The Metro

If you're not familiar with James Baldwin's work, he was an American author and civil rights activist. As early as the 1950s, Baldwin's writing posed fundamental questions about masculinity, sexuality, race and class. They were questions that influenced the civil rights and Gay liberation movements for decades to come.

Detroit artist Sabrina Nelson is opening her traveling exhibit “Frontline Prophet: James Baldwin” at the Charles H. Wright Museum to honor the icon. Nelson, as well as longtime creative allies and co-curators Ashara Ekundayo and Omo Misha, joined "The Metro" to talk more about Baldwin and the exhibit.

Oakland County recently passed a resolution to partner with the company Savi to cancel a portion of student debt for 172,000 residents. Today on "The Metro," Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell joins the show to discuss the new program and how the partnership will work. Also on the show, guest host Robyn Vincent speaks with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud about how the Arab community is reacting to Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumed Democratic presidential nominee.

There will be 22 candidates on the ballot in November vying to fill three open seats on the Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education. Mario Morrow, a political analyst and former educator, administrator and assistant superintendent in Detroit, joins "The Metro" to share why he says this election is so important. Also, Detroit freelance journalist Kahn Santori Davison joins the show to talk about the city's influence on break dancing.

“Chronic absenteeism" is one of the biggest problems hurting students in Detroit and across the country, accounting for any students who miss at least 10% of school days. Lori Higgins, bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit, joins "The Metro" to discuss her ongoing reporting about the issue and how to address it. Also, Hegira Health Director of Development Dr. Andrea Rodgers joins the show to talk about an upcoming town hall on minority mental health care issues.

Today on "The Metro," we're joined by Interim Executive Director of Midtown Detroit, Inc. Maureen Stapleton and Board Member of the Association of Chinese Americans Richard Mui to discuss plans to revitalize Detroit’s Chinatown. Detroit journalist and historian Ken Colman also joins the show to discuss the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Ruling on Milliken v. Bradley, preventing school segregation by bussing in Detroit.

Today on "The Metro," we start a new weekly segment with Detroit Documenters coordinators Lynelle Herndon and Noah Kincade. Every Friday, we'll discuss public meetings taking place during the week to encourage civic engagement. We also learn the history of Detroit's neighborhood names with local researcher and cartographer Alex Hill.

Today on "The Metro," author Ruth Whippman joins the show to discuss her new book: “Boymom: Reimagining Boyhood in the age of impossible masculinity.” We also discuss Kronk Boxing Gym's history in Detroit and connection to the Olympics with Chief Operating Officer John Lepak and Former Professional Boxer Tarick Salmaci.

Today on "The Metro," we talk to civil rights historian Danielle McGuire about a new historic marker remembering police brutality at the Algiers Motel and Detroit Rebellion of 1967. We also learn about the new documentary "Detroit’s Olympic Uprising" from writer Silke Weineck and director Stefan Szymanski.

Today on "The Metro," we’re joined by Rochelle Riley, director of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship, to discuss the first ever HBCU student film festival coming to Detroit next month. Also on the show, Detroit Horse Power Founder and Executive Director David Silver joins to discuss a new equestrian center they’ll be breaking ground on.

A recent report by The Markup and Outlier Media found that the average cost of auto insurance in Detroit is $5,300 a year — more than any other big city in the country. State reforms were supposed to bring relief by prohibiting insurers from considering certain factors — like zip codes — when setting rates. However, the investigation shows just how little the reforms did to stop insurers from using where people live to set their rates. To discuss this, Outlier reporter Koby Levin and Melissa Love, a Detroiter who’s been paying through the nose for auto insurance, both join "The Metro."