Urban Affairs

Three Detroiters who marched and protested in the 1960s and '70s give their thoughts on Detroit Will Breathe and the Black Lives Matter activists fighting for social change.

Gun sales are skyrocketing this year, and African Americans are leading the way. Fears of civil unrest after the election play no small part in the cause. ‘Every African American should be on alert,’ one resident says.

A Michigan political poll found likely voters fairly split on Black Lives Matter efforts on police reform but the movement already is shaping debates in many areas of public life.

The Detroit Institute of Arts has made major strides in showcasing African-American art and in its outreach to Black Detroiters. Is that progress enough to withstand charges of institutional racism and a ‘toxic’ workplace?

In one powerful image, a Detroit photographer captures the moment of sweeping cultural change that is underway.

Federal monthly data and three economic surveys show that many Detroit workers aren’t returning to work at a rate higher than most of the state and nation. It’s too soon to gauge permanent job loss, a U-M survey contends.

There is a national movement underway to change the names of and topple markers and statues with a slave-holding past. A Michigan county, village and a beloved Detroit institution bear the name of Lewis Cass, bringing the issue to the forefront here.

Black Americans are noticing a new trend: Their white peers are starting to reach out as allies against racism. Checking in on a friend will probably be appreciated, but asking black people for resources to learn about systemic racism demands an emotional toll from someone who likely still is processing trauma.

Heated demonstrations against police violence, and police reaction to them, have created tense moments and fatal encounters between police and protesters. Here are some proven tactics for police to turn down the temperature.

Detroiters are experiencing the highest unemployment rates of the century. Millenials and Gen Z, hit hardest by massive unemployment, have looped economic relief into their demands against police brutality as protests in support of George Floyd continue.

Organizers of Detroit protests and longtime activists give newcomers and well-meaning allies advice. Listen, participate in protests, and advocate for policy change, say local leaders.

The killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white policeman in Minneapolis is the catalyst for nationwide protests in at least 150 cities, suburbs and small towns. Police brutality is only part of what draws Detroit protesters. Gen Z and Millennial organizers are advocating for something new.

A Michigan Radio reporter surveys the destruction of Grand Rapids during protests on Saturday. Despite what city leaders insist, he says outsiders didn’t cause all the damage. It came from within.

Police departments in several Michigan cities have a lower share of African-American officers than the communities they serve, leading to some scars that have yet to heal.

What happened in Detroit and the streets of at least 35 other cities reflects the raw state of urban America. Months of dealing with a killer virus. Surging economic despair. Then another viral video emerged of a Black man killed while being arrested by a white policeman in Minneapolis.

The upcoming count will offer a better understanding of Detroit’s demographic changes but the state's largest city is grappling with a low response rate for Census 2020.

At a time when credible news has never been more important, a new team of journalists aims to respond to Detroiters’ most crucial information needs.

Authentically Detroit celebrates a year of being on the airwaves by asking Kat Stafford and Candice Fortman what it means to be an authentic Detroiter.

The author's grandfather, Antonio Martinez, met the artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Depression-era Detroit.

In this episode, hosts Orlando Bailey and Donna Givens explore the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan prisons.