Black Detroit Democracy Podcast

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this final episode of the year, they confront ICE targeting of Detroit students and families, press local leaders on silence and accountability, and weigh how Michigan’s political shifts will shape real safety, housing, and power. 

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they trace Detroit’s housing failures from the Leland House scare to a subsidy-first market that missed real demand, then turn to solutions that center seniors, families, and accountability. Then, Maxwell Murray shows how DCFC and the Urban Football League use street soccer, food, and learning to reclaim space and teach civic power.

Maxwell is a Detroit native and founder of The Urban Football League. He joined Detroit City FC in March 2024 to support youth programming and expand access to the game across Detroit. A proud Detroiter, he first connected with the club as a summer intern in 2017. He studied African and Black Diasporic Studies at DePaul University, where he founded The Urban Football League to use soccer as a tool for cultural expression and community building. At DCFC, he leads efforts to break down barriers to participation and chairs the Youth Travel Program’s Community Resource Group.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they trace how a demolition contractor without proper bonding left subcontractors unpaid, raised environmental risks through contaminated backfill, and exposed failures in selection, oversight, and ethics. They also discuss the WNBA’s Detroit return and the debate over what to name the team. Finally, they break down a high-stakes fight over DTE rate hikes plus their proposed AI data center whose impact on the environment and customer rates remain unknown. Together they take a look at how statewide politics are shaping oversight and the future of environmental justice.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they weigh Detroit’s debate flashpoint over federal collaboration, trace how crime narratives collide with community violence intervention, and unpack why history makes National Guard talk a red line. 

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they dig into the contrast between rhetoric and results, what power should look like and who it should serve. The conversation gives a preview into this week’s mayoral debate between Council President Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. Immigration reform, environmental justice, and fair housing all take center stage in this deep dive on how to build a credible record through community impact and structural results. 

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they honor Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, expose deceptive voter ID petition tactics, and map a local plan to protect democracy through civic education, youth leadership, and independent media. From federal overreach to neighborhood organizing, they connect history, narrative, and action in Detroit.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they discuss President Trump’s threat to deploy the national guard in the city. Together they unpack how this rhetoric stems from dehumanization rather than genuine concern for Detroit residents and how these same dynamics show up in local politics. Including ballot initiatives that hide voter suppression under the guise of protecting democracy and campaign mailers falsely implying the endorsement of candidates. 

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

On this episode, Adam Hollier joins Donna and Sam to discuss his decision to end his congressional race and instead join the race for Michigan Secretary of State. During the conversation Adam positions himself as uniquely qualified to protect Michigan’s electoral system against potential threats, highlighting his commitment to ensuring that votes will be counted fairly. 

Together they dive into Detroit’s evolving political landscape through multiple lenses, including the possibility of Detroiters electing a woman as mayor for the first time. Adam also reveals his stance on the money out of politics movement and why he’s accepting donations from organizations like AIPAC during an ongoing genocide. 

The money out of politics movement aims to prevent monopolies like DTE from making political donations.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

In this episode, they discuss how corporate money is strangling Detroit's democracy, and politicians who claim to represent citizens are increasingly serving other interests. Following Karen Whitsett's troubling vote, where she sided with Republicans on issues vital to Detroit residents, they examined how financial influence corrupts our political system and what citizens can do to fight back.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.

The Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in collaboration with Detroit One Million presents: The Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, hosted by Donna Givens Davidson and Sam Robinson!

Together, Donna and Sam illuminate the complexities of Detroit’s unique political landscape and give residents a resource for navigating civic engagement and election season.

On this episode, Imani Foster of 482Forward joined them to discuss the Invest in Michigan’s Kids campaign.

482Forward is creating a Detroit where every student graduates ready to become a fully engaged participant in the world, equipped with the character and the capacity to negotiate her environment and change it for the better.They believe all children have the right to an excellent education, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status.

For more episodes of the Black Detroit Democracy Podcast, click here.