April is National Minority Health Month, an annual observance that highlights the health disparities faced by racial and ethnic minority communities. Dr. Hayley Thompson, director of Wayne State University’s CHECK-UP, talks about the efforts to tackle health inequities in Detroit and Michigan.
Read MoreSeveral films are making their Michigan debut at the Freep Film Festival, including one about Detroit and its history of racial tensions and unrest. “The Riot Report” takes a look at the work of the Kerner Commission and the cause of the civil uprisings that erupted in the summer of 1967 in cities across the nation, including Detroit. Watch a preview of the documentary.
Read MoreThe Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Wayne Mobile Health Unit and community stakeholders host a symposium on Black men’s health. Scheduled for April 13 at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, the “Brother, Let’s Talk: A Conversation on Black Men’s Health” symposium aims to shed light on the disparities and health challenges faced by Black men.
Read MoreNew data from the medical team at EHproject show African American women are at a greater risk for heart disease than their white counterparts. For American Heart Month, Henry Ford Health Cardiologist Dr. Brittany Fuller talks about the high rate of heart disease among Black women. Plus, she provides some helpful advice on what women can do to reduce their risk factors.
Read MoreUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) President & CEO Dr. Darienne Hudson shares details with guest host Trudy Gallant-Stokes about the latest round of Racial Equity Fund recipients. The grants total $1 million and were awarded to BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations to help them address racial inequities in the region. Plus, they talk about the expansion of the fund into Washtenaw County.
Read MoreSome of Michigan’s top experts in higher education and diversity, equity, and inclusion address how Michigan can improve outcomes for young students of color and what Michigan’s institutions of higher education must do to diversify their admissions and ensure first-generation students have the support they need.
Read MoreThe Blackbottom Group has launched an innovative program, the EV Automotive Mobility Program, which equips Detroiters with the skills necessary for jobs that will soon be in high demand. The program offers hands-on training in the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles in an effort to bridge the gap and address the stark racial disparity within the EV industry.
Read MoreA sobering reality persists for many students from communities of color trying to enter one of...
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 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 MoreMichigan’s AAPI community finds itself at the forefront of advocating for change, with potential new state legislation, efforts to include AAPI history in public schools, and an outpouring of advocacy and activism shaping the present-day Asian American narrative. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota leads a roundtable discuss the issues.
Read MoreA nonprofit that supports Black-led businesses is gearing up for its annual weeklong bike ride to Mackinac Island. Black Leaders Detroit’s annual “Ride for Equity” will raise money for Black entrepreneurs in Detroit and spread awareness about the importance of equitable funding practices.
Read MoreIn a roundtable discussion, Detroit environmental advocacy groups discuss how climate change impacts every aspect of life for Detroit residents and the importance of residents speaking out on environmental issues to bring change.
Read MoreOne Detroit contributor Stephen Henderson hosts a roundtable on race, police reform and mental health after the police beating and death of Tyre Nichols.
Read MoreLess than 10% of the businesses downtown are Black-owned and less than 2% of the buildings downtown are Black-owned. How did we get here in a city with a nearly 80% Black population? Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance CEO Charity Dean shares how downtown Detroit can invest in and empower Black businesses.
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 MoreVenturing into the world of entrepreneurship comes with challenges, but for Black women entrepreneurs, the hurdles can be much higher and different. A national study shows 42% of U.S. businesses are owned by women, yet those businesses grow at only half the rate as businesses owned by men.
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American Black Journal’s “Black Church in Detroit” initiative invites you to join a live, virtual conversation on gun violence prevention in Detroit, including how the church plays a vital role in gun violence prevention efforts in our communities and how you can be an important part of those efforts too.
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 MoreDetroit’s State of the Hood summit returned this year to talk about solutions for stopping gun violence. Producer Marcus Green takes viewers to the 2022 summit to hear what religious, civic and community leaders have to say about gun violence in Detroit. Plus, summit participants explore the current resources and investments needed to stop gun violence involving inner city neighborhood youth.
Read MoreThe second biennial Black Midwest Symposium convenes in Detroit, exploring the unique challenges of African Americans in the Midwest and Rust Belt. Host Stephen Henderson talks with Marquis Taylor, one of the event’s planning committee members, to learn more about the goal of the Oct. 20-22, 2022 symposium, this year’s theme— Presence and Protest, and the notable speakers participating.
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.
Read MoreAn archive of oral history interviews with Japanese internment camp survivors has inspired Detroit Asian American artists collective IS/LAND to create “Invisible Embrace,” a performance that provides audiences a space and experience to share, learn and reflect on the experiences of Japanese internment camp survivors. One Detroit Arts & Culture producer Sarah Smith talks with IS/LAND’s Amber Kao.
Read MoreIn light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson sits down with Dr. Kimberly Farrow, of Central City Integrated Health, for a conversation about the economic and health-related challenges Black women will not face under the new abortion ruling.
Read MoreFORCE Detroit Director Alia Harvey Quinn joins “American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson for an in-depth conversation about how communities of color are affected in the aftermath of violent gun crimes. Plus, she talks about building relationships and establishing a new normal for those likely to be involved in violent crimes.
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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 MoreAs the African American community is gripped by another tragic mass shooting, Detroit Branch NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony joins “American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson to talk about the Buffalo shooting and the gunman’s white supremacist views. Plus, they posit what needs to be done to reduce and eliminate these casualties, including white Americans’ role in addressing racism.
Read More“American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson talks with We the People of Detroit Co-founder Cecily McClellan and Wayne State University Law Professor Peter Hammer about the rising cost of water in Detroit, looming water shutoffs, and the racial disparities impacting access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water.
Read MoreFor National Mental Health Awareness Month, host Stephen Henderson talks with Eric Doeh, President & CEO of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), about the pandemic’s impact on mental health, the stigma of mental illness in the Black community, economic barriers and health disparities affecting minorities, and access to mental healthcare services.
Read MoreWhat have the weeks after 26-year-old African immigrant Patrick Lyoya was fatally shot by a white Grand Rapids police officer looked like for Grand Rapids? Host Stephen Henderson sits down with leaders from the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP and Black Lives Matter Detroit to discuss the ramifications of the tragic incident on the Grand Rapids community.
Read MoreOne Detroit’s Bill Kubota takes viewers to Detroit’s former Chinatown on Cass Avenue for an announcement from the City of Detroit, Detroit Public Television and other community partners about the four-day Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance & Rededication. Leaders recount the tragic history of Vincent Chin’s murder and the importance of the event as the AAPI community continues to fight for equality.
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan joins Asian American community leaders for a news conference to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and to announce plans for the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance & Rededication in Detroit’s historic Chinatown.
Read MoreAs Michigan State Police continues its independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya, One Detroit’s Will Glover catches up with BridgeDetroit reporter Bryce Huffman, who’s been on the ground in Grand Rapids reporting on the city’s reaction to the incident, for an update on where the case stands.
Read MoreOne Detroit contributors Nolan Finley, of the Detroit News, and Stephen Henderson, of “American Black Journal,” sit down to discuss the findings in the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 2022 Michigan State of Education report and the long-term impact on high education and the future workforce
Read MoreOrlando Bailey sits down with Eboni Taylor, of Mothering Justice, to talk about how Black mothers have been affected by an increase in pregnancy-related deaths and what’s being done to alleviate this maternal mortality rate crisis.
Read MoreHost Stephen Henderson explores a new organization, Detroit United Front, advocating for better equity and inclusion of Black businesses in Detroit. Stephen hears more about the mission of Detroit United Front, plus the organization’s leaders share their thoughts current state of Black businesses in Detroit.
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The City of Detroit helped facilitate the destruction of Black Bottom, home to hundreds of Black...
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One Detroit’s Will Glover sat down with Ken Quattro for a conversation about his book “Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books,” which takes a candid look at the history of the comic book industry and the racial disparity embedded into its story. “Invisible Men,” Quattro says, tell the story of the human experience and the resilience of the human spirit.
Read MoreOne Detroit contributor and American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson checks in with marketing consultant Mark S. Lee, president of The Lee Group, MI LLC, on where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are in the workplace. They explore the progress that’s been made in regards to DEI efforts and what’s still lacking nearly two years after the topic re-emerged into the mainstream, after George Floyd’s death.
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.
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American Black Journal and BridgeDetroit are teaming up to host a virtual town hall at 12 p.m. Feb. 16 about reparations for Black Americans. Join us as we take a detailed look at the history of reparations and discuss what Detroit’s new task force means for the idea. The esteemed panelists will share insights on the initial work being done on the ground floor in Detroit and more in a conversation moderated by American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson.
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At Grace in Action, the co-op movement started roughly 20 years ago when Mexican Industries, a Southwest Detroit-based auto parts maker, abruptly closed after workers voted to form a union. Nine hundred mostly Latino workers were laid off, and the economic impact on the community was immediate. That led Meghan Sobocienski, executive director of Grace in Action, to actively create new business models for immigrant workers in the community. She’s been thinking about employment and the future of work since then, and to her, it comes down to one simple idea: create worker-led, locally owned businesses.
Read MoreAmerican Black Journal host Stephen Henderson examines the results of an independent study from the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice showing African Americans were stopped by Michigan State Police troopers at disproportionately high rates in 2020. He sits down with Michigan State Police Director Col. Joe Gasper and Michigan Department of Civil Rights Executive Director John E. Johnson, Jr. to investigate the findings and the steps being taken to address these racial disparities.
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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 MoreOne Detroit’s Will Glover talks to veteran Detroit hip-hop artist Deidre D.S. Sense about her latest album and quarantine concert series. Contributor Stephen Henderson talks with filmmaker Ken “Legend” Williams about the impact of his new film, ‘Asbury Park.’ One Detroit’s Christy McDonald talks with Erik Ronmark of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra about the orchestra’s plan to welcome audiences in-person again. And violinist Amaryn Olmeda performs Mozart’s ‘Concerto for Violin No. 3’
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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 MoreA new mixed-use development project coming to Northwest Detroit will be named in honor of a local artist some Detroiters might know. The project will be named Sawyer Art Apartments in honor of Detroit contemporary artist Tylonn Sawyer. One Detroit’s Will glover sat down with Tylonn to discuss the development’s name, how digital media may help or hurt Black artists, and what it’s like to address racism in America through a Black artist’s eyes.
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Host Stephen Henderson talks with Black Leaders Detroit Founder Dwan Dandridge about leveling the playing field for Black-owned businesses and organizations through financial support. Then, Stephen discusses what progress has been made to workplace diversity and what areas are still lacking with marketing consultant Mark S. Lee. Plus, the Dance Theatre of Harlem makes a visit to the Motown Museum in Detroit before the upcoming premiere performance of “Higher Ground.”
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The Detroit Public Television-produced 1987 documentary “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” received the ultimate honor this week when it was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry and named one of the 25 most influential films this year. The documentary focuses on the brutal murder of 27-year-old Detroiter Vincent Chin in 1982, and the galvanizing effects it had to springboard the Asian American community into political action.
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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 MoreHost Stephen Henderson talks with CNS Healthcare President and CEO Michael Garrett about how people can take care of their mental health this holiday season. Plus, Garrett shines a light on the Oxford High School shooting and the impact on students, parents, teachers and community members’ mental health.
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In this country’s origin story, Black Americans were largely restricted from owning guns. Yet, in Detroit today, citizens are increasingly turning to gun ownership for a sense of protection and — sometimes — because of a constitutional right to carry. Residents have become self-reliant and are looking to arm others with gun safety lessons and information about the responsibility of ownership.
Read MoreStephen Henderson was 20 years old when he watched the video of a gang of LA police officers...
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Legal observers watching for civil rights violations and police brutality at last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests in Detroit say they were attacked by police.
Read MoreDave Wagner talks to the Director of Arts and Culture for the city of Detroit, Rochelle Riley about the year-long “Undefeated” initiative.
Read MoreDetroit Federation of Teachers President Terrence Martin joins Stephen to talk about the current state of education and virtual learning during the pandemic.
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Karen Dumas, Greg Bowens, Brandon Brice and Kerry Leon Jackson offer their perspectives on major headlines of the new year.
Read MorePublic relations and political consultants Karen Dumas and Greg Bowens join 910 AM Superstation hosts Brandon Brice and Kerry Leon Jackson to offer their perspectives on major headlines of the new year.
Read MoreFormer Flint Mayor Karen Weaver talks candidly with Stephen about the criminal charges brought against former Governor Rick Snyder and eight others in the Flint water crisis
Read MoreMichigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence gives her firsthand account of the frightening attack at the U.S. Capitol to ABJ contributor Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit.
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Thanks to a grant from the Kresge Foundation, The Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion is expanding its anti-racism work in the city of Detroit.
Read MoreStephen talks with business marketing consultant Mark S. Lee of The LEE Group about the economic outlook for 2021.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, we take a look back at the stories and guests of 2020.
Read MorePontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman talks with Stephen about a new app named “PontiaConnect,” which is keeping residents engaged and informed about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreStephen Henderson talks with NBA legend and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing about his new autobiography, “Attacking the Rim,” which chronicles his multifaceted careers.
Read MoreStephen Henderson talks with NBA legend and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing about his new autobiography, “Attacking the Rim,” which chronicles his multifaceted careers.
Read MoreThe head of AARP Michigan, Paula Cunningham, talks with Stephen about the creation of a 4-year health and wealth policy agenda focusing on African American women ages 50 and older.
Read MoreBritish artist Marcus Lyon talks with Stephen about his newest Human Atlas interactive project, “i.Detroit: A Human Atlas of an American City.” Plus, Stephen talks with best-selling author Roxane Gay at this year’s Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series presented by the Marygrove Conservancy.
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An essay by American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers’ initial refusal to certify election results.
Read MoreStephen talks with Nate Wallace from Knight Foundation’s Detroit office about an op-ed he wrote indicating the need for Black Detroiters to have more access to the arts.
Read MoreIn the ongoing series, “Do Black Lives Matter in America?,” we take a closer look at the relationship between Detroit police and the community, especially in light of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
Read MoreIn the ongoing series, “Do Black Lives Matter in America?,” we have frank conversations about the way the news media has covered the Black Lives Matter protests, and we take a look at diversity in the nation’s newsrooms.
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In an ongoing collaboration, American Black Journal and BridgeDetroit present a series of reports on issues threatening the lives of people of color and the groups advocating to protect them.
Read MoreABJ is launching a 3-part series of shows produced in collaboration with the innovative, community-based news organization, BridgeDetroit, and focusing on the question: “Do Black Lives Matter in America?”
Read MoreSeptember is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Stephen talks with the founder of a non-profit that has launched a campaign to reduce the rising rates of suicide among young Black boys ages 5-12.
Read MoreUniversity of Michigan’s Director of Choirs, Dr. Eugene Rogers, sits down with Aaron Dworkin of Arts Engines for a conversation about the powerful choral work that pays tribute to African American men killed by police or other authority figures.
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As National Black Business Month wraps up, Black-owned businesses have been hit especially hard with shut downs related to the pandemic.
Read MoreOn the next American Black Journal, our roundtable of communications consultants, political strategists and radio personalities take on the topics that everyone is talking about in the African American community.
Read MoreStephen talks with DAAA President & CEO Ronald Taylor about the report’s findings and ways to reduce the numbers.
Read MoreStephen gets all of the details on the new virtual format for this year’s 41st Annual Detroit Jazz Festival.
Read MoreSystemic racism has led to lead poisoning, air pollution and other factors risking the health of people of color. A recent virtual event focused on this crucial issue, featuring a presentation by Dr. Michelle Williams, dean of Harvard’s School of Public Health.
Read MoreOne Detroit talked with BridgeDetroit’s Bryce Huffman, about his recent report on how many Detroit suburbs are wrestling with their legacy of being sundown towns that carried out anti-black policies.
Read MoreStephen Henderson talked with Misha Stallworth, Detroit Public Schools board member, and Sherry McRill, President and CEO of Northeast Integrated Health, about strategies to support the police and the public.
Read MoreStephen talks with Sherry McRill of Northeast Integrated Health about a program that sends social and behavioral health experts on calls with police to help provide needed services to the community.
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During the hour-long conversation, Detroit high school student tackled issues of racism, teaching Black history, police in schools, and activism.
Read MoreWayne State University President M. Roy Wilson talks with Stephen about the many changes coming to the campus this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Segregation, violence and intimidation shaped Detroit’s suburbs. Residents and officials say they want to leave the past behind.
Read MoreStephen has a candid conversation with Rock Ventures about what steps the company is taking to increase diversity, equity and inclusion.
Read MoreThe Henry Ford’s CEO Patricia Mooradian on reopening the museum; the Plowshares Theatre to put on a virtual performance this week, Black Lives Matter captured by Detroit Free Press photographer, Mandi Wright and more.
Read MoreStephen talks with Michael Rafferty, the CEO of New Detroit; plus, the annual ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day is still on this summer and Dell Pryor talks about her collaboration with the Detroit Artists Market.
Read MoreNo shirt, no shoes, no mask, no schools? Gov. Whitmer, the Free Press’s Nancy Kaffer, Old School Deli and New Detroit, Inc.
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