Created Equal

On this episode of "Created Equal," host Stephen Henderson is joined by PR and communications consultant Karen Dumas and Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani to discuss the first 2024 debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — strong and weak points, the presidential race and how the debate affects African American and Arab American voters.

The first debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden is coming up tonight. Earlier this month, Trump made a campaign stop at 180 Church in Detroit in an attempt to appeal to both Black and Latinx voters. Today on "Created Equal" we're joined by five guests — including Lorenzo Sewell, lead pastor at 180 Church — to discuss the role voters of color will play in the 2024 election.

ReThink I-375, a coalition of community voices challenging the “I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project,” released a list of 11 action items directed to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other government officials on Tuesday. Coalition members Melanie Markowicz and Kimle Nailer join "Created Equal" to discuss the group's action items and how the state has responded so far.

In the years following the Civil War, formerly enslaved Black Americans in the South were promised "40 acres and a mule" to provide them with land and resources for economic self-sufficiency. For many that promise was never fulfilled, and a recent investigation by the Center for Public Integrity found that more than 1,200 people received – and then lost – their land under the program. April Simpson, a reporter with the Center for Public Integrity and co-author of the "40 Acres and a Lie" report, joins "Created Equal" to discuss her findings.

the first over the counter birth control pill is now available in pharmacies across the U.S. Dr. Meredith Field, an assistant professor in the Division of Social Sciences at Alfred University in New York, joined Created Equal on Monday to discuss how over-the-counter birth control access provides opportunities for greater gender equality and bodily autonomy in America.

Today on "Created Equal," we share highlights from this week's episodes, including “heat islands” and why urban areas like Detroit are more at risk during heat waves; how Gen Z became known as the “lockdown generation,” and more.

In 2023, the nonprofit Climate Central found that the urban heat island effect is elevating local temperatures by at least eight degrees Fahrenheit in 44 U.S. cities — including Detroit — exposing residents to higher risks of heat-related illness and higher cooling costs. Sustainability expert Hessam AzariJafari and local forester Lawrence Sobson join the show to discuss innovative ways for Detroit to make the summer heat more bearable for its residents.

Juneteenth marks our nation's second independence day — when the last of America's slaves were freed by executive decree. The day has long been celebrated by the African American community, but how do Americans commemorate the holiday today? On today's episode of "Created Equal," we take a look back at some previous conversations on the show that examine racial equity and history in the United States.

The increasing prevalence of mass shootings in schools and public places has forged an alternate name for Generation Z. Growing up in the midst of America’s gun violence crisis, some are calling them the “lockdown generation.” On today's episode of "Created Equal," Stephen Henderson speaks with a student, a former educator and a gun-violence expert on Tuesday to discuss how gun-violence in schools has affected younger generations.

In his latest book, "Raw Deal: The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands," Michigan author Robert Downes aims to highlight the often unknown history of the Indigenous populations in the region. Downes joins "Created Equal" to talk about his book and his life-long interest in Native American history.