MC Digital Edition 2.22.23

B lack L ives M atter

America And Its Killing Fields!

By Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

As a student at Detroit’s Central High School, I remember on occa sion having mandatory fire drills. Today our children have mandato ry gun drills. They are being taught to “run, hide, or fight” in between reading, writing, and arithmetic. The latest count of sixty-seven mass shootings since the beginning of 2023 is making our nation resemble a modern day killing field. From Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in 1999 where 13 were killed and 20 wounded, to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., where three were killed and five wounded in 2023. While our hearts and our fervent prayers of condolences go out to the victims, families, students, and staff of MSU and every other field of despair, it is just not enough. To send your child out the door with a kiss and a remember to run, hide, or fight on the way to school each day is not the way for an America that some call exceptional.

The Violence Project of the National Institute of Justice recorded 185 mass shootings from 1966 to December 2022. In death, America is certainly exceptional. Las Vegas Nevada - 60 dead, 413 wounded, 867 reported injuries. Yes, we are exceptional. Orlando Florida - 49 killed, 53 wounded. Virginia Tech - 32 killed, 17 wounded, 6 others injured. Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut - 26 killed (20 of the victims were children between ages 6 and 7, six were adults).

El Paso Texas - 23 killed and 23 injured. Highland Park Illinois Parade - 7 were killed, 48 others injured. Uvalde, Texas - 22 killed, 18 wounded, 40 injured. Buffalo New York - 10 killed, 3 wounded, 13 injured. Dayton Ohio - 9 killed, 27 injured. Virginia Beach - 12 killed, 4 injured. Atlanta Georgia - 8 killed, 1 person wounded.

How tragic it is that students from Oxford High School in Michigan where 4 were killed and 7 wounded, in their first year at Michigan State University found themselves repeating the trauma, death, and nightmare of another horror of violence by gunfire. America is an exceptional nation.

We have more guns than people. A Small Arms survey has reported

See

Tyre Nichols

Will Black Lives Ever Matter?

By Donald James Senior Writer, Real Times Media

George Floyd

Breonna Taylor

Michael Brown

When African American George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, by a White Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer while other officers passively looked on, what ensued were the largest, longest, and most intense protests against police brutality and racism the world had ever witnessed. Thanks to a well-coordinated social media blitz by the organization Black Lives Matter and major news outlets relentlessly reporting the story, what followed were visible and memorable responses demanding change emanating from more than 60 countries.

With the massive protests and news coverage, many felt a paradigm shift and watershed moment had arrived that would stem the tide of racism and police brutality with concerted efforts for major change. There was hope – in many circles of America – that the power structure of policing and legislative bodies – on local and national levels - perhaps could finally agree that Black lives mattered in America.

See BLACK LIVES MATTER page A2

Sandra Bland

Rodney King

The Great Erase

Will the Attempt to Erase Black History Spread Across the Nation?

By Donald James Senior Writer, Real Times Media

Black History Month 2023 is almost over, and once again, the plight of African Americans since 1619 has been spotlighted across mass media platforms. Yet, it’s difficult to understand why the Florida Department of Education, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, continues to defend decisions to ban an Advance Placement course on African American studies.

According to DeSantis, the Black studies program “lacks educational

value” and “leaves large, ambiguous gaps that can be filled with additional ideological material, which we will not allow.” He said, “education is about the pursuit of truth, not the imposition of ideology or the advancement of a political agenda.”

For many, DeSantis’ stance against the African American studies coming to fruition in Florida has him standing on a slippery slope, with America watching.

“When we censor classes and whitewash lesson plans, we harm our students and do them a deep disservice, “ Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said recently as she stood with civil

See GREAT ERASE page A2

Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

Black Lives Matter

However, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the first year after Floyd’s murder, Black people were still three times as likely to be killed by police than White people and 1.3 times more likely to be unarmed when they were killed. In the same year, NBC News reported that Black people, who made up 13 percent of the nation’s population, accounted for 27 percent of the people fatally shot and killed by police officers across the country.

In the first week of 2023, the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old African American man in Memphis, Tennessee, captured the nation’s attention. Nichols was stopped by five Memphis police officers – all Black - and pulled from his car and beaten. Three days later, he died. Like many similar tragic cases over the years, massive protests ensued, with protesters of all ethnicities chanting: Black lives matter! Others wondered whether protesting made a real difference in addressing police brutality and racism involving Black people.

“People perceive that people protesting in the streets leads to people caring more, but sometimes it leads to people resisting the change more,” said Rashawn Ray, professor of sociology at the University of Maryland.

“And we’re talking about officers resisting the change. What we see in the immediate aftermath of the demonstrations is police officers hunkering down and standing behind the blue wall of silence even more.”

“The thing that is heard so often in response to police brutality is that we need to train the police officers better,” Kefentse Chike, Ph.D. and professor of African-American Studies at Wayne State University, told the Michigan Chronicle. “But it’s not the training; it’s that

many – not all - White police officers have racist views. And I don’t think you can change those views with training and legislation.”

Chike, a native Detroiter, said he’s not sure if there will ever be a significant change to police brutality because there will always be racist people. And in states across America, many of the people who make the laws are racist themselves and hold similar views and attitudes as a segment of law enforcement departments and agencies across the country.

When asked whether the Black police officers in Memphis involved in the Nichols’ case were racists, Chike said, “That is internalized racism. Many White people and White officers don’t deem Black lives to be valuable or Black lives to matter, which has been a major perspective in this society for a long time. So there are Black people, including some Black police officers, who feel the same way. In other words, they have internalized the same racist views and attitudes as Whites in terms of hating Black people – and themselves.”

Chike referenced the Willie Lynch Syndrome, first identified in a 1712 speech to White slaveowners to use tactics to keep African slaves in America in mental chains and divided against each other based on numerous factors.

“The psychological damage is that Black people were socialized and conditioned to think a certain way,” Chike said. “This has happened through the whole process of enslavement into the era of Jim Crow, segregation, and beyond.”

On another front, Dr. Roger Mitchell, a leading forensic pathologist, advocates for comprehensive reform to police use of excessive force. Following the recent death

Killing Fields

120.5 firearms per 100 residents. The country with the second highest rate of citizen firearm ownership is Yemen with a rate of 52.8 guns per 100 residents. America has a population of 326 million people. It has been reported that we have at least 393 million guns. Not every American owns a gun. There are what is known as “super owners,” people who own ten to twenty guns or more. America has a gun violence problem. In a special report by ABC News called Rethinking Gun Violence, examining the level of gun violence in the United States, a gun violence tracker system to illustrate total gun violence was utilized. Over the past five years, 2018 to 2023, there were a reported 93,376 deaths, 180,803 injuries. Over the past year, there were 19,210 deaths, 36,805 injuries. In one week, February 4-10, 2023, there were 354 deaths, 592 injuries. There are a number of gun related factors to these killings. Some range from premeditated acts of aggression, domestic disputes, robberies, even suicides. Yet, the one common factor is access to guns. This unbearable situation has caused the health care system an estimated one billion dollars a year for injuries alone.

According to a report released in June by the United States Government Accountability Office, many people believe gun violence is limited to urban America, particularly among Black communities. I have a news flash for youit’s happening more and more in smaller communities all around the nation. For example, Mississippi County Arkansas has a population of a little more than 42,000 based on the U.S. Census data. Yet, it has a gun homicide rate of over 23 per 100,000 according to the Center for Disease Control.

The majority of Americans want to do something to end gun violence. An ABC News Washington Post poll conducted in 2019 found 89% of Americans support universal background checks and 86% support red-flag laws (a law permitting the state court ordering the temporary removal of firearms from a person believed to present a danger to themselves or others). Six in ten support banning high-capacity ammunition

of Nichols, Mitchell, an African American and spokesperson for the National Medical Association (NMA), called for sweeping changes to the procedures of reporting deaths of individuals in police custody.

“The National Medical Association is calling for a national response for the immediate development of a federal office responsible for the review of all fatal cases involving police excessive-use-offorce occurring in local jurisdictions,” Mitchell, the organization’s Speaker of the House of Delegates, told the Michigan Chronicle. “One thing near and dear to my heart is getting a checkbox on the death certificate that says death in custodyyes or no.”

Mitchell said he considers death in custody to be circumstances ranging from when individuals are first stopped, questioned, arrested, transported to jail, and remain jailed under the supervision of law enforcement personnel.

The NMA is the largest and oldest national organization representing 50,000 Black physicians. Its collective voices have consistently called for the cease of excessive use of force by police, which NMA considers a critical and out-of-control “public health issue.” The organization remains committed to addressing social determinants, structural violence, and systemic racism, all fostering an environment leading to the disproportionate policing of communities of color.

“I’m hopeful we will find ways to stop the death of people in custody,” said Mitchell, a former FBI forensic pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner in Washington D.C., who currently chairs Howard University’s College of Pathology.

“Unfortunately, across the country, the deaths of those in custody are not being reported properly, if at all. But having faith without works is dead, so we have to keep work-

clips. Fifty-six percent support banning the sale of assault weapons. Among Democrats, 81% support a ban, 55% of independents, but only 33% of Republicans favor a ban.

We must end the gratuitous prayers for the victims, flowers and teddy bears for the deceased, litanies of how bad we feel that another killing field has occurred. It is not enough to send up a prayer for the dead. We must send out a policy change for the living. We cannot allow political leaders who are supposed to serve the people to disregard the will and determination of the people. Hiding behind the NRA resistance to reasonable gun regulation, claiming that leaders just want to take all guns away and disregard the Second Amendment right to bear arms, proclaiming nothing can be done about a shooting like this, are all damnable lies. The people want safety.

Our children and all children deserve a future without fear, injury, or death. I am not a pessimist. I am an optimist. But more important than that I am a man of faith. “I know that faith without works is dead,” James 2:17. It is time to put some work with our prayers. Politicians who ignore the will of the people, putting guns before children and money before safety, should be voted out of office. Governors and legislators who stand in the doorway to prevent the entrance of a better way to end this senseless violence do not deserve nor have they earned the right to lead the people. If they do not move on these issues, then it is up to the people to move them out of the way.

We must pass gun regulation laws, background checks, support for mental health, regular mental and psychological evaluation of law enforcement officers, the elimination of assault weapons and military armament off the streets, pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and inspire not by words but by our deeds a new and secure generation of young people. Whitney Houston sang it well, “I believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children’s laughter remind us of how we used to be.” America, the sound of laughter is always more pleasant to the ear than the sound of silence.

ing for these things to change.”

Ben Crump, the attorney for the family of Nichols, has been a starch proponent for passing federal police reform legislation. He is pushing for President Biden to proactively help the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, first introduced in 2021, through its passage on Capitol Hill.

“Shame on us if we don’t use his tragic death (George Floyd’s) to finally get the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed,” Crump said recently on CNN. “We told President Biden that when he talked to us. How many of these tragedies do we have to see on video before we say we have a problem, America?”

rights lawyer Ben Crump to announce that three high school students in Florida were ready to challenge the Governor’s decision legally.

Florida is not alone in efforts to ban Black history classes or denounce Critical Race Theory (CRT) from being taught in public schools. In 2021, at least three dozen states – primarily GOP-led - either introduced bills, adopted legislation, or implemented policies to restrict teaching about race and racism.

In Michigan, Senate Bill 460 was introduced by Republican Senator Lana Theis. The bill’s intent was to prohibit Michigan schools from teaching Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, and other race related lessons. Subsequently, the State Board of Education adopted a resolution that opposed the bill.

“Teachers have the right and responsibility to teach the multifaceted and complex history, including the history of race, racism, and other biases, which are inextricably connected to the constitutional and statutory history in our county,” said Michigan State Board of Education member Pamela Pugh.

Former State Senator Adam Hollier believes that the current composition of the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate, House - including the State’s first Black House Speaker - and governor’s office will turn back any attempts to pass legislation banning Critical Race Theory or erasing or whitewashing Black history courses taught in Michigan.

“Our history is rough and raw, and when we tell it accurately, it’s going to make some people uncomfortable,” said Hollier. “But we must continue to teach our real and accurate history.”

In Detroit, under the auspices of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), Critical Race Theory is being taught in the state’s largest and Blackest school district.

“Our goal,” Chrystal Wilson, assistant superintendent of DPSCD, told the Chronicle, “is to provide students with materials that consist of content that honors the intellect of our students…It is of critical importance that students see people like themselves in positions of power, strength, and achievement. The tenants of Critical Race Theory support this approach as they speak to the inclusion of non-dominant perspectives and critical analysis of history and literature to examine the current conditions and realities of our world.”

DPSCD, thanks to a partnership venture with The Skillman Foundation and the organization’s $654,000 grant over two years, has implemented the Detroit Perspectives Project, an initiative created to advance Culturally Responsive Literacy Initiatives for high school stu-

dents based on the School Board’s anti-racist policies and curriculums.

“In order for DPSCD high school students to realize their full potential and stay engaged in the learning experience, their education has to be culturally and historically reflective of their own experiences and identities,” Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of DPSCD, said in a statement. “The next phase of our work is to review materials that disrespect or disinterest our students and infuse materials that continue to be grade-level challenging but reflect the interest and identities of our students.”

In the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) in Washington D.C.comprehensive anti-racist education curriculums have been established. The District emphasizes teachers being anti-racist educators and teaching students through an anti-racist lens across all subjects, including Critical Race Theory.

“The best way is to teach students about Critical Race Theory, Black history, while developing solutions for a better future rather than banning books, curriculums, and classes,” said Sophia Dionne, a native Detroiter, who has taught in D.C. inner-city public schools for almost 14 years. “ When you ban certain books or classes, it only entices people to want to know more. It’s obvious that some politicians are trying to hide or erase certain parts of America’s history through legislation and policies, but it’s not going to help us heal to turn a blind eye to what has happened in the past.”

Nevertheless, could Michigan lawmakers pass future legislation and adopt policies to ban Critical Race Theory? And what if civil rights are violated causing racial disparities in education for Black people and other minorities?

“We have formed a subcommittee that definitely is going to look into the educational piece around Critical Race Theory and the banning of books that you see around the country,” said Portia Roberson, Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. “This is something that we recognize as important. If there are complaints of civil rights violations, we hope that people will bring them to the Civil Rights Commission.”

Roberson added, “Who knew that we would live in a time when Black history studies are banned in schools.” You have to ask yourself, ‘Why are some people afraid of African Americans learning about Black history because Black history is American history?’ ”

“DeSantis and others can try to erase or whitewash the narratives of slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil War, the Jim Crow Era, the Civil Rights Movement and other history related to Black people to make it appear those periods weren’t so bad,” Kefentse Chike, professor of African American Studies at Wayne State University, told the Chronicle. “But as the old adage goes, ‘The truth crushed to earth shall rise again.’ ”

Black Roots Matter

Caught in the Crossfire

By Andre Ash

Excessive force by police against Black citizens across the country has given rise to groups such as Black Lives Matter. The outcomes for the victims mostly have resulted in the kind of brutality in which ended their life by shots fired or in George Floyd’s case, an officer’s knee to his neck for nearly 10 minutes.

As these tragedies have become all too normal for Black communities across the country, amplified by video images, online and in news media, has it heightened the level of fear youth in Detroit have toward the police?

“They are in fear,” said Reginald ‘Reg’ Davis, president of The Ceasefire Youth Initiative. “But, they do see the difference in being safer here in Michigan compared to other cities in this country.” Davis alluded to the fear that Black youth and many communities of color have of law enforcement when being pulled over for a traffic ticket, the rules to follow and be hyper intent in following officers’ orders, knowing all too well how things can spiral out of control.

Jeremiah Steen, president and executive director of Steen Foundation

Davis leads the Initiative which engages Detroit youth and helps steer them on a path away from gun violence. Currently, the program operates in two Detroit schools and will soon embark on an effort to strengthen youth and police relations thanks to a partnership by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. The program will be funded through a grant by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“When it comes to Detroit Police and the State police, there’s a little bit more respect…so our kids have a little more of the understanding and thanks to groups like ours around the city, they’re able to touch the police and sit down with them.”

Davis says his organization is like a buffer between young people and law enforcement. He recounts a recent shooting at Henry Ford High school where students weren’t willing to talk to police as witnesses. Davis’ group arrived on scene and a personable encounter amongst one of the group’s volunteers led some of the young students to describe what they witnessed. A testament to the group’s influence with community and police, helping to bridge gaps.

“Yeah, kids are afraid, but not like situations in other cities,” Davis said. Youth-led groups are a part of the solution to bridging that fear some youth have for police.

“We all have to be on the same page,” said Jeremiah Steen, president and executive director of Steen Foundation, a youth-led philanthropy aiming to invest in organizations which amplify youth voice in education, arts and culture, career development, and more.

“Some of the work my foundation is doing with the Skillman Foundation is allowing youth to advise companies.” Steen says this setting is an opportunity for CEOs to listen to young people

See CROSSFIRE page A-4

Black Grassroots Activism in 2023

By Sherri Kolade

Michigan Liberation, a non-profit organization, doesn’t shy away from problems of others looking to find resolve when their loved ones have been incarcerated.

In fact, Michigan Liberation seeks out issues to fix through justice, especially for those wrongfully convicted.

Michigan Liberation is a statewide network of people and organizations banding together to end the criminalization of Black families and communities of color in Michigan, their website stated. It “envision[s] a state without mass incarceration or mass policing.”

Marjon Parham, public relations manager for Michigan Liberation, told the Michigan Chronicle recently that this year she wants to see change come from the organization – particularly with a participatory defense program in Wayne, Oakland, and Kalamazoo helping returned citizens [formerly incarcerated residents] and their families.

“It is helping people to understand what goes through the booking process or arresting process,” she said previously.

According to its website, the group, which was established in 2018, also envisions a state with the best public education in the country, single-payer healthcare and vibrant Black and Brown neighborhoods. Additionally, Michigan Liberation engages in lobbying, leadership development, grassroots organization and support for politicians who share its vision for Michigan.

Alexandria Hughes, Supreme Court coordinator for Michigan Liberation, told the Michigan Chronicle that she helps to execute strategy on Supreme Court campaign decision-making and beyond.

This year, Hughes and the organization is focused on doing even more community activist work, especially in Black and Brown communities such as in Detroit and Dearborn.

“A lot of my work is around mental health as well as changing our legal system pertaining to ending the cash bail pre-trial system and creating mental health mobile response services,” she said of what local advocacy looks like to her. “I’m a firm believer that racism is a public health crisis.”

Detroit Historical Society Celebrates 100th Anniversary

While racism was declared a public health crisis in 2020 and many efforts have been made nationwide (especially after the death of George Floyd) to fix what’s been systemically broken in America for centuries – Hughes says it’s still just lip service.

“I’m fully aware of that but that that was a symbolic change,” she said. “Black people, I feel, need change that will allow us to thrive and...we need reparations to be issued to Black people.”

Kalfani Ture, a senior fellow at Yale University’s Urban Ethnography Project and assistant professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland, told the Michigan Chronicle previously that many attempts have been used to pacify Black people regarding post-George Floyd movements toward supposed equity.

“If DEI is the band-aid used to cover the old and wornout suture of Affirmative Action, then part of the solution means that we must take off the bandage and expose the unhealed wounds,” Ture said. “I only sadly predict that suture will be torn off by the desperate and our Democracy will be scarred even more.”

Hughes says that it’s time to address more than perfunctory problems.

“We see how student loans dramatically impact Black people more than it does other groups,” she said, adding how transforming the legal system is a good place to start in solving problems in the local community “because of how disproportionately represented Black people are in the jails and prisons.”

Parham agrees and said she has seen clients after serving a prison sentence have a hard time finding a job and progressing in life until their offense has been expunged from their record.

“All people make mistakes and people deserve second chances,” she said, adding that if the Black community can thrive it’s about getting real with issues and finding solutions and support across the board. “That’s a very big part of it – we have to help people get their records expunged.”

For more information email info@miliberation.org, call 313-451-4392, or visit mlaction.org.

By Rasha Almulaiki

Last year marked the Detroit Historical Society’s 100th anniversary of preserving and sharing the stories of Detroit. Coming out of the pandemic, the Society is dedicated to celebrating its long tenure as the keeper of the city’s history.

“It’s really exciting, and as a historical organization we do a very good job of chronicling other stories but now it’s one of those situations where a cobbler’s kids go barefoot sort of thing,” said Jeremy Dimick, director of collections and curatorial at the Detroit Historical Society.

“We’ve never really reflectively looked back at our own history, and I think it’s like that with historical situations across the board. Now coming on 100 years, it’s a nice opportunity to do some looking back and diving into what we’ve been quietly squirreling away to tell our own story.”

The Detroit Historical Society is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is committed to preserving local history so that present and future generations of metro Detroit residents can have a better understanding of the people, places, and occasions that influenced our lives. The Society oversees the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

The 100 Year History of the Detroit Historical Society In 1921, several prominent Detroiters

founded the Detroit Historical Society, initially as a fundraising and support group for the Burton Historical Collection. The group ventured out into the community to collect objects such letters and maps for the archives and soon realized there was an opportunity to preserve the three-dimensional object they were given as part of the city’s history.

In 1928, the Detroit Historical Museum was formed and initially located on the 23rd floor of Barlum Tower (now Cadillac Tower) and was advertised as “the highest museum in the world.” At the time, the museum was a simple display of objects with no curatorial interpretation or theme.

As the collection grew in the 1930s, the Society began participating in one-off exhibits and trade shows to reach a larger audience. After moving into an acquired house on Wayne State University’s campus for a brief stay, the Society began looking for dedicated space and settled into the modern building of today in 1951. In 1961, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum was founded to capture the maritime stories that attracted the city’s earliest community along the Detroit River.

From 1951 to 2006, the city of Detroit assumed control of the collection and operations of the museum while the Society played a supportive role in fundraising and hosting lectures.

See 100TH ANNIVERSARY page A-4

February 22: On this day in 1989, DJ

February 23:

February

In 2006, the Society partnered with the city of Detroit as the city was struggling financially, to sign a memorandum of understanding stating that while the city would retain the collection, the Society would operate the museum.

The Detroit Historical Museum captures the stories of Detroiters in a significant collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and documents, shared through award-winning exhibitions, programs, tours, publications and online content.

Some of the earliest artifacts preserved at the museum are wooden water main pipes from the city’s first water system. Dimick said the Society receives calls from construction projects that are still digging up these early engineering systems under the city.

Dimick said some of the standout moments over the ten decades include the Society’s first two lectures in the 1920s. The first lecture was about French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founding the site that became Detroit in 1701 and the second was on Detroit’s part in the Underground Railroad.

“A lot of our own institutional history of Black Detroiters come from records of exhibits done after we partnered with the Black Historic Sites Committee, founded in 1970. [They] initially focused on placing historical markers across the city, but then became involved in exhibit content development as well,” said Dimick.

“They hosted events like Jazz on the Streets of Old Detroit, developed exhibits like the history of WGPR – the city’s first black-owned radio station, exhibits about the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Stars Negro National League Baseball team as well as support of the current Standing on the Shoulders of Giants program and the long running African American Family Day,” added Dimick.

In honor of the centennial anniversary, the Detroit Historical Society, in partnership with LGBT Detroit and Vibes with the Tribes, unveiled a special collection, “100 Years 100 Stories.” This is a series of workshops about at-home preservation and historical gathering of family heirlooms and historical documents. The goal of this unique outreach initiative is to preserve the often-overlooked histories of Detroit’s Midtown district.

Currently, DHS is working to digitize the museum’s collection of 250,000 three-dimensional artifacts to allow for accessibility of their archival material. The initiative is funded by a grant from

February 22-28

February 25: On this day in 1964, Muhammad Ali became the world heavyweight champion.

February 26: The only African American in Congress in 1883, James E. O’Hara, was born a free man on this day in 1857 to an Irish American father and West Indian mother.

February 27: On this day in 1988, Debi Thomas became the first black woman to win a winter Olympic medal.

February 28: The first African American U.S. Marine to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, Private First-Class James Anderson Jr. died on February 28, 1967, sacrificing his life for his fellow soldiers by grasping a grenade and shielding the explosion with his body to protect their lives in the Republic of Vietnam.

the Institute for Museum and Library Services and will be made available on the website for public access.

“Looking back 100 years, the 1920s was a real boom time for the city as it was very new, as a built environment that is. I think one of the main reasons the Historical Society started in the ‘20s is that there is an attitude about the city that it’s brand new and nobody here has roots and the founders wanted to prove that a place like Detroit has as much history as cities on the east coast and has existed for a while.

“Maybe it’s history repeating itself with a lot of people nationally think Detroit’s story is starting again in the 2020s, even though for those of us that are here and experiencing it that it’s not true and we’ve always been here. Going forward histories are more personal and not just a collection of biographies of great men. It’s spreading out and continues to be led by everyone’s story,” said Dimick.

On April 29 the Detroit Historical Society is hosting its “100th Anniversary Celebration - Celebrating Detroit through the Decades” to celebrate the milestone with the community. For ticket information, visit detroithistorical.org.

back on what they received from it and strategies to embed youth ideas into their companies.

Steen says he hopes law enforcement agencies will begin to take more of a similar approach.

“More community-led conversations and more community and police developed plans will strengthen relationships.”

Steen is a young Detroit leader and a Black male, it isn’t lost on him the concerns for himself or Black youth when faced with a police encounter, given current news headlines.

He says his upbringing as a child and perspective on police is somewhat different. “My mother always instilled in me that you should look to the police to build relationship and trust.”

Steen says the problem lies when officers abuse their authority and lose the trust. “If we start to focus on the assets in our community, such as seeing the police as an asset and the police see the community as an asset then we will all thrive.”

Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince won the first rap Grammy for their single “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”

In 1914, James Cameron, activist and founder of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, was born.

24: In 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler becomes the first Black woman to receive an M.D.

Black Money Matters

Michigan Chronicle’s Pancakes & Politics Returns for 2023 Season

By Donald James Senior Writer, Real Times Media

The Michigan Chronicle’s Pancakes & Politics Speakers’ Forum is back with its stellar reputation as the region’s premier event for addressing hot-button issues impacting Detroiters and others living and working in Southeast Michigan, home to the majority of the state’s businesses, industries, and population.

The first of four Speakers’ Forums for 2023 kicks off with Forum I, “Big Projects – Big Impact.” The event will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. at the Detroit Athletic Club, 241 Madison St. in downtown Detroit. Forum I is already “Sold Out!” Returning as the Forums’ longtime host and moderator is Dennis Archer Jr., Chairman & CEO of Sixteen42Ventures, the parent company of several businesses including Ignition Media Group.

Platinum Sponsoring Partners for Forum I are Walker-Miller Energy Services, Signal Restoration Services, and DTE.

The Broadcast Presenting Partner is GM, and the Overdrive Series Presenting Partner is Business Leaders for Michigan.

The first Forum will convene three panelists, engaging in robust discussions about the mega projects of their respective companies in the city and region and how the projects will heavily impact the revitalization of Detroit and its economy. The panelists are Kofi Bonner, CEO, Bedrock, LLC; Bud Denker, President, Penske Corporation; and Robert G. Riney, President & CEO, Henry Ford Health.

Bedrock is Detroit’s largest real-estate developer, with more than 100 properties across the city. In its portfolio of ongoing developments is Bedrock’s giant construction on the former Hudson’s site on Woodward Ave. in the heart of downtown. When completed, the grand development will include 1.5 million square feet of office, retail, hotel, residential, event and meeting space. At 685.4 feet tall, the world-class tower will be Michigan’s second most vertical structure and will attract a large and diverse workforce.

Penske Corporation, founded and chaired by Roger Penske, is described as a diversified transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate across broad industries, including retail

Property Is Power!

Five Questions to Ask When Seeking a Mortgage

automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics, and professional motorsports. Under Penske and Bud Denker’s leadership, the iconic Detroit Grand Prix has generated more than $45 million in total spending annually for the region. With the race returning to the streets of Detroit on June 2 -4, 2023, after being held on Belle Isle since 2012, economic studies show that the Detroit Grand Prix will benefit more than 260 businesses by yielding an estimated $11 million in spending.

Henry Ford Health, Tom Gores’ Detroit Pistons, and Michigan State University announced major plans in early February of this year to invest $2.5 billion over the next ten years to transform Detroit’s New Center neighborhood into a vibrant, walkable community with state-of-the-art residential, commercial, retail, recreational, and health care components.

“Detroit is seeing more investment, construction, and job growth than it has in a half-century and the announcement of this $2.5 billion development takes things to a new level,” said Mayor Mike Duggan, in a Henry Ford Health issued statement. “This partnership between

Henry Ford Health, the Pistons, and Michigan State University represents an incredible investment in our city. Detroiters will have not only a new stateof-the-art hospital and medical research facility, but also more opportunities to live, work and play right here in this neighborhood.”

“I’m excited about our upcoming Pancakes & Politics Speakers’ Forum,” said Cathy Nedd, president of Real Times Media News Group. “It will be intriguing to hear our three elite panelists speak about their respective companies’ ‘Big Projects’ and how Detroit and the region will be impacted economically.”

Since its inception in 2006, Pancakes & Politics has spotlighted the changemakers, influencers, leaders, and movers and shakers in the private and public sectors. Previous Pancakes & Politics events have presented such leaders and newsmakers, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. Rick Snyder, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County Executive

Anthony O. Kellum

The complexity of buying a home can make for a confusing and daunting homebuying process. According to a recent survey “49 percent of those polled said they were intimidated by the steps to buying or selling, and 44 percent said they wouldn’t even know where to start.” If you’re beginning your home buying journey, you may feel like you don’t know what you don’t know. Kellum Mortgage, LLC is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of questions to ask a mortgage broker as you search for a lending partner. This list will help you get the ball rolling and keep you on track.

Five Questions to Ask Mortgage Lenders:

How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage loan?

Pre-approval is one of the first steps on your homebuying journey. It shows you how much house you can qualify for, and it shows the seller that you are a serious buyer. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what’s required of you. Asking a lender will give you a more specific answer, but in general, seeking pre-approval will result in an analysis of your:

• Debt-to-income ratio: Lenders look at your monthly payments and your gross monthly income to determine your ability to pay back the money you plan to borrow.

• Loan-to-value ratio: Lenders compare the amount of your mortgage loan with the appraised value of the property you are looking to purchase.

• Credit history: Your credit history helps lenders determine how likely you are to pay back your loan.

• FICO score: Your FICO score is based on your credit report and is another indicator that lenders review. Typically, the higher your FICO score the lower your interest rate.

• Income and employment history:

As with many of the other factors analyzed by mortgage brokers, your income and employment history can assure lenders of your ability to repay your loan.

What are your rates and fees?

The actual purchase of your home is just one of the many prices to take into consideration during the homebuying process. Lenders charge for various things throughout the loan process and it’s important to understand what all the mortgage “lingo” means. Ask your lender for a comprehensive list of what you’ll pay for, including an origination fee. Ensure the lender provides you with the loan cost for working with them specifically.

What are my options for a down payment?

Your down payment represents a portion of the total cost of the property. You will finance the remaining cost through your mortgage loan. Different loan types require varying down payments. Ask the lend-

of Detroit Voltage LLC, talks about buying Black.

The Power of the Black Dollar is Still Strong

By Sherri Kolade

One shouldn’t need a reason to buy Black, it should be a way of life.

Such is the thought process for several Black business owners and individuals who hang their hat on the idea of supporting within to keep the Black dollar circulating longer in local neighborhoods, mom-and-pop shops and places that need it most in the city.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), which provides business assistance services and capital programs for business attraction and acceleration, recognizes the importance of buying Black by ever-highlighting Michigan’s Black-owned businesses’ growth opportunities, initiatives and successes.

Last May, Governor Gretchen Whitmer

joined MEDC to announce that Michigan was approved for up to $236,990,950 in State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Headquartered at Grand Valley State University and representing a long-term collaboration between the Small Business Administration and the State of Michigan, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operates 11 regional offices and more than 20 satellite offices. The SBDC provides entrepreneurs and business owners with convenient access to consulting and training throughout Michigan at low or no cost.

Quentin L. Messer Jr., MEDC CEO, told the Michigan Chronicle previously that success is vital to Michigan’s small busi-

Deanna Nealy, power broker, owner and CEO

Kofi Bonner, CEO, Bedrock, LLC

Bud Denker, President, Penske Corporation

Robert G. Riney, President & CEO, Henry Ford Health

Tax Filing Season: Amid

Inflation,

By: Andre Ash

Ways to Make Your Money Stretch

It’s tax filing season and many Detroiters have decisions to make on how they will spend their refund check. Amid inflation and some uncertainty in the economy, some people are trying to figure out the best ways to make their money stretch.

“The first thing one must do is adjust their thinking and then adjust their behavior,” said Lisa Howze, CPA, owner of The Lisa Howze Experience LLC, author and a professional strategist.

Howze says people must be mindful we’re in an inflationary period, a temporary one she reminds people, yet unfortunately a period that is hard to predict how long it will last. It’s a reality that affects a lot of people’s spending habits and a cautionary tale for many as government checks and other pandemic related benefits began to expire. As a result, the taxpayer may want to adjust their decisions accordingly.

“Not only should you save your money, but one should know where your money is going. People really have more money than they think they do,” Howze says. This is all about money management and she states people often know they have money coming in, yet their money is leaving back out faster than they can recoup.

“If you carry credit card debt and you’ve got outstanding balances with a high interest rate, you’re losing a lot of money due to the interest rate.”

Howze says in this area, there is money to be saved.

“If you would rather they take your payment over the phone, but it will cost a $10 transaction, that’s where people are losing money as opposed to connecting their checking account to come out automatically.”

And for people looking to get every coin they can squeeze out of their upcoming tax refund check and not leave any money on the table, Howze points to some tips one should consider.

“Depending on what one’s income level is, generally about $55,000 a year for individuals, they could be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. These credits have actually increased over the past couple of years at the federal level and particularly at the state level.”

“For the person who has not lost

Warren C. Evans, former Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, former Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, current Oakland County Executive Mark Hackel, and developer and Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert.

Pancakes & Politics is the brainchild of Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and Michigan Chronicle Publisher. Before creating the event, Jackson was disenchanted because he didn’t see a sizable Black presence or hear large numbers of Black voices at the table when regional stakeholders were making big public policy decisions on matters related to transportation, education, economic development, workforce development, and other issues directly impacting Detroiters and others in Southeast Michigan.

“I thought it would be interesting to establish a town hall meeting type forum with the leaders in the community, where there would be significant participation and feedback from Black people in the city and region,” Jackson explained. “And it was critical that the Michigan Chronicle hosted the forum, set the agenda, asked the tough questions, and attracted the panelists. And we wanted the forums to be held at the Detroit Athletic Club in downtown Detroit.”

In its quest to reach a broader audience, Pancakes & Politics 2023 will continue its virtual “Overdrive Series,” first unveiled in 2022 when the speakers’ forums were presented online because of the pandemic. Sponsored by Business Leaders for Michigan, the “Overdrive Series” will interview business leaders and newsmakers at the Michigan Chronicle’s Studio 1452 in downtown Detroit on an array of topics of interest to Metro Detroit residents and businesses.

“In the nine years that I’ve been with DTE, we have been involved in Pancakes & Politics, and it’s been a great partnership,” Frank D’Angelo, manager of events, DTE Energy/DTE Foundation

their job, they should be preparing for the potential of a downfall such as a job loss, pay cut, layoff. The better you can prepare yourself for them, the better you can position yourself.”

She also advises people who may only have worked a portion of the year or only made a minimum amount to be aware of the opportunities to still file their taxes and apply for benefits, because there could still be “refundable money out there people -- money back in one’s pocketbook.”

Howze also says to look for ways to make additional money and strongly advises in taking part in an area of the tax code many people often don’t take advantage of – starting a business.

“If you have a skill -- maybe you can cook well, people love how you detail a car -- whatever you do that is honest, ethical and legal [use it] and develop that entrepreneurial spirit.”

“Take time to understand where there is a need in the market, and if you are able to fulfil that need by providing a solution whether it be a product or service then people would be willing to pay you.”

When it comes to people thinking about what they’ll do with that much anticipated tax refund check, how to stretch their money and what to spend it on, another expert advice is to use it to repair your credit.

“This is one of the most important times to be educated about credit so you’ll know how to wisely use it,” said Shemeka Bishop, owner of The Bishop of Credit, a credit repair and consulting business.

“I always suggest using your credit when paying for items. If you’re using your credit you’ll be able to maximize the dollars that you’re spending.”

Bishop says when you’re using credit to purchase groceries, you’re getting three times the benefit such as cashback, points and increasing one’s credit score as you pay it back over time and on time.

“Not only can you make $50 at the grocery store, for example, work for you once but work for you twice.” Bishop emphasizes credit cards aren’t made to completely live off of but in this economic climate, you might need it, and how to use and make it work for you could be financially helpful for many households.

(longtime Platinum Partners), said in an interview taped in 2022. “And I have not been to one Pancakes & Politics event that was a dud.”

For more information about Pancakes & Politics, log on to www.michiganchronicle.com or call 313.963.8100.

ers you’re interviewing how much you need to put down and if that number is adjustable. If coming up with a down payment is an obstacle, ask the lenders about down payment assistance programs. You’ll find that several loans programs require less than 20 percent of the home’s value for a down payment. Another way to tackle this question is to ask what money you’ll need for closing. This could answer some other questions as well.

What types of loans are available?

Speaking of loan options, it’s important to know what loans are available and which loan makes the most sense for you. Common loan types include fixed and adjustable - rate loans. However, you may qualify for a VA, or FHA mortgage, which would allow you to put a lower percentage down at closing. Is there a prepayment penalty? If so, what is the penalty?

This question allows you to determine whether paying off your mortgage early will result in additional fees. Some lenders charge a fee if you pay off your loan before it’s due. For example, this fee may be incurred if you refinance, sell, or pay a large sum of your mortgage down at once. These fees make it more appealing for borrowers to pay their loans back slowly, allowing the lender to gain more in interest. When possible, avoid these penalties.

Use the questions above to talk with mortgage brokers, lending institutions, banks, and discover your best loan option and lending partner.

nesses, especially those in Detroit.

“We understand the importance that Detroit plays psychologically in the nation’s view -- how they see Michigan,” Messer said. “You’re not going to be successful in Detroit without having a strong working relationship with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC).”

Despite the pandemic, looming economic uncertainties and staff shortages, local minority-owned businesses and others can reap the benefits of a stronger, more stable economy thanks to the DEGC’s intentional work.

Deanna Nealy, power broker, owner and CEO of Detroit Voltage LLC, a licensed and insured electrical contracting firm, told the Michigan Chronicle that buying Black to her is more than a notion but a lifestyle, both as a business owner and consumer.

“I would say that it’s important to spend money within the Black community as often as possible so that small business owners receive the money … [which] we’re also utilizing,” Nealy said. “So, for me, specifically, that I’m using Black contractors when I can and that I am making sure that I hire ... as many others … that I can.”

While varying statistics swirl about that a dollar circulates for a month in Asian communities, approximately 20 days in Jewish communities, 17 days in white communities, and six hours in African American communities, some truths reveal that when African American spending habits are compared to those of other ethnic groups, the dollar is leaving the neighborhood before many Black-owned businesses have a chance to touch or even see it.

“[Continuing] to make sure that those dollars are flowing in our community … is something that I do try my best to do,” Nealy said, adding that it is not always

“easy to do” because of not always finding services or clients she needs within arm’s reach.

Charles McKaye, a podcast host of the Detroit Metro Plug Podcast, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and community leaders increase their reach on social media.

He told the Michigan Chronicle that on his platform he speaks to a lot of metro Detroiters, particularly people of color, who want to share a product or service they offer.

“Some people may not be aware of like businesses, services and things out there. And so, that’s my role to help to amplify what people are doing and get the word out about their business and connect the business owners to the audience that we’re trying to grow so that the Black dollar can circulate a lot better,” he said, adding that the biggest pain points for these businesses are customer retention and even building a customer base. “They are just trying to get out there.”

McKaye said that while he tries to make it a priority to buy Black he knows that it is not always possible and it’s not about excluding others but elevating inclusive buying, which can make the difference between success and failure for some Black-owned businesses.

“It’s not [that those who shop Black are] anti-other, we’re just really trying to create self-sustainability,” he said. “So, determination and empowerment of, you know, my folks who support themselves and have their own determination of what they want to do for their community and for their families.… I think that if we have strong economic growth and empowerment, we can improve our services, whether it’s donating to nonprofits or helping improve our neighborhoods or in real estate, you know, we can be self-sufficient and determine our own path. If we’re empowered.”

Risk factors like being 50 or older, overweight, or a current or former smoker or having diabetes, heart conditions, chronic lung diseases, or a weakened immune system can put you at higher risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19—especially if you have more than one of these factors.*

People 5 years and older are eligible for an updated COVID-19 booster designed for recent Omicron variants at least 2 months

after completing primary series vaccination or receiving an original booster. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information about how to help protect yourself against COVID-19.

Black Culture Matters

Detroit Homegrown Filmmakers Take Over Tubi TV

By Andre Ash

Tubi TV touts itself as being a leader in free, premium, on demand video streaming apps. It’s become a place for entertainment for millions of people across the country, particularly gaining traction during the height of the pandemic.

In the past several weeks, however, the streaming platform has garnered attention amongst a Detroit audience, intrigued by homegrown talent and movies catching even the eye of the nation as some viral scenes and skits have hit social media.

Some of the content on Tubi probably doesn’t always have top tier quality or Hollywood dollars behind the production, but the acting and quality is getting better and has even Hollywood looking at Detroit.

“People are flying here from all over to check our premiere,” says King Wesley, actor in season 2 of “The Dirty D” on Tubi TV. “We’re getting a lot of feedback and a lot of buzz.”

“The Dirty D” is a series produced by Lisa Brown and it’s about money, sex, drugs and drama and it all goes down in the setting of a nightclub run by a shady power couple.

Wesley got involved in the show by first watching the series as a fan. His wife told him, he would soon get cast for a role on the show and as luck and hard work would have it, he received an email two months ago to go in for an audition.

Wesley plays the role of Javon, a mysterious guy and a new character entering into The Dirty D world.

“Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off and even better along with the new cast members.”

Detroit rapper Gmac Cash will be featured in the new season playing a new character

Wesley finds the show one that not only Detroiters would be able to relate but it plays to a broader audience, especially now the show can be seen by a more diverse pool of viewers online thanks to streaming platforms like Tubi. The streaming app is providing access for up and coming filmmakers who might not have Hollywood pockets and for actors to gain awareness while showcasing their talent, which might otherwise wouldn’t have been the case years ago.

“Shout out to Lisa Brown being the creator of this show. There is this idea of being offered by mainstream platforms to sell out, or offer a percentage and buy into

See TUBI TV Page B-2

Black Culture Matters in Detroit

By Andre Ash

Detroit is made up of so many different fabrics and defined by people who inspire and create. There is culture and there is Black culture. From our art which inspires, to our fashion which eliminates, and to our music which transits globally, it all comes from our city.

“There is no Detroit without Black culture,” said Jessica Care Moore, a renowned poet and screenwriter. “Black culture is what shapes the city, it’s what makes the city interesting.”

Moore reflects on being a “post-riot baby,” growing up in the city from 1973 until 1994, following the city’s heightened racial reckoning of the 1960’s.

“All my shaping growing up in that time period, being Black wasn’t something you talked about, it was just something that was.”

She recounts a “revolutionary” era of the late Mayor Coleman A. Young days when there were “Black teachers, Black city councilmembers, Black leadership.”

It was a time she looks back on and recalls the mayoral administration implementing the requirement of residency for police officers and firefighters, a push to have public servants who represented the community they were serving.

“Black culture should really be a part of American studies,” Moore says. “Growing up here was a very rich and cultured experience. From Detroit techno which changed the music world.”

Moore recounts being embedded in the sounds of Black music in Detroit, from techno to house and hip-hop and poetry. “I am honored to have always been around young entrepreneurial spirits and Black institution builders, and we didn’t know anything else because nothing in Detroit was just given to us.”

Moore says growing up in Detroit she and her peers had to build things, followed by creating institutions around their craft so they could have something later.

“That is what inspired me, more than just becoming a poet, but an institution builder. That is definitely Blackness and a part of being a Detroiter is that we actually have to build things around our legacy and

See BLACK CULTURE Page B-2

How to Keep the Love Going

By Sherri Kolade

The Ellises, Khadeen and Devale.

How do you keep love going, even when the fire has fizzled? Do you quit, go outside or do something else? Also, what to do if you and your partner can’t communicate.

Popular YouTube couple the Ellises, Khadeen and Devale, authors of the “We Over Me” book, exposed the truths behind a marriage lasting more than 20 years in their first book. They have persevered through tragic loss, profession changes, bankruptcy, infidelity, failed business ventures, Khadeen’s near-death experience, being parents to four boys, and an enormous amount of love, respect and affection for one another during that time. After much trial and error, they discovered one startlingly important truth: If you want a happy relationship and a rewarding life, pay attention to your partner’s needs rather than your own. In addition to

strengthening your relationship, choosing service to your partner above selfishness can also help you accomplish your own goals and leave a lasting legacy with your partner.

Popular YouTube couple the Ellises, Khadeen,

“We Over Me” is an insightful book about what makes a relationship function. For the Ellises, marriage is a service-based business, where the emphasis is on helping one another and looking for ways to improve each other’s lives.

During a Michigan Chronicle interview, the Ellises talked about their love and romance, raising four Black boys and keeping the spice in their life.

“Khadeen and I have been together since we were 18,” Devale Ellis, in his late 30s, said. “So, we went through a ton of changes. We went from being horny kids who were just experiencing our sex lives together for the first time as college freshmen

Roland ‘Ro Spit’ Coit, owner of Burn Rubber Boutique and Two18.

Jessica

Care Moore, a renowned poet and screenwriter.

“ Black culture should really be a part of American studies. Growing up here was a very rich and cultured experience. From Detroit techno which changed the music world.”

Curtis Roach, an artist who gained popularity for his viral TikTok video, “Bored in the House.

Black Culture

our art.”

something, we make it our own.”

From page B-1

In 1995, Moore left Detroit for New York and saw a better opportunity to excel in her poetry from more spaces which welcomed her art.

“In Detroit, I just had to figure it out and make a space. And that’s the difference with being a Detroit artist, it makes us different culturally in how we get down with our approach. I think you can hear it in the urgency of my work.”

Another artist who exemplifies the importance of creating something that contributes to art and legacy as well as to Black culture in the community is Ro Spit, rapper and entrepreneur -- Roland ‘Ro Spit’ Coit, owner of Burn Rubber Boutique and Two18.

“Everything starts with us,” he says. Ro Spit looks to house and techno music which started here, yet when it caught popularity in global settings, its origin was soon forgotten. “I just love our culture always starts with us and even when it doesn’t, if we pull from

We Over Me

From page B-1

to being married with four kids. So, we pretty much ran in all the different types of ways your libido can change. And one thing that I’ll say that I’ve learned the most during this time is if you want to be in a relationship you have to have empathy for your partner.… You have to have empathy for your partner and also be able to embrace and understand when your partner’s libido changes.”

Actor Eva Marcille said that Khadeen and Devale Ellis are a “true example” of what marriage is and how the foundation is love.

“From the highs to lows, ups and downs, and everything in between,” Marcille said. “’We Over Me’ unpacks the core values of defining your own marriage while keeping the commitment in the

Tubi TV

From page B-1

the project and she told them, ‘No’.” Wesley explains, and with that buyin from outside production or media platforms comes loss of control.

He stresses he’s not someone looking for fame, he’s a real artist practicing the craft and it take a lot of work. It’s a production he thanks Lisa Brown for and on a platform like Tubi that he appreciates.

“I used to sit with my grandma and watch all her shows with her like [Room] 227 and soap operas. Some days I would wonder how the children actors get this opportunity and I was interested. Growing up in Michigan, we didn’t have those outlets and resources.”

Access and resources are something actor and executive producer DeJuan Ford doesn’t take for granted. He has worked hard to embed himself into a thriving umbrella of Detroit creatives starting to make their mark in homegrown Detroit movies and television series, projects that are also being picked up by Tubi TV.

Black culture in Detroit has a grind mentality, a hard working hustle and can-do spirit which translates into almost any industry, especially for entrepreneurs and artists like Ro Spit who believes this kind of work ethic “comes from the streets.”

“I think one of the dopest things is knowing a lot of business owners from clothing brands, to store owners, to bar owners, there is a hustling spirit here, it’s a get out and get it by any means necessary.”

“If we go out and get it and if it’s not given to us, then we create it and make our own.”

Making something of his own is another artist to breeds what Black Culture sounds like.

“There is so much flavor around us,” says Curtis Roach, an artist who gained popularity for his viral TikTok video, “Bored in the House.”

“It’s so natural to find some inspiration for all types of Detroit kids that grew up out the mud and then grew into story tellers. I think most Detroiters have something to say, a story to tell.”

forefront. This book is a must-have and is sure to help tons of people and their marriages.”

Tommy and Codie Elaine Oliver, founders of Black Love, Inc., agreed, and said that Ellis’ story shows that while marriage can be a bumpy ride, it can also be “unbelievably beautiful.”

“If you learn how to argue constructively, put we over me and remember to have a little fun along the way….This book will have you laughing and crying, and it’s a must-read for couples and singles who want the best out of their relationship [or who just want to be entertained,]” Oliver said.

Khadeen said that they also attended the same elementary school for a couple of years. “We went to rival high schools,” she said. “We actually lived like seven blocks away from each other almost our entire lives and didn’t even know it until we finally linked up at a scholarship banquet when he was graduating from high school.”

In their second year of college, they started dating.

Khadeen added that throughout their relationship journey, there have been ups and downs and because of their busy lives, which include traveling around the country, going on tours and acting in Hollywood – all while raising four boys – they have learned to reconnect

where it matters most.

“What we’ve realized recently is that we need to take moments where he and I can just get together and do the things that we always have loved to do, but don’t get a chance to do it,” Khadeen said. “So, that means taking it back to what did that look like when we were in college and doing the simple things that we enjoyed doing before we had, you know, the weight of life and having to be parents and you know, our careers underway.”

Devale added that there is an intention behind their actions as a couple.

“We also are very deliberate about telling each other what we need and what we require,” he said, adding that their relationship is service-based and they outdo each other with how they support one another’s needs. “Tell them exactly what you need ... and then reciprocate by giving them exactly what they need, what they require.”

The Ellises are coming to Detroit as part of their national tour and will be at the Royal Oak Theater at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3, to talk about that and more. The tour, “Dead Ass Podcast,” has tickets ranging from are $45 to $127. For more information visit royaloakmusictheatre.com and search “Events” or visit deadasspodcast.com.

Classifieds

con't on page B5

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcement – Invitation to Bid Date: 2/17/2023 Lincoln-King High School is soliciting competitive furniture bids for bleacher installation in its gym.

BID DUE DATE: 03/17/2023 12:00PM Eastern

PROJECT NAME: RFP-5076-402-0-2022/GH-0-2023/GH

PROJECT LOCATION: 13436 Grove Street, Detroit, Michigan 48235

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Design, material supply and installation of telescoping bleachers at the above mentioned school location.

ADVERTISEMENT: This project is advertised in the Michigan Chronicle.

BID PLATFORM: Bid Documents can be found on DemandStar www.demandstar.com

If you are interested in bidding, please contact Grant Heugel, Director of Operations.

Email: grant.heugel@cegschools.org

Phone: 248-268-8532

PUBLIC NOTICE

DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A Michigan Works! Agency, in cooperation with the MAYOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) MODIFICATION FOR FOUR-YEAR LOCAL PLAN FOR PROGRAM YEARS (PYs) 2020 through 2023

THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF EMPLOYMENT

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), was signed into law on July 22, 2014. The WIOA emphasizes a broad vision of workforce development programs that respond to the needs of employers by preparing workers with the skills and resources needed to compete for in-demand jobs. The Act also stresses the importance of alignment of the workforce investment, education, and economic development systems and promotes improvement in the structure and delivery of services. WIOA provides workforce development activities that increase employment, retention, and postsecondary credential attainment. The goals of these activities improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, meet skill requirements of employers, and enhance productivity, and the competitiveness of our nation.

Per WIOA Section 106 regulations and WIOA Final Regulations Sections 679.500 to 679.580, local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) and Chief Elected Officials (CEO) are required to develop a four-year local plan for workforce services. The Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB) is directly responsible and accountable to the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development (LEO-WD) for the planning and oversight of workforce development programs in the city of Detroit. Designated by the MWDB, the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) serves as the fiscal and administrative entity that provides workforce services to qualified job seekers (including adults, dislocated workers, and youth) and employers.

When a significant change is made to the workforce system, DESC must prepare a Modification for the WIOA Four-Year Local Plan PY 2020 - 2023. Through this modification, DESC, in accordance with WIOA sec. 107(g)(2) and 20 CFR § 679.410, will provide career services in addition to vendor provided services. Also, DESC has requested a waiver from the Governor that would allow DESC to serve as trainer for purposes of implementing an apprenticeship program designed for one-stop caseworkers who will be hired by DESC and DESC subcontractors. In order to review the proposed change, the revised document is available on DESC’s website at http://www.descmiworks.com/. The public is invited to review and make comments on the Plan.

Comments may be submitted via electronic mail or U.S. Postal mail and are due no later than the close of business – March 23, 2023. Comments should be directed to Robert Shimkoski, Jr. by email at rshimkoski@detempsol.org or by mail to:

PROCLAMATION DECLARATION OF NON-CITIZEN NATIONALITY Section 302 of Public Law 94-241 I, Sherece LaDon Reed, being duly affirmed [sworn], hereby declare my intention to be a national but not a citizen of the United States. Notice: all executive and judicial officers both of the United States and of the several States    FORM: LPN #RE345528665US

Detroit Edison Public School Academy and Detroit Edison Public School Academy High School - ECE is accepting student applications (Pre-K through grade 12) for the 2023-2024 school year.  The student enrollment period will begin Monday, February 27, 2023 and will continue until Friday, March 24, 2023.  Applications accepted after March 24, 2023 may be placed on the waiting list.  Parents of students interested in applying for the 2023-2024 school year may apply online at  www.detroitedisionpsa.org or obtain an application in the school’s K-8 office located at 1903 Wilkins St. Detroit, MI 48207 or the high school at 3404 St. Aubin Detroit, MI 48207.

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

POSITION: Temporary Probation Services Technician Announcement at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Be a part of a great team located in Detroit or Flint, MI. Position assists

U.S. Probation Officers in the administration of justice and community safety. Professional and friendly work environment. EOE

How the Right Pair of Shoes Can Support Your Wellness, Hobbies and

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Attn: Robert Shimkoski, Jr. Director – Planning and Resource Development Unit 115 Erskine Detroit, Michigan 48201

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Attn: Robert Shimkoski, Jr.

Director – Planning and Resource Development Unit

115 Erskine

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Comments will be forwarded to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity - Workforce Development office.

Detroit, Michigan 48201

Comments will be forwarded to the Department of Labor and Economic OpportunityWorkforce Development office.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

Goals (StatePoint) Looking to stay motivated and achieve your personal goals? New shoes might just be the answer. Not only can they update your wardrobe, helping you look and feel your best, but they can also support your physical and mental wellness, help you try out new hobbies, and even take small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

DESC, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate in employment or in the provision of services based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, arrest without conviction, political affiliation or belief, and for beneficiaries only, citizenship or participation in any federally assisted program or activity.

DESC, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate in employment or in the provision of services based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, arrest without conviction, political affiliation or belief, and for beneficiaries only, citizenship or participation in any federally assisted program or activity.

POSITION: Case Administrator Vacancy Announcement at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Auxiliary aids and services will be made available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Information contained in this announcement will be made available in alternative format upon written request to DESC.

Auxiliary aids and services will be made available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Information contained in this announcement will be made available in alternative format upon written request to DESC.

City of Detroit

Michael E. Duggan, Mayor

Be a part of a great team located in Detroit, the employee performs various functions and assists in maintaining and managing the progression of cases from opening to final disposition. Professional and friendly work environment, great benefits and close to the downtown amenities. EOE

Nicole A Sherard-Freeman, Group Executive, Jobs, Economy and Detroit at Work

City of Detroit Michael E. Duggan, Mayor Nicole A Sherard-Freeman, Group Executive, Jobs, Economy and Detroit at Work

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board

It’s important to replace old, worn-out sneakers before embarking on a new exercise routine. When gearing up, check out brands like Nike, New Balance and Asics for athletic footwear that combines style, comfort and performance.

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson

David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board

Calvin C. Sharp, Chairperson

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Terri A. Weems, President

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board Calvin C. Sharp, Chairperson Detroit Employment

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/PROGRAM

FUNDED BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, STATE OF MICHIGAN

AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES (TTY NUMBER: 711)

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Ready to try out a new hobby or get back into an old one?

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Modern Black

and Astute Businessman, Dr. Cullian W. Hill

Dr. Cullian W. Hill, a teacher, preacher, pastor and an astute businessman has been thriving in the community for over 42 years. Dr. Hill, senior pastor of the Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church has accomplished many strides in his career by being a source of strength and aide to his congregation and the community.

Dr. Hill’s journey began with pastoring in the Bay City area at the Second Baptist Church and has grown immensely.

Throughout his career, He was called to pastor the Historic Russell Street Baptist Church located at 8700 Chrysler Freeway here in Detroit, MI. During his time at the Russell Street Baptist Church, Dr. Hill accomplished the unthinkable in a short period of time, a major renovation project for the Russell Street Baptist Church. Two new dodge vans were purchased for providing transportation for church members on Sunday mornings, eight lots were purchased for parking, air conditioning units were placed in the church, the heating system was replaced and fixed, and the complete sanctuary was painted. A parsonage was secured, new office equipment and microphones were also purchased as well.

Pastor

ing a new roof, new boilers, lawn and sprinkler system, painting of the church as well as purchasing new and updated equipment for the church office.

Dr. Hill’s Accomplishments throughout his life

■ The first campus was located at 8735 Schoolcraft in Detroit, Michigan, 48238.The first enrollment consisted of 187 students, grades sixth through eighth.

■ In 1998, Elementary School opened at 13477 Eureka Road in Detroit, Michigan 48212

■ In 2006, Commonwealth re-organized and merged grades K-6 on the Eureka campus to focus on the intensity of their programs in the lower elementary grades.

Dr. Hill saw a vision of what the front of the church should be viewed as, the front of the church faced the Chrysler Freeway, he wanted to design a window which represented the creation story and would serve as a landmark of the church. Dr. Hill believed in no lack or debt. After nearly 4 years of pastoring Russell Street Baptist Church, Dr. Hill organized the Greater Concord Baptist Church in April of 1981 at the Swanson Funeral Home located 2624 West Grand Blvd in Detroit. The ministry outgrew the funeral home and moved to Greater Concord’s first home located at 10731 W. McNichols and Manor St. This church was renovated as well and paid off in full leaving no debt behind before Greater Concord Baptist Church found its destination.

■ 2007 Grades 7 and 8 were re-added

■ In 2012 a brand new state-of-the-art modular was constructed to house a professional dance studio and science laboratory with additional lecture space.

■ 2023- April-Building of the Hill Estates

“I am eternally grateful to God for allowing me to pastor the greatest church on this side of heaven, Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church and blessing me to further my endeavors with building and expansion in the community. The Lord has truly blessed me to be able to see the work and accomplishments down through the years”, said Dr. Hill”. Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church has been a beacon of light in the community and has been a place where the community and congregation has found strength. For over 42 years, the Lord has blessed Dr. Hill to be a voice in educating the community with job readiness, voting, academics and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest accomplishments that the Lord granted Dr. Hill was Commonwealth Development Academy School in 1996. Commonwealth was organized by Dr. Hill and his wife, the late Lucille Hill and now currently led by his daughter, Angela Moore who serves as principal. The first Campus was located at 8735 Schoolcraft in Detroit, Michigan, the first enrollment consisted of 187 students’ grades sixth through eighth.

In 1998, the elementary school opened at 13477 Eureka Road in Detroit, Michigan, servicing grades K-5. In 2004, Commonwealth re-organized and merged grades K-6 on the Eureka campus to focus on the intensity of their programs in the lower elementary grades. The elementary campus offers an onsite library, computer laboratory, physical education classes, hot meals cooked on site, a new state of the art science laboratory and ballot dance studio. Commonwealth will be celebrating their 28th Anniversary this year.

In 1989 Greater Concord Baptist Church was blessed again with its current facility with the help of the late mayor of Detroit, Mayor Coleman A. Young. Greater Concord Baptist Church formerly known as the St. Augustine Catholic Church and has become a beacon of light in the community. Again, through purchasing the new facility, there was work that needed to be done. Dr. Hill did the much-needed repairs by install-

Dr. Hill’s heart and focus has always been on the community. This upcoming April, the journey will continue with a home development project entitled the, Hill Estates. He will build the first model home of 50 in the community behind the Greater Concord Baptist Church and Commonwealth Community Development Academy. This new development project is to be a blessing to families who will be able to move back into an affordable and safe environment in the community that they once called home.