performance, which pays tribute to Stevie Wonder’s music. Then, Metalwork artist Virgil Taylor takes viewers inside his art studio to show some of the latest wearable art pieces and the ancient inspiration behind his works. Plus, hear more about Detroit’s architectural history and the impacts architect Minoru Yamasaki left with his designs in the Motor City.
Read MoreTake a look inside the life and legacy of the late Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Wright Museum of African American History. BridgeDetroit Engagement Director Orlando Bailey meets with the Wright Museum’s Director of Design and Fabrication Kevin Davidson to talk about Dr. Wright’s influence on himself and other African Americans living in Detroit, as well as the vision for creating and expanding the museum facility, which was once the largest African American historical museum in the world.
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This week, host Stephen Henderson investigates an independent study from MSU’s School of Criminal Justice that showed Black drivers were stopped by Michigan State Police at disproportionately high rates in 2020. Stephen examines the steps being taken to address these racial disparities. Plus, BridgeDetroit’s Engagement Director Orlando Bailey takes us inside the life and legacy of the late Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, with the museum’s Director of Design and Fabrication Kevin Davidson.
Read MoreWhether it was the Highland Park Ford plant in 1910 or the Fisher Building in 1928, architect Albert Kahn revolutionized the architecture industry with his large, sweeping designs with lots of open space and his use of ornate artistry like sculptures and bronze work. Detroit Experience Factory Founder and Executive Director Jeanette Pierce, Michigan Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Director Gregory Wittkopp, and President and CEO of Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. Alan Cobb discuss the lasting legacy Kahn left in the motor city.
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Transport back in time to before Detroit was known as the motor city to learn about the lasting legacy architect Albert Kahn left in Detroit after crafting the Highland Park Ford plant, the Fisher Building and more. Then, One Detroit’s Will Glover catches up with the Heidelberg Project, a three-decade long arts project in east Detroit, to hear how the organization continues to fare during COVID. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Deborah Rutter shares how performances have changed since the pandemic began, and the importance of art in the human experience. Plus, we end the episode with a special Detroit Performs: Live From Maygrove performance of “Could You Love Me” by local folk artist Matt Watroba.
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This week, One Detroit examines the diverse history of Michigan’s largest city, Detroit. Learn more about the storied history of the city’s boxing scene, and what makes Detroit boxers knockouts in the ring. Then, One Detroit’s Bill Kubota visits the historic Birwood Wall, a Detroit wall with a racist past, and explores how it offers hope and healing today. Plus, a look into Detroit’s highways and the damage they’ve caused to Black communities over the years.
Read MoreDetroit’s rich history of boxing around the city has produced numerous champions including Joe Louis, Thomas Hearns and Hilmer Kentry to name a few. Whether at the famous Kronk Gym, where it originally sat on McGraw Avenue in Detroit, or at the city’s Golden Gloves Tournament, Detroit has been a training ground for some of the best amateurs and professionals in the sport of boxing. American Black Journal Producer Marcus Green reports on the sport’s early days in Detroit and how it embedded itself into the city’s story.
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Activists and historians across the country this week are mourning LGBTQ rights leader Jim Toy, widely believed to be the first person in Michigan to publicly come out as gay, who died Jan. 1 at the age of 91. Toy is remembered as a pioneer who spent his life advocating for LGBTQ people and working for human and civil rights for everyone.
Read MoreOne prominent Japanese tradition involves pounding in the New Year with fresh mochi, rice smashed into a gooey paste and molded into round cakes, then eaten for good luck. The One Detroit team takes a trip to a metro Detroit community center where the Japanese American Citizens League of Detroit hosts their second annual mochitsuki party.
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Every Black Detroiter who spent summers on the nostalgic Boblo island giggling on the carousel or swinging in the dance hall should thank Sarah Elizabeth Ray. After being denied a seat on one of the segregated Boblo boat in 1945 because she was Black, she fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. Her case paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which ruled segregation in public schools as unconstitutional.
Read MoreThe World War II fighter squadron’s artifacts and exhibits will now be housed at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
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Ever since well-known Detroit historian, educator, musician and activist Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera was a child, he grew up immersed in traditional Puerto Rican music and culture. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota sat down with Ozzie Rivera to talk about the origins of his passion for music and celebrating culture, memories of drum circles in Clark Park and his outlook on salsa’s longevity.
Read MoreVeteran actress CCH Pounder sits down with reporter Will Glover to talk about her private art collection titled “Queen,” which is on display at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.
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Since its first broadcast in 1968, American Black Journal has continued to act as a forum to discuss culture, public affairs and societal concerns from an African American perspective.
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With The 1619 Project, The New York Times is prompting conversation and debate about the legacy of slavery and its influence over American society and culture. Wallace House Presents the project’s creator, New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, in conversation with Rochelle Riley January 28.
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Plans to redevelop the Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore and cultural center are underway, we have Kandia Milton, Project Coordinator & Minister, Shrine of the Black Madonna; Rhonda Smith, Reporter, Detour Detroit and Rainy Hamilton, Principal, Hamilton Anderson Associates on hand to discuss all the details.
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One Detroit takes a look at the history of Better Made potato chips in this excerpt from Detroit Public TV’s “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City” documentary.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, The New York Times Magazine’s “The 1619 Project,” takes a comprehensive look at the start of slavery in America 400 years ago. Stephen talks with two of the initiative’s contributors about how the controversial project reframes U.S. history around the arrival of the first African slave ship in August of 1619.
Read MoreNolan and Stephen offer their thoughts on the political battle brewing in Oakland County over who will fill the term of the late County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, plus they debate the impact the trade war with China is having in Michigan.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, Stephen sits down with local writer Mark Stryker to talk about his new book, “Jazz From Detroit,” which traces the city’s profound influence on modern and contemporary jazz.
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An emergency situation in the flooded Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood on Detroit’s east side comes with 100,000 sandbags and the workers to fill and stack them.
The city of Detroit is looking for short term solutions where record high water levels and too much rain have left residents submerged near the Detroit River. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota has the story.
On the next American Black Journal, the 110th annual NAACP National Convention is coming to Detroit this month. The Detroit Branch NAACP President, Rev. Wendell Anthony, talks with Stephen about this year’s speakers, activities and agenda. Plus, the Concert of Colors is underway in Detroit. Concert founder, Ismael Ahmed, talks about this annual celebration of diversity in music.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, A new exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum focuses...
Read MoreOne Detroit takes a closer look at the growing concerns over PFAS contamination in Michigan, including the discovery of the toxic chemical in a mysterious white foam that showed up in Southwest Detroit last year.
Read MoreStephen gets a one-on-one tour of the exhibition at the Charles H. Wright Museum that has stirred protests in the African-American community. The exhibit, “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty,” explores the lives of the enslaved people on Thomas Jefferson’s plantation. Stephen talks with the museum’s CEO and with a member of the community coalition opposed to the exhibit.
Read MoreAn exhibit at the Wright Museum focusing on slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s plantation has stirred protests in the community. A One Detroit report looks at Nolan and Stephen’s Detroit Civility Project, launched with the Detroit Regional Chamber at its 2019 Detroit Policy Conference.
Read MoreDetroit Branch NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony talks with Stephen about next month’s 64th Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, which features a celebrity red carpet and keynote speaker, presidential hopeful Kamala Harris.
Read MoreStephen sits down with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and her father, Clifford Worthy, to talk about Clifford’s new autobiography that details his experiences as a West Point grad and soldier during a time of segregation and other struggles.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, we’ll talk about the need for more diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry, specifically as it relates to auto dealers. And we’ll look at the importance of minority dealers and operators developing multi-generational businesses.
Read MoreStephen gets details on the special Black History Month programming at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which includes a book talk and signing and a tribute to Detroit’s pioneering hip-hop producer J. Dilla. Plus, a new book uses DNA evidence and the findings of historians and scientists to prove the presence of people of African descent in biblical history.
Read MoreIn 1981, Detroit lawyer and activist George Corsetti decided he would capture the demise of Poletown on video, directing the documentary film, Poletown Lives!
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This story was originally posted on October 30, 2018. It was updated on November 10, 2023. You...
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