BLAC Detroit Magazine January 2021

be well TALKING MENTAL HEALTH

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WELLNESS APPS YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW

LEADING LEADING theCHARGE CHARGE MICHIGAN’S FIRST BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GARLIN GILCHRIST

I won’t be an “anomaly, but instead, I’ll be an opening.”

JANUARY 2021

INSIDE 6 8 10

Online at BLACdetroit.com Letter from the Editor Contributors

FEATURES 30

TALKING POLITICS Our Q&A with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

36

NEW YEAR, NEW ATTITUDE Committing to our mental health

DEPARTMENTS 14

DISCOVER Our favorite wellness apps, a filthy new streetwear brand, a line of bold lip colors and more

22

APPRAISED Photographer Bre’Ann White captures Black beauty

24

IN STYLE Getting busy in funky prints

26

POP ART Michael Eric Dyson tackles our relationship with America, a documentary on the ‘80s crack epidemic comes to Netflix and more

46

ACCESS Things to do outdoors safely

48

SEEN Saturday shopping at Eastern Market

SPONSORED

30

12

LEONORA KING, COACH, PALMER PARK TENNIS ACADEMY

21

WHEN SHOULD I SEEK HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS?

ON THE COVER: Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist Photo by Boswell Hardwick

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Online in January Visit BLACdetroit.com for web exclusives and to stay up on what’s happening in Black Detroit

Opinion Piece BLAC’s former editor Aaron Foley is back with another hot take.

Safe Sex

STD rates are on the rise across the country. What you need to know to stay safe and have fun.

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Clean Eating

SEEN Galleries

Quick and easy healthy recipes.

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EDITOR'S LETTER

CEO/Publisher: Billy Strawter Jr. EDITORIAL Senior Editor: Paris Giles Copy Editor: Kim Kovelle Contributors: Sydney Kispert-Bostick, Kaye Byrd, Ann Duke, Jasmine Graham, Boswell Hardwick, Nick Pizana DESIGN Creative Director: Kelly Buren Senior Graphic Designer: Lindsey Lawson Photographer: Lauren Jeziorski

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT MILO DETROIT, INC. Chief Creative Officer: Mark Simon Creative Director: Doug Blanchard Director of Content: Jeremy Smith Production/Advertising Operations: Christine Lasalle SALES Director of Sales: Samantha Alessandri PARTNERSHIPS Partnership/Events Coordinator: Ebony Jones CIRCULATION Distribution Coordinator: Meaghan Smith ADMINISTRATION Director of Business Operations: Victoria Webb Accounting Associate: Judy Stewart PRINTER LSC Communications

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6200 SECOND AVE., DETROIT, MI 48202 313-312-1611 PUBLISHER: publisher@BLACdetroit.com SALES: advertise@BLACdetroit.com DESIGN: design@BLACdetroit.com EDITORIAL: editor@BLACdetroit.com CALENDAR: calendar@BLACdetroit.com DISTRIBUTION: distribution@BLACdetroit.com BLAC Detroit magazine is published 12 times a year. ©2021

by BLAC INC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole

Keeping healthy O

nce the bottles have been popped and the confetti has settled – and the resolutions we were once so enthused about have disappeared with the hum of the everyday – many of us fall into a slump. Ah, the dreaded winter blues. But, 2020 didn’t end with a bang as much as with an exhausted saunter, like a marathon runner lugging their beaten and broken body across the finish line.

And, so, really there’s nowhere to go but up, right?

Perhaps. Still, much as we’d like to think otherwise, Earth completing one more revolution around the sun doesn’t marvelously wash everything clean. Along with our swollen feet, many of us are carrying the effects to our mental health across that tape. It looks like depression, anxiety and the dull but disturbing ache of loneliness. Some days, moving from the couch to the armchair was all I could hope for by way of a change of scenery. Thankfully, I’m pretty good at being alone. But I had my days, as I’m sure you had yours. Those where worry is more plentiful than laughs and another glass of wine can’t hurt.

Real or romanticized, a new year feels like a fresh start, certainly. And when we feel better, we’re motivated to find the energy to do better. Writer Kaye Byrd calls on data and local therapists to stress the importance of staring down our demons and addressing our mental health in an authentic way (Page 36). Only once we’ve identified our problems can we Photo by Lauren Jeziorski start to make positive changes that nudge us closer toward healing. We’ve also rounded up our favorite health and wellness apps, helping us do everything from make sure we’re getting enough water to develop a meditative habit (Page 14).

As we prepare for the inauguration of the country’s first Black, first woman vice president in Kamala Harris, we sit down for a Q&A with Michigan’s first Black lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist (Page 30). Our cover star chats about paving the way, a commitment to inclusion and how his family keeps him forever grounded. We also check in on an app that connects Detroit’s entrepreneur community (Page 16), and photographer Bre’Ann White tells us how she “stumbled into” photography but stayed to capture the beauty that is Black skin and the Black experience (Page 22).

And, for your fashion fix, we’ve got patterned pieces from our favorite brands (Page 24), because there’s nothing like an absurd print to lift your spirits.

or part without the express written consent of BLAC magazine is prohibited.

Enjoy the issue.

Paris Giles Senior Editor 8 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Meet Our Contributors

Each issue would be impossible without the help of our freelance writers and creative contributors.

Kaye Byrd, writer Kaye is a heart-centered writer focused on social justice and wellness issues.

An advocate for mental health, she is passionate about facilitating meaningful conversations for women that normalize therapy and cultivate a healthy mindset as the basis for self-care. She shares the passion for her soul-nourishing, empathydriven and life-giving work on her social media platforms. Born and raised in Detroit, she is a world traveler and avid reader, and welcomes opportunities to share her wisdom to uplift others. @heykayebyrd girlgrow.com

Sydney Kispert-Bostick, photographer Native to Detroit, Sydney works as an independent photographer and creative artist. She graduated from Hiram College in Ohio with a bachelor’s in studio art. She’s shot for varied clients such as United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Detroit Lions – she’s also been featured in The Detroit News. For nearly 16 years, Sydney has developed an artistic repertoire that includes portraiture, street and event photography, as well as mixed media. She aims to create vibrancy, showcasing the eccentricities of her subjects with a site-specific technique. @photosbyskb photosbyskb.com

Boswell Hardwick, photographer Detroit-based photographer Boswell harbors a love of historic Detroit architecture and an obsession with fashion. His work can be seen across many international fashion magazines including Institute, German-based Kaltblut and MOEVIR. His clients include Audi, Le Snob and Christian Dior Haute Couture. @boswellcreative boswellstudio.com

Nick Pizana, writer Nick is a professional artist and writer from Detroit.

He studied journalism at Wayne State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in painting at Cranbrook Art Academy. As a painter, Nick works primarily in making colorful murals that draw from his background in street art and comic books. His work can be seen all around Detroit, from Hart Plaza to Eastern Market. In addition to his painting practice, Nick coowns KO Studio/Gallery in Hamtramck. @shorin_nick nickpizana.com

Jasmine Graham, writer Jasmine is an artistic storyteller from Detroit. A broadcast journalist by trade and an artist by heart, she blends the two to express impactful narratives through writing and photography. She has a unique ability to convey emotion through art in a way that is universal. Her goal is to share the beautiful complexity of marginalized groups through art. She wants to go down in history as a well-rounded artist who told the stories of the times. @_jaminegraham stillstostory.com

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR TALENTED CONTRIBUTORS!

If you're an experienced writer, photographer or illustrator interested in working with BLAC, email your resume and samples of your work to editor@BLACdetroit.com.

10 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

A year-long series featuring Detroiters who are driving positive change in their communities.

Driving Community Sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund

Leonora King, Coach, Palmer Park Tennis Academy This lover of the game heads a youth-focused, community-based tennis league, teaching basic skills and life lessons.

T he positive role that sports can play in a child’s young life can’t be overstated. Work ethic, accountability, organization – it’s all baked in. The Palmer Park Tennis Academy and Leonora King – or “Coach Lee”– have taken tennis, a sport not frequently spotlighted in the Black community, and built a nationally recognized community association. The academy was founded in 2011, a product of People for Palmer Park, an organization 12 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

created to preserve and celebrate the historic park.

The academy draws children ages 5 to 15 from across the city and surrounding suburbs for tennis lessons and casual play. Some of the kids compete in United States Tennis Association junior leagues, and the best of them may even play individually in USTA-sanctioned tournaments during the winter months. This past year, People for Palmer Park was forced to

cancel the major events they’ve become known for due to the pandemic, but they were able to continue the tennis program with a few safety tweaks – spurred on, no doubt, by being named the 2020 USTA Community Association of the Year.

“It was a total surprise,” King says. The academy won the award at the state level and then the Midwest designation a couple years ago, but she had no idea, that with that, they’d

been automatically put up for the national award. “It was really rewarding, because we’re a young organization.

We’ve only been around since 2011, and most of the community organizations have been around for years, 20 years or so. It was really cool to get the award and be recognized for what we’re doing.” What would’ve been an in-person celebration in Orlando in March became a virtual ceremony in December.

Still, King says, “I was overwhelmed.”

SPONSORED CONTENT

Along with the proper way to hold a racquet, youth enrolled in the program learn skills they can take with them off the court like sportsmanship and physical fitness. King also takes care to teach the young players about Black music and tennis history. “They might know Serena and Venus, but that’s it,” she says.

The goal is to “encourage them to be better people, productive people in our society. So, we’re always doing that – besides just yelling at them.”

King started playing tennis at Mumford High School when she discovered that among her schoolmates were “all of the best Black tennis players” in the city. “I had never really seen anybody but Arthur Ashe playing tennis on TV, that was Black.

I had never seen anybody up close and personal,” King says. Most had been playing since elementary, but still, she was inspired to get into the game, often heading out to Palmer

Park to play. She’d go on to Western Michigan University, making the tennis team as a walk-on and playing in local tournaments after graduation.

Now, King says, “It has become the love of my life to coach. I really had no clue that I was going to enjoy it as much as I do.”

In early November, the Palmer Park Tennis Academy launched a fundraiser to help players with equipment, tournament costs and the like.

They exceeded their goal of $10,000 the day before we spoke to King in mid-December. “(Tournaments) are really expensive. It can be $70 to $120 for a 10-year-old kid to play these tournaments, which sort prohibits a lot of our kids from playing,” King says. “I’ve got kids now that are playing well enough to take it to the next level, and I want to be able to assist the families with that.”

King hopes to be able to enroll more children in the program this

year. The academy had been averaging 200 or so per year, but for safety, they were forced to cap the participants at around 80 this past year. Like all of us, they’re playing things by ear. She’d also like to launch a high-performance day camp for the young people who show extra promise. “I feel really passionate about it. I love tennis and being able to share it with these kids, and still keep it going during this time meant a lot,” she says.

While Black people have a rich history with tennis, it’s not necessarily ingrained in the culture, and King would like to see that change with this new generation. “It’s a great sport.

And what’s happening right now is a lot of the historically Black colleges are pursuing (tennis players) in foreign countries,” she says, for lack of homegrown talent. “I want to create a program where we have kids who, if they’re serious, they can pursue college scholarships through tennis.”

“Ford Fund believes that investing in the needs of our youth is an essential step toward empowering our communities for a promising future.”

Ford Congratulates Leonora “Coach Lee” King and The Palmer Park Tennis Academy on being named the 2020 USTA Community Association of the Year.

Programming like theirs that provides both athletic opportunity and the chance to grow as people are important parts of youth development. Getting a chance to learn a sport they might otherwise not experience is icing on the cake.

Ford has helped build stronger communities through funding innovative, sustainable programs that enhance the youth experience. This includes ongoing support to organizations such as Police Athletic League (Detroit PAL). Most recently, during these uncertain times, Ford Fund has partnered with Detroit PAL on Critical Conversation, a series of conversations that serve to bring the Detroit Police and our youth together to find solutions that will change and reshape the community.

Ford salutes King and the Palmer Park Tennis Academy for opening the doors of new possibilities to Detroit’s youth.

– Pamela Alexander, director of community development for Ford Motor Company

M O R E T H A N M AT C H E S For more information on the Palmer Park Tennis Academy, to donate or get involved, visit peopleforpalmerpark.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 13

DISCOVER

H C TE

By Paris Giles

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T R O P P SU can nology h c e t but t tha nxiety, a r u t’s true o f urce o lso be be a so side, it can a hier flip a healt d r on the a w l to learful too sider c n o C a help . body and on d e n n a o d h min f ur p more o e on yo r c o a p e s n ing for o do list ps. o t r u yo ess ap n l l e w ree these f

I

EXHALE

LIBERATE

This emotional wellbeing app is crafted for Black and Indigenous women of color to nourish the mind, body and soul. Make use of meditations, guided imagining, breath work, coaching and affirmations meant to address everything from stress, grief, rest, microaggressions and more that specifically consider the BIWOC experience.

Start to develop a daily meditation habit with this Black-owned app created by and for us. Discover a curated library of over 250 popular meditations and talks that call on ancient techniques to help navigate being Black in a modern world. Address anxiety and stress, depression, internalized racism, overcoming addiction, gratitude and more.

CLUE This period tracker allows you to keep up with all things reproductive health-related, including your menstrual and ovulation cycles, and pregnancy.

Log symptoms to discover personal patterns, and set reminders for when your period is due so you never find yourself having to makeshift a pad from a wad of toilet paper again.

DELICIOUSLY ELLA Spun from the popular blog, this app features over 500 healthy plant-based recipes. At your fingertips are meal planners, step-by-step image guides, videos showing you exactly how to make select recipes and more. Also check out over 100 yoga videos and advanced classes, an in-app podcast on health and wellness, and more.

SLEEP CYCLE This smart alarm clock and sleep tracker promises to help you relax at bedtime, sleep better and wake up easier and feeling refreshed. Its unique design only wakes you up while you’re in your light sleep phase, and, in the mornings, get detailed reports that give insight into your sleeping patterns during the night.

WATERMINDER Chart your daily water intake and stay on top of your hydration goals with this simple, award-winning tracker.

Stay motivated with reminders, view your progress and win rewards.

DAY ONE JOURNAL Take a moment to self-reflect wherever you are with this digital daily journal. Record your thoughts, emotions and key moments – or use it to jot down and organize your to-dos before they have a chance to overwhelm. Set reminders, and keep it cute and personal by adding locations and photos.

HOME WORKOUT Gym and equipment not required with this home workout app of specialized, flexible routines cultivated by industry experts. Test yourself with seven-, 14or 30-day fitness challenges, guided by detailed descriptions, images and video, and track your fitness and weight loss goals along the way.

DISCOVER

By Nick Pizana

LINK UP A

s global events cause the economy to slouch, small businesses, in particular, have been feeling the pressure. Plain Sight, a new app founded by Detroit native James Chapman, aims to relieve some of this stress by empowering business owners to reach out to new customers and maintain connections with old ones.

Chapman moved back to Detroit from Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2016 to work with Quicken Loans, taking lead roles with the company’s entrepreneurship programs.

Plain Sight began as a social networking platform for business connections, matching entrepreneurs with likeminded people. Users who download the app complete a profile detailing their background and the connections they’re looking to make – whether it’s with potential employers, investors or partners. Users are able to see the profiles of nearby users and also receive notifications when candidates check into businesses near them.

During the pandemic, this has been helpful for start-ups looking to make connections in their area’s business community and find ever-elusive safe meeting space.

“When COVID hit, we thought we were done,” Chapman recalls. “But honestly, business owners have been looking for any way to bring people into their space and feel comfortable doing so.”

The app’s latest update gives more features to entrepreneurs with physical locations, such as restaurants, coffee shops and co-working spaces. Plain Sight has added a dashboard where users can interact directly with existing customers and potential patrons by, for instance, sending promotions or organizing reservations.

“At the end of the day, we’re all professionals in this together, and we need tools to fit the needs of this time,” Chapman says. He and Plain Sight hope this will help give businesses the competitive edge they need to stay afloat. “We try to take the work out of networking and help make those connections.”

Available for download on iOS and Android @plainsightapp plainsight.app

16 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

DISCOVER

By Jasmine Graham

AMERICAN

DREAM T

he Filthy Americans Arts & Cultural Preservation Center is an ode to Detroit, techno music, skateboarding, streetwear and community building. Located in the Holden Block Redevelopment and Lincoln Street Art District in Northwest Detroit, the owners, Grammy-nominated producer and entrepreneur Electrifyin’ Filthy Rockwell and William “BJ” Smith, are dedicated to inspiring the next wave of Detroit artists.

“Here in Detroit, we create a lot of the culture, but we give it away to others,” Rockwell says. “Growing up, I didn’t have a mentor in music – it was just something I took to.” Even after decades in the music industry, Rockwell never left Detroit. He says, “I get a certain vibe from Detroit I can’t get nowhere else. My music sounds like this because of Detroit.”

Rockwell trademarked the classic Detroit salute “what up doe” and began hosting pop-ups at the Detroit Shipping Company. After a year, he realized he needed a space of his own, and that’s when entrepreneur Adrian Tonon came to him and told him about the historic and then empty Lincoln assembly plant on Holden Street. Rockwell says, “At the time, all that was in here was a dirt floor and brick walls.” But Rockwell could see the vision.

The center is for skaters, artists, creators, freethinkers and people who want to make it in the creative industry, independently. The team plans to open up the cultural center for free workshops, mentorship programs, concerts, art shows and more. The Filthy Americans brand of streetwear is also displayed throughout the space. The first collection featured a nod to Detroit’s first Black mayor, Coleman A. Young. Dedicated to the growth of Holden Street, Rockwell has adopted the skate park next door in hopes of creating a safe space for the community.

1312 Holden St., Detroit @filthyamericans filthyamericans.com

18 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

DISCOVER

By Jasmine Graham

BEAUTY BUDDIES P

heobe Scott, founder of the Detroit-based makeup brand FACEFX, never saw herself in the beauty industry until she was commissioned to do makeup for the United Negro College Fund gala when she was 20 years old. From there, her love of helping women feel beautiful became her purpose. “It was an infatuation for me to see the brightness inside of them show in their expression,” she says of the women after they would see themselves in the mirror.

After spending years in the makeup industry, in 2019, Scott decided to start FACEFX with the

goal of making women identify the beauty within themselves. Within four months, they launched with lashes, mascara and a brow pencil, and over the last year, they have launched over 40 more products.

When COVID crept into the state, it caused small businesses of all types to pivot. While Scott was feeling down about losing her job and being at a standstill with her makeup line, small business advocate Jennyfer Crawford had a project in mind. Crawford is the founder of All Things Detroit, a reoccurring entrepreneur-focused event.

thefacefx.com

20 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

While she was contemplating her own career during COVID, Crawford put on a FACEFX lipstick and her mood instantly changed – she felt inspired and beautiful. She called Scott and asked if she would be open to collaborating on a collection. Scott immediately agreed and the two began sharing their stories of empowerment, and the Ask Jennyfer Collection was born. The two came up with four bright and bold colors: Jennyfer-It, a statement burgundy; Not Afraid, a copper nude; Advocate, a soft pink nude; and Influencer, a striking turquoise.

HEALTH ADVICE FROM ASCENSION MICHIGAN

When should I seek help with weight loss?

F

or those struggling with excess weight, it can be challenging to implement and stick to a lifestyle change – and oftentimes, they need help to reach their goals. That’s where Dr. Angela Harden-Mack, M.D. comes in. She’s a weight management specialist, also known as an obesity medicine physician, with Ascension Medical Group.

Dr. Harden-Mack provides patients with information, guidance and support on their weight loss and maintenance journeys. When it comes to helping with weight loss, individualized care is key. “There isn’t one plan that will work for everyone,” she says. “We have to identify what the patient’s needs are (and) what the patient’s goals are.”

Much like there isn’t one right way to lose weight, there isn’t one reason why people may struggle with the numbers on the scale. Weight gain goes beyond calorie excess, Dr. Harden-Mack notes. In fact, there are several factors that impact a person’s weight such as

Angela Harden-Mack, M.D.

“There isn’t one plan that will work for everyone. We have to identify what the patient’s needs are (and) what the patient’s goals are.” genetic makeup, lifestyle habits, some medications and medical conditions, and the environment.

People are less active, more sedentary, and many work in environments where they spend most of their time sitting. To top it off, high-calorie foods and snacks are readily available. “It’s like the perfect storm,” she says, and it’s much easier to gain weight than it is to lose it.

However, excess weight can have a significant impact on overall health, she says. Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease and sleep apnea are among the complications that could come with being overweight

or with obesity. In addition, those living with excess weight may struggle with unhealthy eating patterns, which, if not addressed, make weight loss more difficult. That’s why seeking the help of a specialist is valuable.

“The higher the weight, the greater the impact on quality of life. As the weight increases, the individual may experience more hurdles in society and therefore, may be less social,” Dr. Harden-Mack says. Plus, factor increased medical costs due to medications, more doctor’s visits, additional imaging and the like.

If an individual is experiencing any

of these issues, it could be time to evaluate the complete medical history, not just diet and exercise. And, when it comes to starting a weight loss journey, Dr. Harden-Mack says that many people have used resources like self-guided initiatives, commercial programs and wellness practitioners prior to seeking the help of medical providers.

When the weight loss journey has been long and difficult, patients may benefit from the assistance of a medical specialist uniquely trained in weight management, like Dr. Harden-Mack, who cares for those with straightforward and complex medical histories.

“I evaluate each patient and make weight management recommendations specific to the patient. The weight loss or weight maintenance plan will include nutrition, exercise and behavior therapies. When needed and relevant to the patient, the plan may include recommendations for medications, bariatric surgery and care with exercise specialists, psychologists or therapists.”

GET MORE HEALTH INFORMATION AND FIND A DOCTOR NEAR YOU BY VISITING ASCENSION.ORG/MICHIGAN OR CALLING 866-501-DOCS (3627) SPONSORED CONTENT

APPRAISED

By Nick Pizana

BOTTLING BEAUTY

B

re’Ann White is a fashion and portrait photographer from Detroit known for her striking photos and her ease behind the camera that makes for a natural experience.

“Truthfully, I stumbled into photography back in 2010 and haven’t looked back since,” White says. Her photography career got off to a fast start after a chance meeting with publicist F. Carlton Peeples. “When he asked to see my portfolio, I told him I didn’t have it on me, but I could send it by Friday.

I spent the rest of the week Googling ‘how to be a photographer’ and created a portfolio with friends and family. And the very next week I was in the studio shooting Idris Elba for the Michigan Chronicle.”

Whether photographing everyday people, celebrities like Big Sean, fashion editorials or brand campaigns, her camera captures her subjects’ authentic character.

White’s photos have been exhibited in the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Norwest Gallery and elsewhere.

Last year kept White busy. Among other projects, she released two prints and enacted her Season of Giving campaign, offering low-income families free family photos. “My work is most recognizable for the dark, luscious skin tones and low angles. My mission in life is to uplift my community and give a voice and platform to the limitless power and beauty of the Black experience.”

As for 2021, White has plans for a solo exhibition in Los Angeles.

@breannwhite breannwhite.com 22 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

IN STYLE Curated by Paris Giles

Pattern Perfect

Fight the winter blues with these spirit-buoying prints.

Anima Iris Orange Snake ZAZA $375 • animairis.com

Autumn Adeigbo Shayla Blouse $375 • autumnadeigbo.com

Thebe Magugu Long-Line Parka $1,156 • thebemagugu.com

Fe Noel

Welfed Button-Up Crop Top $268 • fenoel.com

Brother Vellies Kaya Boot $735 • brothervellies.com

24 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

Fenty

XLong Sleeve Mini Dress $420 • fenty.com

Undra Celeste Billow Sleeve Blouse $135 • undracelesteny.com

Kimberly Goldson Lynn Boot Cut Pants $199 • kimberlygoldson.com

Pyer Moss Tall Mamba Boot $1,225 • pyermoss.com

Kimberly Goldson EBS Floral Print jacket $398 • kimberlygoldson.com

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 25

POP ART

By Paris Giles

BOOKS Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America

by Michael Eric Dyson In this accountability letter to America, the award-winning professor and Detroit native Dyson considers George Floyd’s public killing and the nationwide protests and social unrest that followed (St. Martin’s Press). In five chapters – each addressed to a Black martyr – he traces the genealogy of anti-Blackness in America from the slave ships to that Minneapolis street corner.

Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic

by Kenya Hunt In the vein of Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, this collection of essays by London-based journalist Hunt reflects what it is to live and thrive as a Black girl (Amistad). She uses the popular and the personal, the humorous and the heartbreaking, to spotlight that despite the increased visibility and representation, and celebration of “Black girl magic,” everyday life for Black women remains complex and conflicted.

Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation & Freedom

by Cheryl A. Giles In this collection of writings, African American Buddhist teachers offer lessons on racism, spiritual freedom and a truly representative American Buddhism (Shambhala). Representing all the major Buddhist traditions, the contributors tell of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives.

Big Freedia: God Save the Queen Diva!

By Big Freedia and Nicole Balin In this memoir from the “undisputed ambassador” of the New Orleans-bred Bounce music movement, Big Freedia pulls us into the relationship between her career and her personal life (Gallery Books). Being “a twerking sissy” was her salvation, helping her to cope with the battles she faced growing up in the worst neighborhood in New Orleans, from losing loved ones to violence and drugs, to surviving Hurricane Katrina by spending two days on a roof.

26 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

TV & FILM Lupin Actor Omar Sy stars as master thief Assane Diop in this French series created by George Kay in collaboration with François Uzan (Netflix). Part I of the project follows Assane as he crafts a plan to steal a necklace from the Louvre while he plots revenge on a man who accused his father of a crime he didn’t commit, inspired by the French story of thief Arsène Lupin. Release date: Jan 8

Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy This documentary takes us back to the ’80s and the drug that ravaged Black communities across America (Netflix). The film chronicles the stark contrast between the attitudes and policies around the trafficking and abuse of cocaine – the drug of choice for the white and wealthy – and crack, its cheap, highly addictive alternative. War on drugs or war on victims? Release date: Jan. 11

Salt-N-Pepa Queen Latifah co-produces this long-awaited biopic exploring the rise of the iconic hip-hop group (Lifetime). The three-hour miniseries chronicles everything from their late-’80s hit “Push It” to how the ladies navigated sexism in the maledominated music industry, followed by a sit-down interview with the artists. Release date: Jan. 23

Malcolm & Marie Zendaya and John David Washington star as a couple in this black and white rom-dram by Sam Levinson filmed during the pandemic (Netflix).

After returning home from a movie premier, a filmmaker and his girlfriend discuss past relationships. Release date: Feb. 5

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 27

MIND OV E R MATTER

By Kaye Byrd Photos by Lauren Jeziorski

We’ve said goodbye to the longest year on record, but few of us have escaped unscathed. Mental illnesses like anxiety and depression have surged, and loneliness abounds.

Still, as we look ahead to a new year, let us also resolve to work toward a strong mind and a new attitude.

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 31

MIND OV E R MATTER

I was just beginning to learn how to enjoy my own company and how to not

I

’ll go out on a limb and say that you’re probably with me in pure elation that 2020 is in our rearview. It was, by too many accounts, tumultuous. Only a couple weeks into quarantine I found myself drawing on lessons I had learned in therapy to help cope with the realities begin-

ning to unfold. At the time, I had no idea that we were heading into a months-long pandemic that would separate us in almost every way from the life that we were used to. Some people only mildly altered their state of living – choosing to operate as if we were hearing different statistics about COVID-19. Others struggled many times over to find an upside to a difficult time wrought with layers of social ills.

Any chance for a fresh start, a clean slate, is cause for celebration. Thus, the elation. But I have also pondered exactly how we are to feel uplifted after experiencing the hardships of 2020. My first thoughts went to mental wellness as the introduction to healing.

Within 10 minutes I was reaching out to Aja Burks, owner and lead therapist at Transformative Mind Counseling in Southfield. I asked her somberly, but deeply curiously: How do you feel good when nothing is positive?

Burks responded: “While there are many things that may feel heavy, acknowledging the pain that we’re experiencing will allow us to identify ways we can overcome our pain. I’m certain that if we give ourselves a chance, we can embrace courage and see hope.”

If Burks is correct in the assertion that an important first step to healing is facing the pain, then we have to have honest conversations about how we have actually been impacted.

So, let’s be honest about some of what we’ve braved.

SPOTTING THE PROBLEM

In 2020, the rates of depression, anxiety and substance abuse rose. A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in mid-July found that 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted because of worry and stress caused by the pandemic, compared to 32% in March. The same survey found a 12% increase in alcohol consump32 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

tion or substance abuse. Another Kaiser Family Foundation health tracking poll conducted in July found that Black people, at 57%, were second to Hispanics, at 63%, who say that worry or stress related to the pandemic has caused them to experience adverse effects on their mental health and wellbeing.

Domestic violence has also surged around the world. This highlights the relationship between

feel like I have to fill my every minute. I wasn’t ready for what being COVID cautious had in store for me, and I’d spend many days searching for what to do with myself. abusive behavior and contributing factors leading to increased stress, such as income insecurity and families being in close contact for prolonged periods of time. Remember that abuse is not only physical. Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse are also highly damaging. In a recent article cited in The New England Journal of Medicine, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience intimate partner violence. Whether you call it domestic violence or intimate partner violence, the people on the receiving end of abuse are of all races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes and religions. What is alarming is that the very thing that was intended to keep us safe from COVID-19 is the same thing that puts abuse victims in harm’s way – isolation.

Pervasive during the pandemic has been the lack of social connectedness that, for some, has resulted in isolation and loneliness. This was a growing concern globally prior to the pandemic, but the mandatory stay-at-home orders exacerbated the issue. In 2018, the U.K. appointed a minister for loneliness after 9 million people in Britain reported always feeling lonely, according to a 2017 report. A similar problem exists here at home, also. In a May 2020 Time magazine article, “COVID-19 is Making America’s Loneliness Epidemic Even Worse,” writer Jamie Ducharme points to a survey conducted by social advice company SocialPro that revealed roughly a third of American adults reported feeling lonelier than usual since the stay-at-home orders went into effect.

Burks says, “Recognizing and addressing loneliness is important because it can be

MIND OV E R MATTER

We are already energy into 2021,

serves a purpose.”

She encourages us to move forward, understand that hard times will come but that we should wrap our minds around changing the way we think and behave. She says we need to ask ourselves what the teachable moments were – and how to build from there.

being intentional

HEALING SPACE

moving with that

detrimental to your mental and physical health.

Not addressing loneliness can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.” Being lonely hit uncomfortably close to home for me. As a woman who lives for a Sunday brunch paired with soullifting conversations, good food and a mimosa, I struggled at the beginning of the pandemic.

about how we show

ACCEPTING CHANGE

surroundings and

Finding activities to fill my time had been part of my single lady DNA. I was just beginning to learn how to enjoy my own company and how to not feel like I have to fill my every minute. I wasn’t ready for what being COVID cautious had in store for me, and I’d spend many days searching for what to do with myself. What I did is what Burks says is important to conquering loneliness. I got creative about tapping into ways to connect with others. For me, that meant meeting up with friends who valued the same social-distancing boundaries.

A new bicycle, new roller skates, grilling in the park and virtual house parties on the social networking app Houseparty helped to keep me connected to the outdoors, and to friends and family.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, minority-owned small businesses suffered tremendous economic fallout due to the pandemic, and small business owners have a heightened concern about the pandemic’s impact on their mental health. Michele Pearson, owner of Detroit-based Beignets, LLC, says the secret to staying sane is acceptance and perseverance.

Her popular food truck is in its peak season April through August. Prior to the pandemic, Pearson had plans to open a storefront having experienced exponential growth and success for the past seven years. But in 2020, Beignets, LLC did not operate at all.

Pearson, who is also a yoga teacher, says her hopes are rooted in the fact that things always change. She says, “Things may become more difficult, they may become less difficult – but they 34 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

up for ourselves despite our the challenges that are bound to be present. will never stay the same. I’ve learned in my pursuit and exploration into my mental health that things are forever in flux. Holding fast to this truth has helped me during the most difficult times, and it gives me the strength to keep moving forward and remain diligent.”

Pearson’s perspective while facing an obviously difficult time is what mental health professionals are hoping we all take into the new year: a very focused approach to self-care that includes mental wellness. Surilla Lawrence with the Relationship Center of Michigan spoke with me about the importance of finding your footing on stable ground in difficult times, especially as it relates to the flurry of events last year. Lawrence says, “Instead of focusing on all the things that have contributed to the downfall or the set-back or the frustration or resentment that you currently feel, learn to accept that all of it is true. Even in the midst of it, still choose to see the lesson that you can pull out of this pandemic. Every experience we have in life

As difficult as 2020 was, I’ve seen so many people empowered to serve themselves and their communities differently. We are already moving with that energy into 2021, being intentional about how we show up for ourselves despite our surroundings and the challenges that are bound to be present. It is an act of courage to prioritize your mental wellness. It is hard work, and when you can’t achieve it alone, ask for help. There are too many resources and tools to be out here by yourself trying to figure things out. Technology has changed the game in terms of exposure and access to mental health care and wellness techniques.

There are articles and listservs that offer information about maintaining a healthy mindset as part of your daily self-care regimen. If you’re active on social media, you can design your entire timeline to be nothing but uplifting, therapyinspired content. Whole virtual communities exist that you can join, such as Therapy for Black Girls and Therapy for Black Men. I follow a number of therapists on Instagram that provide free content to feed your mind and encourage self-reflection.

I’ve been enjoying therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab’s community (@nedratawwab). She describes herself on Instagram as a “boundaries expert.” She challenges her followers to heal and provides advice on navigating hard times and difficult relationships. But as someone who accepted therapy as part of my ongoing self-care life plan four years ago, I can say there is nothing better than developing a one-on-one relationship with a therapist or other professional that meets your personal needs. Everyone’s mental wellness journey is different, but we should all be on one.

Both therapists interviewed for this article highlighted moments of personal self-reflection as important to our ability to thrive in any situation.

It’s also a necessary component to healing and planning. This is the time of year when people are developing New Year’s resolutions or breaking out the canvas to complete a vision board,

but experts advocate for maintaining that state of mind for more than just a season or brainstorming session. Lawrence says, “It’s important to have self-reflection time because it introduces you to yourself. Sometimes we lose sight of who we are.” She says we must consider “what we need moving forward and on what brings you peace, what brings you focus and what brings you clarity.”

Burks says, “To self-reflect, we increase our personal competency in who we are and what we are capable of. One of the most important aspects of self-reflection is being honest in our own experiences. If we’re honest, we can truly identify our tenacity for making change even through a difficult time.” Pouring into yourself matters. How you treat yourself matters. Your perseverance depends on it. Take heed to the late Kobe Bryant’s “mamba mentality” as it relates to your mental wellness – just try to get better every day. If you feel overwhelmed and can’t get fired up, give yourself a little grace. Start where you can.

And be grateful. Gratitude is a scientifically proven gateway to being healthy and happy. You’ve likely heard this before and maybe you were skeptical, like I was. When life is cluttered with hardship after hardship, it may be difficult to see past the clouds to identify anything to be grateful for. I get it, and many of you reading this article have probably been there, too. But even in those times, there are things to give thanks for. Bring it down to the things that you take for granted. Be thankful for your breath. Be thankful for your toes. Be thankful for the tree that gave you shade on a hot day. Be thankful for your grade school teacher who saved you from a bad grade. Researchers say showing gratitude can result in fewer aches and pains, improved sleep, better relationships, and can counteract depression and suicidal thoughts.

Seems too simple, maybe, but I’ve bought into the idea, and I can promise you that it definitely doesn’t hurt. That said … I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this article with you, and I hope that someone will read it and find the strength to focus their energy on improving their health by focusing on mental wellness. I’m grateful for the paper these words are printed on. Your turn.

KAYE BYRD IS A FREELANCE WRITER FOCUSED ON SOCIAL ISSUES. BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 35

My role is really one of trying to have an impact now and to create space for the future.

leading the

C H A RG E We sat down via Zoom with Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist to discuss being first, equity, family – and how 2020 has changed everything.

BY BILLY STRAWTER JR.

BLAC: We understand that the community

is incredibly proud of your accomplishment and what you’re doing. What is it like being first?

What type of pressure comes that?

G ilc h r i st : I appreciate that. People

have been immensely supportive of me especially in the Black community, but frankly, the state of Michigan has been proud of the diversity of our leadership team. People have their political differences, but the state of Michigan has represented well. I'm thankful for my partnership and friendship with Gretchen Whitmer. I see the impor-

tance of being first when I'm working with young people. Before the pandemic, I spent a lot of time in elementary and middle schools working with students. And it's been really cool because you can see it. You know, I look like I could be somebody’s older brother or cousin or uncle. Kids will have a different type of conversation with me.

Most people have never met – or get to meet – an elected official. And, so, my goal, as part of the success in my service, is making this more accessible to more people so that people who may see me in office believe that this is a path that might make sense for them, and they're going to be

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 37

leading the

C H A RG E

smarter and more talented. They will be able to be even more successful. I won't be an anomaly, but, instead, I'll be an opening. I'll be an on-ramp for other people to be able to do big things, whether it's wanting to be an elected official, wanting to be successful in business or wanting to do whatever they want to do in art, et cetera. My role is really one of trying to have an impact now and to create space for the future.

B: Talk about Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. What do you think that means for our community G:

It's amazing. On the night that the election was called for Biden and Harris, I took a picture of my 17-month-old daughter, and she had this celebratory look, hands up, looking at the screen. It’s a baby, right? But I know that I'm going to show her that photograph when she's older because that was a meaningful moment in history. I think it's important because there have to be people at the vanguard. And, so, having someone like Kamala Harris at the vanguard, someone who is as conscientious as she is, someone who is as understanding of how important her success is to our community, I expect her to do a phenomenal job.

You know, I know a little something about being somebody's running mate and breaking a barrier. Her and I have actually spoken about that phenomenon. Most importantly, what I'm looking forward to out of her service is that she's going to show that it's not that she's in that position because of her identity – it’s that her identity will actually make her better at being vice president. She will have more perspective to bring to the role. That’s going to lead to people having, perhaps, a different perception of the

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 39

leading the

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vice presidency after she's done. That's really important. One mark of a history maker is you leave the thing better than you found it.

vice-president elect Harris, who I understand is quite good. So, yeah, I don't have that.

B: Talk to me about that, about history being

made. How do you navigate that with your own family, knowing that you've made history? What does that look like? How do you have those conversations?

G: Well, it's actually very simple because in the

Gilchrist household, where I am one of five, I am the least important person in my household.

There's nothing more humbling than your spouse and your children. And, so, actually, none of that matters. I am the father who is just here and happy about changing diapers, who messes up in the kitchen, who didn't take the trash out soon enough. I'm that person at home, and that keeps me grounded. That balance is very healthy, because you don't want to get too caught up. You have to recognize that we elect people to public office, and they can't lose their personal life. That disconnection from reality is quite dangerous if that happens. My family keeps me really grounded in that. And, so, no worry. You don't have to worry about me getting too far out there ‘cause my 7-year-old daughter will correct it.

B:

They are going to put you right back in your place. That's the beauty of family. So, this is probably the most important question that I'm going to ask: When you’re making dinner or doing your chores around the house, what's your playlist?

What's your go-to?

G:

Oh my gosh. I’ve got a certain era of Detroit hip-hop that I enjoy. Any Royce Da 5’9” or Elzhi, I'm here for all of it. That's typically a staple. It goes between that when I'm listening by myself or maybe I'm listening to a news or politics podcast or what’s playing very often. Our baby girl, she likes to dance and she really likes electronic music to dance to so a lot of electronic stuff is going on in the Gilchrist household, too.

B: What's your go-to when you're making dinner?

G: Oh my gosh. This is going to be so under-

whelming. For breakfast it’s straight bacon and eggs, but if I'm struggling, they are going to get some chicken nuggets from the freezer. That has not been a skill that I've developed well, unfortunately. I don't have anything to do unlike

B: You mentioned leaving things better than you found them. As we look to the future, what can we look toward as you start thinking about your legacy?

G: The first thing that's important is that I want

people to recognize that the lieutenant governor is an important partner and ally and resource, not only to the governor but to the state, and that it’s a role to be taken seriously. When a person is in that role and is empowered, they can have a positive impact, and I think our administration is going to set that example. Specifically, I would like it to be true when I am out of office – or out of this office – that we have a deeper, more empathetic understanding of what racial justice actually looks like. I've been very transparent in articulating my experiences as a Black man, especially earlier this year when there was such a public conversation around law enforcement and bad interactions between law enforcement and people of color. I talked about my own experiences that started for me when I was 9 years old and persistent through my adulthood.

That we can have a better understanding of what we need to do to fix that, not only in terms of policing, but in terms of how our people interact with one another overall. The stuff with racial disparities that we're looking at when it comes to health, but, also, when it comes to

leading the

C H A RG E

The state of Michigan has been one of the leading states in terms of providing statebased resources to small businesses to be able to get some money to try to stay aoat during this pandemic. Going forward, we want to focus on what the economy looks like going forward?

access to economic opportunity, educational pursuits – these are things that we're trying to lay a foundation for. We put in place some infrastructure to do that. The Black leadership advisory council is one example of that. How we make decisions as state government, I think, will be different. It will be more grounded in looking toward equitable outcomes for communities. I'm really proud of that.

The other piece I'm going to be thinking about in 2021 is with this public health crisis. We have seen it coupled with economic calamity for people of color, for Black folks and for people period.

And, so, I'm going to be spending a lot of time – I spent a lot of time in 2020, frankly – trying to get internet access for students and small businesses.

The state of Michigan has been one of the leading states in terms of providing state-based resources to small businesses to be able to get some money to try to stay afloat during this pandemic. Going forward, we want to focus on what the economy looks like going forward?

What can we correct about the economy that was broken before the pandemic? How can we course correct that to make sure that there is more access to opportunity for more people?

How can more people with ideas see those ideas as viable, as possible in the state of Michigan. No matter what your professional dreams are, what your profession is, I want people to feel like their future is attainable in the state of Michigan. When I graduated from U of M College of Engineering, I wanted to be a software developer, and I thought I had to go to the West coast.

I don't want anyone in any profession to feel like that's true. Whether you're an engineer or an architect or an artist, whatever it is, I hope that you can see that there's a path for you here in our state. And, so, there is infrastructure to be laid to do that. There are policies that need to be enacted to do that. There are training opportunities that need to be made available to do that. I'm going to be focusing on making that true and making that possible so that we can retain the strongest assets that the state of Michigan has. And that is our people and the diversity of our people. Whether that's in Detroit, like I am, or whether that's in Iosco County in the northern lower peninsula or Delta County in the upper peninsula. Wherever you are I want you to feel like Michigan can be your home to raise your family, to build your future. And doing that from

this position is an exciting challenge that I look forward to every single day.

B: I don't know that anyone came into 2020

expecting this sort of chaos with a global pandemic leading into other issues. How have you had to shift your priorities with all of this coming in unexpectedly?

G: You know, it's interesting. At least three big

things happened in Michigan this year: obviously, the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, this generational call for racial justice, and we also had a once-in-500-years flooding event happen in Midland. That happened, and, so, I've spent time there and in Sanford, and working with people who were helping to recover from that. I just mentioned that to say that, no, we didn't see this coming in 2020. But the truth is, I believe that all of us are in the positions that we are for such a time as this. Some people's leadership never gets tested, and I believe ours has this year. I think Gov. Whitmer and I have done our best to try to rise to the challenges that we’ve faced, and we have been able to do so, frankly, because the people of Michigan have really stepped up in a big way all across the state.

You've seen in this unprecedented challenge unprecedented attempts for people to come together. There were billboards in the city of Detroit calling for volunteers to go to Midland to help with the flood. There were people joining the movement for Black lives in Escanaba, Michigan.

That shows that these calls for justice, these calls for help, these calls for healing, they transcend certain things that have divided us over our history.

If we can think about what can transcend, if we can think about what connects, if we can think about what we share and if we can then use that as the foundation to build upon when we're moving forward, we're going to have a better state. We're going to have better connected communities.

My priority from jump has always been how can we better connect our people and better connect our communities. Now, sometimes that may have been in these explicit ways with public transportation and the internet, but then we also can zoom that out to a higher level. So, I won't say that my priorities have shifted, but maybe the pathway to making progress from those priorities has had to change because of the events that have happened.

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 43

leading the

C H A RG E

B: What else has 2020 taught you?

G:

We all have something that we can do to help somebody else get through another day. I really think that's the big takeaway from 2020, that we all have the capacity and capability to do it if we match it with the desire.

I hope that I think about that every day as a servant.

We've been reminded of the importance that every person has the capacity to influence and impact our communities for the better. The individual choices that people made in 2020 have either made their community safer or put their communities at risk. In taking that a step further, the choices that people made to step up and solve problems and stand in the gap for people, the leadership that people have shown, that makes a difference. I hope that we retain that spirit, that desire to lean in going forward, to step up and to lead, and to fill the gaps when you see them.

That's what we need to make sure that our society is actually working to the best of our potential. And we need that because there are so many people hurting. And when you specifically want to talk about the Black community, there are so many of our brothers and sisters that need support and there is a role for all of us to support them. Whether that is checking in on your people, supporting that business you love down the block, throwing a couple of extra dollars at your barber or the person at the beauty salon – doing what you can. We all have something that we can do to help somebody else get through another day. I really think that's the big takeaway from 2020, that we all have the capacity and capability to do it if we match it with the desire. I hope that I think about that every day as a servant. And I hope that all of us recognize that we have that within us. My challenge, frankly, to everyone in the community, is to step up and find your path to doing that, it's to step up and do it in a way that makes sense for you. It's not going to look the same for everybody, but it is as important for you as it is for me.

One of the things that I work to advocate for at the state level and the federal level is financial support. We need direct financial support money in people's pockets. And, so, we've called on that from the Michigan legislature, which has been led

by Republicans and has refused to take that kind of economic measure. We've called for the federal government to at least revisit, if not build upon, the direct financial assistance that they provided for people across the country earlier in the year, whether that was in the form of the $1,200 check

or the expanded unemployment benefits and eligibility. That supported the economy. That kept people out of poverty during this pandemic, that coupled with the relief for utility shutoffs and evictions and foreclosures.

There's a lot of policy work to do. Elected officials have a role to play in this response, and we're trying to do everything we have the authority to do here at the state level because our economy is our people. We have to take care of people so that people can then participate in commerce and be confident that they're going to be healthy when they do so. That's why we're trying to have a fact-based approach to the pandemic and a fact-based approach to the economy. And if we do both of those things, I believe that we will get through it, we'll establish a new normal going forward and everybody will have a place there.

B:

Detroit has been home. You’ve been clear that you want to be here. Why was that so important to you?

G: I've lived in two other cities, not counting

college when I was in Ann Arbor. I lived in Seattle and I lived in Washington, D.C., and those are nice places. I was blessed to have positive experiences in both of those cities, but Detroit is home.

It’s what made me who I am. It’s where I became who I am. It was important to me as I got educated, as I gained professional experience, to be useful to the place that made me who I am. That is what drove me to want to bring my family back home in 2014 to raise my children in Detroit.

I believe that we had a role to play in making sure that our city and our state was as strong as it could possibly be. We thought that we could help make that. So, I am still probably the happiest person in the city to be here with my babies.

To have them be able to come of age in what I think is the best city in the world. Even with all of its challenges, I still think that this is an amazing place to live and amazing place to be and an amazing place to grow. We still have things that we can do to make that more true for more people. I think that's part of my responsibility as a public servant.

Editor’s note: Portions of this interview have been condensed for length.

BILLY STRAWTER JR. IS BLAC DETROIT’S PUBLISHER.

44 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

access DETROIT | JANUARY 2021

W

e don’t quite know what indoor activities will look like as we head into the new year. No matter. There’s still stuff to do outdoors – if you can muster up that Michigan attitude and brave the chill.

THE RINK AT CAMPUS MARTIUS, DETROIT The ice rink reopened Dec. 9 with mask and social distancing requirements. Tickets must be purchased online.

BELLE ISLE, DETROIT The park is open year-round. The aquarium and conservatory are closed, but you can still enjoy the snow-covered scenery. Visit michigan.gov/dnr for more state park-specific information.

DETROIT ZOO, ROYAL OAK The animals are awaiting your socially distanced visit. Masks and reservations are required.

EASTERN MARKET, DETROIT Shop local goods weekly during the Saturday Market. Vendor opportunities are also available.

CADILLAC SQUARE, DETROIT During Market Fridays, shop fresh produce, herbs, plants, baked goods, maple syrup and more.

If you need to take shelter from the cold and soak in

some warmth and culture: The CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM is still open Thursday through Saturday. Preregistration is recommended.

The HENRY FORD MUSEUM of American Innovation is open daily. Masks are required indoors and out, and reservations are recommended.

The DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS is open Wednesday through Sunday. Face coverings and temperature checks are required for entry, and reservations are required.

The DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM is open Thursday through Sunday with limited hours. Face masks are required, and advanced ticket purchases are recommended.

46 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

BLACdetroit.com For a complete list of events, visit our online calendar.

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/BLACdetroitMagazine @BLACMagazine /BLACdetroitMag

BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 47

SEEN

Photos by Sydney Kispert-Bostick

Holiday Shopping at Eastern Market

On a crisp Saturday morning in December, we caught up with shoppers and vendors at Eastern Market in the throes of the holiday shopping season.

Jayden Stewart, Vanessa Poe 48 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

Ickford Archer, Tonya Archer, Nyag Archer

Jay James, Kay Taylor

Victoria Pickett, Tiffany Pickett, Victorio Pickett, Dave Denham

Fran Wilson, Mary Jones BLACdetroit.com • JANUARY 2021 • BLAC 49

SEEN

Percey Arnold, Gracie Arnold, William Arnold

Cecile Baker

Latisha Johnson Davis 50 BLAC • JANUARY 2021 • BLACdetroit.com

Audra Thomas, LaNeise Thomas