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American Black Journal > Specials > Black Church in Detroit

American Black Journal’s “The Black Church in Detroit” series was inspired by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s 2021 PBS documentary series,“<a href="https://www.pbs.org/weta/black-church/">The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song</a>.” The local series examines key issues impacting African American religious leaders in Detroit and the communities they serve.

Specials

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Our &#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series examines the church&#8217;s role in helping to address the affordable housing shortage in Michigan. A recent BridgeDetroit report found that several churches in the state have stepped up to develop or renovate homes to help ease the crisis. Host Stephen Henderson talks with Pastor Barry Randolph of Church of the Messiah and Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III from Plymouth United Church of Christ about how their churches have developed affordable housing in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Pastor Barry talks about how his church has been developing affordable housing in the Islandview community for 48 years to help make sure homes are available for the average Detroiter. He explains that his church also provides wraparound services in the neighborhood to meet the needs of residents, making the church the center of the community.  Pastor Barry also offers his thoughts on the expensive home rental costs across the nation and the lack of jobs to sustain these living costs.
Rev. Hood tells how his father created the Plymouth Non-Profit Housing Corporation, which developed 230 units of new housing for low-to-moderate income residents in the neighborhood in 1960.  He talks about how the church has offered services to the residents, such as computers for children and a food program. Rev. Hood also addresses how the City of Detroit can help attract housing development and residents.

Black Church in Detroit series examines church’s role in addressing affordable housing shortage

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As we wrap up Women&#8217;s History Month, our &#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series examines women in ministry. Host Stephen Henderson talks with Rev. Dr. Jessica Ingram, Founder of &#8220;The Woman Difference Collaborative,&#8221; along with two members of the group: Monica Anthony, First Lady of <a href="https://fellowshipchapel.org/">Fellowship Chapel</a>, and Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Nelson, Senior Pastor of <a href="https://davisonmissionarybaptistchurch.com/">Davison Missionary Baptist Church</a>. The guests discuss the pressure and challenges that exist for women pastors and faith leaders.
Rev. Ingram explains why and how she created &#8220;The Woman Difference Collaborative,&#8221; which brings together women in ministry to network and uplift each other at conferences and other events. They also advocate for Black women in other leadership roles, which included holding a large gathering in 2024 to support Kamala Harris&#8217; presidential bid. Rev. Ingram also reflects on an instance where she was denied the opportunity to preach at a church because of her gender.
Anthony discusses her role as First Lady of Fellowship Chapel and how her relationship with the congregants has grown over the years. She talks about Rev. Ingram&#8217;s collaborative and how it provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for women faith leaders to connect.
Rev. Nelson shares her background in pastoral care and the path that led her to become senior pastor at Davison Missionary Baptist Church a year ago. She also addresses the longstanding gender dynamics in ministry and how there are people who do not believe women should serve as pastors.

Black Church in Detroit series examines women in ministry

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Caregiving is a topic that touches everyone. Millions of Americans <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/caregiving/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serve as caregivers</a> to loved ones — often without being recognized. It is both a rewarding and a demanding role.
In conjunction with “Caregiving,” <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/caregiving/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a PBS documentary</a> by Academy Award-nominated actor Bradley Cooper, Detroit PBS held a virtual town hall on, examining the challenges, needs and successes of being a caregiver. The town hall was presented by American Black Journal&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Black Church in Detroit” initiative</a> and moderated by the show&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/stephen-henderson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host Stephen Henderson</a>.
<div class="pbs-viral-player-wrapper" style="position: relative; padding-top: calc(56.25% + 43px);"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3102688907/" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Town Hall guests include Dr. Marilyn French Hubbard, who heads up the <a href="https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/detroit-family-caregivers-project-creates-caregiving-ministries-in-local-black-churches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Family Caregivers’ Project</a>, a collaboration with Detroit’s Black churches. The program provides training, support, resources and referrals to church leaders and members of the caregiving ministries to share with their congregations. We’ll talk with two participants in the project, Rev. Brenda Jones and Andrew Jackson, both of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a>. Jackson will also speak about his experiences as a caregiver for both his mother and wife.
<div class="pbs-viral-player-wrapper" style="position: relative; padding-top: calc(56.25% + 43px);"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3102683450/" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Henderson also talks with author <a href="https://raymondajetson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raymond Jetson</a> whose book, “<a href="https://agingwhileblack.co/awb-the-book/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aging While Black</a>,” examines the unique experiences of aging while Black in America and focuses on creating a society where Black elders are celebrated, supported and empowered.
Additionally, the caregiving town hall will tackle topics such as access to much-needed respite services for caregivers, and obtaining financial and legal resources to assist with caregiving. Guests for this discussion include <a href="https://hannan.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hannan Center</a> CEO Vincent Tilford, Watson Financial Group Financial Advisor André Watson, and Jason Lachowski, the associate state director of advocacy for <a href="https://states.aarp.org/michigan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Michigan</a>.
<div class="pbs-viral-player-wrapper" style="position: relative; padding-top: calc(56.25% + 43px);"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3102689382/" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
The Black Church in Detroit project began in 2021, and it brings together religious leaders in Detroit and the surrounding areas for monthly conversations about topics of interest in the faith community.
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Support for caregiving is provided by:
Support for Caregiving is made possible by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Comfort Keepers; CareScout Holdings, Inc.; Care.com; Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation; Richard King Mellon Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; Ford Foundation; Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation; NextFifty Initiative (Next50); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); PATH Foundation; Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund; The John A. Hartford Foundation; and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Caregiving: A Black Church in Detroit Virtual Town Hall

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Detroit&#8217;s faith-based community is helping address the escalating mental health crisis among Black youth. Experts say mental health challenges have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exposure to social media and systemic inequities. 
<a href="https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The latest report</a> from the U.S. Office of Minority Health shows suicide is the third leading cause of death among African Americans ages 10-24. For Detroit&#8217;s faith-based community, the church is a safe haven where young people can talk openly and access intergenerational support. 
For Mental Health Awareness Month, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/stephen-henderson/">host Stephen Henderson</a> leads a discussion with Bishop Mbiyu Chui ofShrine of the Black Madonna, Rev. Jonathan Betts Fields of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, and Karra Thomas of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), as part of American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a>. They talk about how faith-based organizations can serve as critical support systems for young people battling anxiety, depression and isolation. 
The discussion also highlights how parental involvement, faith-based youth programs, and community dialogue can build resilience and reduce stigma. Through efforts like Detroit-Wayne Integrated Health Network’s <a href="https://www.dwihn.org/SUD/Faith_Based_Collaborative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Interfaith-Based Collaborative</a>, Detroit’s Black churches are connecting youth to culturally competent mental health services.

Detroit’s faith-based community addresses the mental health crisis facing Black youth

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Across the United States, Black churches overflowed with vibrant worship, soulful music and powerful preaching for Easter as congregants gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. For African Americans, Easter is a sacred reminder of hope, endurance and liberation. The celebration is rooted in a deep spiritual tradition that has long intertwined faith with the fight for justice. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
In recognition of the Easter season, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> explores the core messages of Easter and what the resurrection of Jesus means to the African American community.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> Host Stephen Henderson leads a conversation with Rev. Larry Simmons of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Baber-Memorial-AME-Church-Detroit/61550496285808/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baber Memorial AME Church</a> and Rev. Cindy Rudolph of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a>. They talk about Jesus’ resurrection and what it teaches us about renewal, rebirth and overcoming challenges.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
Rev. Rudolph also talks about what she hears from her congregation about their anxieties over the many changes coming out of Washington, D.C., how they are navigating through the challenges, and how the Easter season’s message of resiliency is not new for the Black community. She says more people are coming back to the church for spiritual nourishment.  
Rev. Simmons explains how to find joy in Jesus&#8217; resurrection. He reflects on the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-pope-francis-funeral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent passing of Pope Francis</a> and how his messages of compassion, liberation, humility and love resonate within the African American community.

The Easter season and the messages of resurrection in the Black church

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Detroit’s religious community grew significantly during The Great Migration of the 20th century when millions of African Americans left the South in search of a better life. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
The <a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/migrations/great-migration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Migration</a> occurred between 1910 and 1970, beginning before World War I, continuing through the Great Depression and World War II, and spanning into the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. The historical event helped define some of America’s major cities, industries, music, food and politics.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
It’s also the focal point of Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s latest PBS documentary series, “Great Migrations: A People on the Move.” In conjunction with the docuseries, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> looks at the role of Black women in the church during the migration. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
Much is documented about the men who migrated and the jobs they found once they arrived in Detroit.  However, the impact and influence women had during that time is lesser known.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/stephen-henderson/">Host Stephen Henderson</a> examines the major role women had in the church and the community during the Great Migration with his guests, <a href="https://fellowshipchapel.org/staff/rev-dr-constance-simon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Dr. Constance Simon</a> of Fellowship Chapel and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kingdomsower/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Paula Lee-Barnes</a> from In His Presence Ministries. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
They discuss the responsibilities women had at home, in the community and in the church, organizing and managing the social, economic and political activities. They share how women helped struggling families adjust to their new lives and environment, taught Sunday school, and helped build close-knit communities.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
Plus, Dr. Simon and Rev. Lee-Barnes <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/one-detroit/the-great-migration-stephen-henderson-family-story/">reflect on their own families&#8217; experiences</a> of migrating to Ohio and Detroit, respectively, from the South. They each recall stories involving their grandparents, parents and other relatives, as well as the role the Black church played in their families’ lives. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
Their discussion also touches on the power of women in the Black church and how younger members in their congregations are taking on leadership roles. They talk about the barriers that have been knocked down and the challenges that remain for women in the church. They also discuss the impact Black women are having today in relation to national and global conflicts.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}">

Black women’s influence in the church and community during the Great Migration

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The Great Migration played a significant role in growing Detroit’s African American religious community. It’s also the focal point of a new PBS documentary series produced by <a href="https://www.pbs.org/franchise/henry-louis-gates-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henry Louis Gates Jr.</a> premiering on Jan. 28. The four-part docuseries explores the Black exodus to the North and the American West, with Detroit as a primary destination for many individuals and families. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
The <a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/migrations/great-migration">Great Migration</a> is known as the period between 1910 and 1970, beginning before World War I, continuing through the Great Depression and World War II, and spanning into the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. The historical event helped define some of America’s major cities, industries, music, food and politics.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
In conjunction with the series premiere, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> examines the church&#8217;s role and impact during the Great Migration. Host Stephen Henderson talks with <a href="https://www.lawrencerodgers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pastor Lawrence Rodgers</a> of Second Baptist Church of Detroit and Elliott Hall, the historian for <a href="https://tmbcdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church</a>, about the Black church&#8217;s pivotal role in helping Southerners who migrated to Detroit.
They discuss the reasons why the migrants traveled North, how Black church memberships grew because of the influx of people, and how some migrants established new churches in Detroit.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
Atty. Hall talks about <a href="https://tmbcdetroit.org/images/History-of-Tabernacle.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church’s founding</a> by 20 families who migrated to the city from Georgia. He talks about the pastor who was recruited from Georgia to lead the church and how it developed over the years. Pastor Rodgers shares how his church provided spiritual support for the migrants and assisted them in obtaining housing and employment. He talks about how the pastor at that time, Rev. Robert Bradby, was friends with Henry Ford and was able to secure hundreds of jobs with the automaker.
Pastor Rodgers also talks about Rev. Bradby&#8217;s larger vision of transforming Detroit&#8217;s growing Black community through work, education and religious guidance. The group also discusses how the history and spirit of the Great Migration connects to the present-day mission of the Black church and the message it provides for today&#8217;s generation.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">

Detroit’s African American religious community during the Great Migration

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As the new year approaches, Black churches across Southeast Michigan are reflecting on the challenges and opportunities they face in 2025 while continuing a centuries-old tradition of renewal and hope. This year&#8217;s <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-watch-night" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch Night services</a>, which have been celebrated since 1862 when enslaved African Americans waited for the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect in the new year, offer a moment to look back, celebrate community strength, and focus on goals for the future.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
In this installment of <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">“The Black Church in Detroit” series</a>, host <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/stephen-henderson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> explores the Watch Night tradition and how local Black church leaders are preparing for the new year.
He talks with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pas_tor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Torion Bridges</a>, senior pastor of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/COMMONWEALTH313/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Commonwealth of Faith Church</a> in Redford, and Pastor Velma Jean Overman, outreach pastor at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Christ-Temple-City-of-Refuge-CTCOR-100064276496158/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christ Temple City of Refuge</a> in Inkster, about the church’s role as a beacon of faith, hope, and activism in the Black community. Both pastors emphasize the importance of the Black church addressing their communities&#8217; unique challenges.
Pastor Bridges, who is a millennial, talks about the need for the Black church to listen to the different needs of his generation. He also points to the pressing concerns of <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/healthy-and-resilient-communities-program-provides-healthy-food-access-to-residents-in-seven-detroit-neighborhoods/">food insecurity</a> and limited access to education, especially as the new presidential administration takes office. He stresses the importance of churches actively engaging with these issues, ensuring that the community&#8217;s needs are met and heard. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
Meanwhile, Pastor Overman expresses the importance of Black churches coming together with one common agenda to bring change instead of being fractured or divided. She cites issues such as economic strength, transit, and <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/detroit-symposium-aims-to-tackle-health-disparities-facing-black-men/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access to healthcare</a> as top concerns in Inkster and explains how the city&#8217;s churches are working to galvanize the community and congregants around the next steps for 2025.

Local Black church leaders discuss the challenges and opportunities for 2025

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As the dust settles from the 2024 election, the nation continues to face a deepening divide. The results have sparked discussions across the political spectrum with particular focus on how communities of color, especially African Americans, will be impacted by the vote.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
In Detroit, a city with a rich history of political activism and church leadership, local religious leaders are looking ahead, acknowledging the tension during and after the election while emphasizing the role the Black church plays in both healing and advocacy.
In this installment of American Black Journal’s “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church in Detroit</a>” series, host Stephen Henderson examines the 2024 election results and the role of African American churches going forward. Henderson leads a frank discussion with Rev. Dr. Theodore Turman of <a href="https://www.firstdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Baptist Church of Detroit</a>, who is also the President of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETSeminary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>, and Rev. Cindy Rudolph from <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church.</a>
They talk about how politics impacts many facets of daily life, the current division in America, and the mental health challenges that have resulted from the contentious nature of the election. The group also discusses the low voter turnout in Detroit, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/detroit-black-churches-mobilize-african-american-voters-ahead-of-2024-election/">concerns over voter apathy</a>, and the importance of teaching civics to young people to help them understand how politics affects their everyday lives.
Additionally, Dr. Turman and Rev. Rudolph talk about what they’re hearing from their congregants about the election. <a href="https://www.firstdetroit.org/meet-our-pastor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Turman</a> reflects on how some church members were disappointed by the election results, while others were not, and how some households are divided in their feelings. He shares his efforts to provide context to what people are seeing and encourages them to remain faithful in the wake of the results. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Plus, <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/about-us/our-staff/member-detail/1627535/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Rudolph</a> expresses her belief that Black women were impacted to a greater degree by the presidential race results, citing racism and sexism as two key elements that may have played a role in how people voted. She also discusses moving forward and uplifting the spirits of the people served by the church, especially during this holiday season.

The Black church’s role in healing, advocacy in the aftermath of the 2024 election

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<h2>This week on American Black Journal: </h2>
<h3>The Black church’s role in healing, advocacy in the aftermath of the 2024 election</h3>
As the dust settles from the 2024 election, the nation continues to face a deepening divide. The results have sparked discussions across the political spectrum with particular focus on how communities of color, especially African Americans, will be impacted by the vote.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
In Detroit, a city with a rich history of political activism and church leadership, local religious leaders are looking ahead, acknowledging the tension during and after the election while emphasizing the role the Black church plays in both healing and advocacy.
In this installment of American Black Journal’s “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church in Detroit</a>” series, host Stephen Henderson examines the 2024 election results and the role of African American churches going forward. Henderson leads a frank discussion with Rev. Dr. Theodore Turman of <a href="https://www.firstdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Baptist Church of Detroit</a>, who is also the President of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETSeminary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>, and Rev. Cindy Rudolph from <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church.</a>
They talk about how politics impacts many facets of daily life, the current division in America, and the mental health challenges that have resulted from the contentious nature of the election. The group also discusses the low voter turnout in Detroit, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/detroit-black-churches-mobilize-african-american-voters-ahead-of-2024-election/">concerns over voter apathy</a>, and the importance of teaching civics to young people to help them understand how politics affects their everyday lives.
Additionally, Dr. Turman and Rev. Rudolph talk about what they’re hearing from their congregants about the election. <a href="https://www.firstdetroit.org/meet-our-pastor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Turman</a> reflects on how some church members were disappointed by the election results, while others were not, and how some households are divided in their feelings. He shares his efforts to provide context to what people are seeing and encourages them to remain faithful in the wake of the results. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Plus, <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/about-us/our-staff/member-detail/1627535/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Rudolph</a> expresses her belief that Black women were impacted to a greater degree by the presidential race results, citing racism and sexism as two key elements that may have played a role in how people voted. She also discusses moving forward and uplifting the spirits of the people served by the church, especially during this holiday season.
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<h3>Church of the Messiah Detroit celebrates 150th anniversary with ‘The Audacity of Faith’ event</h3>
The Church of the Messiah Detroit commemorated its 150th anniversary this year with a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-church-of-the-messiah-150th-anniversary-dinner-celebration-tickets-1015614198407">gala </a> on Nov. 1 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. The event’s theme, “The Audacity of Faith,” celebrated the church’s 150 years of service and community building.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
Founded in 1874, <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/">the church</a> serves a diverse congregation and offers vital services such as affordable housing, employment assistance, medical care, and free internet access for residents. Additionally, the church proudly boasts an 84-member marching band that promotes literacy. 
Each year, Church of the Messiah <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/leadership/">Pastor Barry Randolph</a> organizes the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/hundreds-in-attendance-at-17th-annual-silence-the-violence-march-to-end-gun-violence/">Silence the Violence march and rally</a>, one of the largest anti-gun violence events in the country. 
&#8220;American Black Journal” shares clips from the church’s 150th anniversary celebration.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:150,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}"> 
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The Black church’s role after the 2024 election, Church of the Messiah’s 150th

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<h2>This week on American Black Journal: </h2>
Historically, the Black church has served as a powerful advocate for civil rights and social justice. As the 2024 election approaches, Black churches in Detroit are once again playing a crucial role in mobilizing the African American community to vote and participate in the civic process.
<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/10/21/key-facts-about-black-eligible-voters-in-2020-battleground-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the Pew Research Center</a>, approximately 30 million Black Americans were eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential election and one-third of them lived in key battleground states including Michigan. In Michigan alone, about 1 million eligible voters identify as African American, comprising 13% of the state&#8217;s electorate. Approximately 70% of African American voters in Michigan live in the Detroit metropolitan area.
Young African American voters are a vital factor as well. Millennials and Gen Zers account for four-in-ten African American voters nationally, emphasizing the need for targeted outreach to engage the population.
Ahead of the 2024 election, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> examines Black churches&#8217; role in the election and how faith intersects with politics. Guest host Trudy Gallant-Stokes talks with Rev. Dr. Georgia Hill of <a href="https://www.lifechurchriversidedetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LifeChurch Riverside Detroit</a>, Rev. Lawrence Rodgers from <a href="https://www.secondbaptistdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Baptist Church of Detroit</a>, and Rev. Ralph Godbee, Jr. of <a href="https://www.triumphch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Triumph Church</a>.
They talk about the importance of voting and how Black Americans throughout history have sacrificed their lives in the fight to get the right to vote. The group also discusses how their individual churches are getting out the vote and inspiring congregants to go to the polls on Nov. 5 or participate in early voting. <a href="https://www.lifechurchriversidedetroit.org/who-we-are" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Dr. Hill</a> explains how she will be actively serving at a polling place on election day. She shares how people can act out their faith in the voting booth. 
Additionally, the religious leaders talk about getting young people excited to participate in the election and distinguishing between the truth and misinformation on social media sites. They also discuss how the Black church has historically been outspoken against injustice of any kind and stress how every vote matters. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chiefralphgodbee/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Godbee, Jr.</a> explains how the Black church sees things differently in its advocacy for human and civil rights and talks about the importance of keeping the conversation about voting alive in the African American community.  Plus, <a href="https://www.secondbaptistdetroit.org/our-pastor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Rodgers</a> expounds on eliminating voter apathy and being able to discern between what is right and wrong.

Faith and politics: Detroit’s Black churches mobilize voters ahead of the 2024 election

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>Detroit’s religious community discusses pastoral care and the church’s response to death</h3>
The Black church has always been a place people turn to for healing, comfort and funeral services to say final goodbyes when loved ones pass away. Ministers are called upon to deliver eulogies, provide hope for the grieving, and educate the bereaved about the funeral process. 
American Black Journal’s &#8220;<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">The Black Church in Detroit</a>&#8221; series looks at the tireless role of ministers who provide pastoral care before, during and after death. Host <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/about/meet-the-team/">Stephen Henderson</a> talks with three members of Detroit&#8217;s religious community about the Black church&#8217;s response to death and the responsibilities placed on faith leaders. 
Pastor Semmeal Thomas of <a href="https://citycovenantchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Covenant Church</a> talks about the growing number of funerals he has officiated or attended as the baby boomer generation ages and passes away. He explains how this places a burden on pastors and how faith leaders are affected emotionally as well.
Rev. Dr. Constance Simon from <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fellowship Chapel</a> speaks to the compassion of ministry, the comfort care provided, and the aftercare the church offers to loved ones left behind. Ashley Lewis, a seminary student and member of Fellowship Chapel, reflects on her own experiences of burying two loved ones within weeks of each other. She discusses the important role pastoral care played in her family&#8217;s life during that difficult time. 
The group also discusses the Black church&#8217;s response to unexpected, senseless deaths often resulting from violence. Lewis talks about the <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2024/09/15/fatal-shooting-at-eastern-market-in-detroit/75241365007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatal shootings at a Detroit Lions tailgate</a> in Eastern Market and how it personally affected her.

Detroit’s religious community discusses pastoral care and the church’s response to death

Detroit’s Black churches respond to gun violence in the community

After a mass shooting of 21 people at a block party on Detroit’s east side, Detroit’s Black churches are coming together with residents and other advocacy organizations to support the community and spearhead efforts for change. The <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2024/07/07/multiple-people-shot-killed-wounded-detroit-east-side/74320543007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 7 incident</a>, which killed two people and injured 19 others, goes down as one of the city&#8217;s worst mass shootings to date. From June to August 2022, Detroit was the site of at least five mass shootings.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
In light of the recent mass shootings, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> examines the spiritual response to gun violence and how the church and community can work together to eradicate it. <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/contributors/">Host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Rev. Barry Randolph of <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of the Messiah</a> and Rev. Ralph L. Godbee, Jr. from <a href="https://www.triumphch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Triumph Church.</a> 
<a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/leadership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Randolph</a> reflects upon his reaction to the block party shooting and how his church stepped up immediately to come up with a plan of action. He explains how his new &#8220;Orange Mile Project&#8221; works, bringing together churches, residents, police, politicians, schools, and other assets in a square mile radius to work in collaboration against violence.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
RELATED:
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<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/hundreds-in-attendance-at-17th-annual-silence-the-violence-march-to-end-gun-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hundreds in attendance at 17th annual Silence the Violence March to end gun violence</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-black-churchs-role-in-reducing-gun-violence-in-the-communities-they-serve/">The Black church’s role in reducing gun violence in the communities they serve </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/force-detroit-discusses-creative-solutions-to-gun-violence-in-communities-of-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FORCE Detroit discusses creative solutions to gun violence in communities of color</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://x.com/chiefgodbee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Godbee</a>, whose extensive law enforcement background includes a stint as Detroit Police Chief, discusses the need for stricter gun laws from a legal and moral standpoint. He also talks about the impact of community policing, the importance of addressing mental health challenges in the community and ensuring that people know who they elect to political office.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Plus, both ministers talk about how gun violence is affecting the city&#8217;s youth and how it is a uniquely American problem that has become the number one cause of death for young people. 
Then, to close the show, “American Black Journal” remembers Motown music legend <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2024/07/22/duke-fakir-four-tops-obituary/74500485007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Duke Fakir who passed away recently</a> at the age of 88. Fakir was the last original member of <a href="https://www.motownmuseum.org/artist/the-four-tops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Four Tops</a> and had just stopped touring with the group at the end of last year, capping a 70-year music career. Watch a clip from The Four Tops&#8217; appearance on Detroit Black Journal in 1987.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit PBS’<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.

ABJ-Black-Church-5209-Thumbnail

This story was originally published on Feb. 28, 2024. It was republished and reaired on June 4, 2024.
The advent of new technology, like artificial intelligence, often poses a wide range of opportunistic possibilities, but it also has the potential to have a detrimental impact on racial wealth equity in the United States. According to a 2023 <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/the-impact-of-generative-ai-on-black-communities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility study</a>, generative AI has the potential to widen the racial wealth gap by nearly $43 billion a year. The study also found Black workers are at greater risk of losing their jobs to automation than white workers. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
The news isn’t all bad, however. Deployed thoughtfully, generative AI technology could remove barriers to Black economic mobility, the study shows. AI technology continues to pop up elsewhere too, outside of employment, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/how-technology-has-transformed-detroits-black-churches-adapting-post-pandemic/">including at church</a>. Some of Detroit’s Black church ministers have begun to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the African American community and the role of the church in addressing the rapidly evolving technology. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
RELATED: 
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<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/how-technology-has-transformed-detroits-black-churches-adapting-post-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How technology has transformed Detroit&#8217;s Black churches: adapting post-pandemic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/technology-meets-theology-3-local-pastors-talk-changes-to-church-worship-during-covid-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Technology meets theology: Three Detroit pastors talk changes to church worship during COVID</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-new-normal-how-oak-grove-ame-church-has-adapted-to-online-worship-outreach/">The new normal: How the Black church has adapted to online worship, outreach</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-new-normal-how-oak-grove-ame-church-has-adapted-to-online-worship-outreach/">Find more from our &#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a></li>
</ul>
Guest Host <a href="https://www.orlandopbailey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orlando Bailey</a> of <a href="https://www.bridgedetroit.com/author/orlando-bailey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BridgeDetroit</a> discusses the challenges and potential benefits of AI with Rev. Cindy Rudolph of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a> and Rev. Lawrence Rodgers of <a href="https://www.secondbaptistdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Baptist Church</a>. The ministers explained that while AI represents technological advancement, it can be detrimental to the Black labor force and young people&#8217;s emotional and social well-being. 
They discuss the economic threat AI poses to the Black community, especially in Detroit, and the importance of teaching youth how to use AI appropriately. The group also talks about the Black church&#8217;s role in addressing the moral and ethical concerns presented by AI, the need for lawmakers to come up with regulations governing this emerging technology, the importance of young African Americans being trained in the STEM fields, and how AI cannot replace the pulpit.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

AI and the Black church: Local ministers discuss the benefits, challenges of artificial intelligence

Black church provides sanctuary

Mental health challenges have become more prevalent among African American teens and young adults. Alarming new federal data gathered by the <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2024/04/22/black-adolescent-suicide-rate-reveals-urgent-need-to-address-mental-health-care-barriers">Pew Charitable Trusts</a> reveals that the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 19 increased 54% since 2018, surpassing that of their White peers for the first time in 2022. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The data shows the need for improved mental health care within Black communities, where systemic inequities and stigma around mental health persist. Despite the overall youth suicide rate trending downwards, the increase among Black adolescents, who have seen a 144% rise in suicide rates from 2007 to 2020, underscores the urgent need for community-based solutions. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
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<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/stigma-shortage-of-psychiatrists-further-exacerbates-mental-health-disparities-in-the-black-community/">Stigma, shortage of psychiatrists further exacerbates mental health disparities in the Black community</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/communities-of-color-break-down-stigmas-prioritize-self-care-for-mental-health-awareness-month/">Communities of color break down stigmas, prioritize self-care for Mental Health Awareness Month</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/mental-health-awareness-month-highlights-disparities-and-stigma-in-the-black-community/">Mental Health Awareness Month highlights disparities and stigma in the Black community</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/calebs-kids-supports-the-mental-health-of-middle-high-schoolers-during-suicide-prevention-month/">Caleb’s Kids supports the mental health of middle, high schoolers during Suicide Prevention Month</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/ministers-and-mental-health/">Ministers’ mental health takes center stage during Mental Health Awareness Month</a></li>
</ul>
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the &#8220;<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church in Detroit</a>&#8221; series explores the church’s role in providing safe spaces and promoting mental wellness. Host <a href="https://x.com/SHDetroit">Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Minister Mikiah Keener of <a href="https://www.triumphch.org/">Triumph Church</a> and Ashley Lewis, a student at the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and member of <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/">Fellowship Chapel</a>. They discuss the factors contributing to the rise in mental health issues among Black youth, including the impact of social media and artificial intelligence.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Lewis also shares a personal account of her teenage son&#8217;s struggles with bullying and emphasizes the importance of the church in cultivating a positive identity for Black children. She also addresses the deep-seated hesitancy within the Black community to seek mental health care, rooted in cultural mistrust and stigma. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Plus, Keener highlights the church&#8217;s role in intervening during mental health crises by offering a caring ear and necessary resources, and the possibility of churches creating religious apps and social media platforms that could cultivate young people’s growth.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit PBS’<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.

Black church provides sanctuary, support for youth facing mental health challenges

Detroit Family Caregivers’ Project creates caregiving ministries in local Black churches

April is National Minority Health Month, <a href="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/nmhm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an annual observance</a> aimed at shedding light on the persistent health disparities faced by racial and ethnic minority populations. <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/national-minority-health-month/index.html#:~:text=April%20is%20National%20Minority%20Health,action%20to%20end%20these%20inequities." target="_blank" rel="noopener">This year’s theme</a>, “Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections,” focuses on understanding how social determinants of health impact minority health outcomes. 
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/national-minority-health-month-puts-spotlight-on-health-disparities-faced-by-people-of-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Minority Health Month puts spotlight on health disparities faced by people of color</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/detroit-symposium-aims-to-tackle-health-disparities-facing-black-men/">Detroit symposium aims to tackle health disparities facing Black men</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/mental-health-awareness-month-highlights-disparities-and-stigma-in-the-black-community/">Mental Health Awareness Month highlights disparities and stigma in the Black community</a></li>
</ul>
At some point in everyone&#8217;s life, they will serve as a caregiver or require caregiving. Family caregiving can be a stressful and challenging responsibility. American Black Journal’s “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church in Detroit</a>” series looks at the efforts of the Black church to provide resources, referrals and respite for family caregivers.
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> speaks with Dr. Marilyn French Hubbard, project manager for the Detroit Family Caregivers&#8217; Project, and Rev. Dr. Georgia Hill, pastor of <a href="https://www.lifechurchriversidedetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LifeChurch Riverside</a>, about their experiences as caregivers and how faith communities can develop cultures and communities of care. 
Dr. Hubbard discusses the mission of the Detroit Family Caregivers&#8217; Project — a three-year initiative funded by the <a href="https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation</a> — and how it is working to create caregiving ministries in Detroit churches. <a href="http://www.livingourlegacies.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The project</a> focuses on preparation, planning and preventing crisis, as well as the importance of self-care and encouraging families to have conversations about death and dying.   
Plus, Rev. Hill discusses the foundational connection between caregiving and Christianity and the church’s role in helping to provide resources and a network of professionals to aid caregivers.
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.​

Women’s History Month: The role of women in the Black Church | The Black Church in Detroit

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
It&#8217;s Women&#8217;s History Month and our &#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series examines the role of women in the Black church. We&#8217;ll talk about their vital contributions to the church as well as the challenges that exist for women pastors and those in other leadership positions.
<a href="https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fshdetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Host Stephen Henderson</a> holds a frank conversation about the issues impacting Black women in the church with two Detroit women ministers: <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/staff/rev-dr-constance-simon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Dr. Constance Simon of Fellowship Chapel</a> and Rev. Dr. Remonia Chapman of <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartford Memorial Baptist Church</a>. They discuss the state of women in the Black church, gender inequality in the pulpit, and continued resistance to women in leadership roles in the church. They cite a recent example of how this resistance to women pastors played out on a national stage when the Rev. Gina Stewart became the first woman to preach at a joint Black Baptist session.
Rev. Simon and Rev. Chapman also reflect on their own personal and professional journeys that led them to become ministers. They talk about the importance of mentoring young Black women interested in the ministry and encouraging them to do what they are called to do. Additionally, they speak to how there are a lot of pulpits that are welcome to women, and they recount their own positive experiences at their respective churches.
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.​

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Roughly one in five African Americans, 21%, say they’re not religiously affiliated, according to a recent <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans/">Pew Research study</a>. For younger African Americans, the rate is even higher. Approximately 28% of Gen Z and 33% of millennials say they’re religiously unaffiliated, compared to 11% of baby boomers and 5% of the silent generation. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Additionally, research shows an increase in young African Americans identifying as spiritual instead of religious.  Some say it is due to experiencing church hurt or because they prefer a more individualized approach to faith rather than following a set of organized beliefs and practices.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
“American Black Journal” host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit">Stephen Henderson</a> continues our <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> conversation on the changing faith practices of young African Americans. Henderson leads a thought-provoking conversation from a different generational perspective with three Detroit ministers: <a href="https://www.detroitchamber.com/bios/rev-larry-simmons/">Rev. Larry Simmons</a> of Baber Memorial AME Church, <a href="https://citycovenantchurch.org/staff/">Pastor Semmeal Thomas</a> from <a href="https://citycovenantchurch.org/">City Covernant Church</a>, and Rev. Torion Bridges of <a href="https://commonwealth313.org/">Commonwealth of Faith Church</a>.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
They talk about what has led young Blacks to accept God but reject religion, what they&#8217;re hearing from the younger generation, and how to bridge the generational divides in the Black Church. The group also talks about the church&#8217;s communication about Christ, the important role of trust in a young person&#8217;s life, and how the history of the Black church may impact the choice to move away from religion. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
As the youngest pastor on the panel, Rev. Bridges offers his thoughts on what his generation is thinking and feeling today and their desire to feel safe, loved and empowered by the church.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

Some young African Americans are moving away from the church toward individualized faith | Black Church in Detroit

Black church leaders discuss their top 2024 priorities for their congregations and community | American Black Journal

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
Heading into 2024, the &#8220;<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit</a>&#8221; series examines the focus areas, issues and opportunities that lie ahead in the new year for leaders of Detroit&#8217;s Black churches.
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> leads a thought-provoking conversation with three Detroit ministers: Pastor Ovella Davis of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aijpministries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Always in Jesus&#8217; Presence Ministries</a>, Rev. QuanTez Pressley from <a href="https://thirdnewhope.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Third New Hope Baptist Church</a>, and Pastor Barry Randolph of <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of the Messiah</a>. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
The discussion includes a focus on increasing outreach to those individuals who are unchurched to bring them back to the church, reinforcing the purpose of the church in order to change negative perceptions, and strengthening the church&#8217;s connection with young people.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
The group also talks about the importance of <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-black-churchs-role-in-black-politics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">getting out the vote</a> for the 2024 presidential election, informing congregants and the community about the power of their vote, and making sure people are registered and educated about the candidates. 
Additionally, the ministers offer their thoughts on the Black church stepping in to meet the real needs of the community, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/a-community-conversation-on-gun-violence-prevention/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eradicating gun violence</a> and other crimes in the city, and the importance of collaboration between churches to bring about change.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.​

Shifting faith: Growing trend of young Black Americans embracing spirituality over religion | Black Church in Detroit

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
A noticeable trend has been growing among Black Millennials and Gen Zers. Many younger African Americans are increasingly turning away from traditional organized religion and towards a more personalized approach to faith. This shift reflects broader patterns identified in a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 Pew Research survey</a>, which surveyed over 8,600 Black adults nationwide and found that young Black adults are not only less religious but also less engaged with predominantly Black churches compared to their older counterparts.  
Despite maintaining a higher level of religiosity compared to other racial/ethnic groups in their generation, young Black Americans are demonstrating a growing inclination towards individualized spirituality. The survey data reveals a significant decrease in reliance on prayer, lower attendance at religious services, and a diminished emphasis on the importance of religion in their lives. A striking 33% of Black Millennials and 28% of Gen Zers are religiously unaffiliated, contrasting sharply with the 5% of the Silent Generation. 
For American Black Journal’s “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit</a>” series, guest host <a href="https://www.bridgedetroit.com/author/orlando-bailey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit</a> engages in a thought-provoking discussion with three Detroit ministers — Rev. Kenita Harris of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dbtabernacle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Bible Tabernacle</a>, Minister Mikiah Keener of <a href="https://www.triumphch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Triumph Church</a>, and Pastor Sonny Smith of <a href="https://detroitchurch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Church</a> about the evolving faith practices of young African Americans and the importance of everyone living out their faith. 
They also explore the younger generation&#8217;s desire for leadership roles in the Black church, their commitment to racial and social justice, and their call for the church to actively address societal injustices, particularly in the wake of events like the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/6-21-20-american-black-journal-roundtable-on-george-floyd-protests-police-brutality-systemic-racism/">deaths of George Floyd</a> and <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/patrick-lyoya-and-police-reform-a-roundtable-with-the-naacp-and-black-lives-matter/">other unarmed Black individuals</a> at the hands of the police. 
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.​

Interfaith relationships and the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict | American Black Journal

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>Interfaith relationships and the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict</h3>
This week on American Black Journal: As the Israeli-Hamas conflict continues, the &#8220;<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church in Detroit</a>&#8221; series examines the impact of the Middle East conflict on interfaith relationships here in Detroit and how the Black Church can better navigate the tensions arising from the Mideast conflict. 
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit">Stephen Henderson</a> talks with three Detroit religious leaders: Bishop Charles Ellis III of <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/">Greater Grace Temple</a>, Rev. Dr. Constance Simon from <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/">Fellowship Chapel</a>, and Bishop Mbiyu Chui from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BestSelfMovement/">Shrine of the Black Madonna #1</a>.  
The ministers discuss how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impacts them as Black clergy, as well as all African Americans. They talk about the importance of the Black Church speaking to the issues of the world and how the Black Church can help make things better for interfaith relationships here in this community during these turbulent times.  
Additionally, the ministers offer their thoughts on the role humanity plays in conflicts like the one in the Middle East, understanding the dynamics of the situation and helping to provide clarity for their congregations, and the need for the world to come together to work on creative solutions for co-existing instead of waging war. 
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.​

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Detroit’s Black churches are witnessing a digital revolution. Recent years have brought forth new technologies, like artificial intelligence, and new conversations about how the latest technology trends will shape the present and future of the city’s religious institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, propelling many of these churches into the digital age to ensure the safety of their congregants. Now, even as the pandemic’s grip loosens, these new technologies have remained an integral part of their ministry to connect communities and solve critical issues.  
RELATED: <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-new-normal-how-oak-grove-ame-church-has-adapted-to-online-worship-outreach/">The new normal: How the Black church has adapted to online worship and outreach</a>
The impact of technology on ministry takes center stage during this installment of American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a>. Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> talks with two Detroit pastors, Rev. Carnel Richardson of <a href="https://newnpmbcunity.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church</a> and Pastor Aramis Hinds from <a href="https://breakerscc.tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breakers Covenant Church International</a> about their churches’ journey adapting to the technologies brought forth by the pandemic. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
The pastors also delve into the thought-provoking realm of artificial intelligence. They emphasize the need for careful scrutiny of emerging AI technologies, reminding their congregations and communities to remain vigilant in understanding how tools intended for good can be potentially misused for manipulation and harm. In a world increasingly reliant on AI, the pastors underscore the importance of never placing any innovation above their steadfast faith and devotion to God.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

How Technology has transformed Detroit’s Black Churches: Adapting post-pandemic

March-on-Washington-min

Sixty years ago this month, 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were pivotal in orchestrating the monumental March on Washington, which attracted widespread attention as a key event in the fight for civil rights and highlighting religious organizations’ role in the Civil Rights Movement.  
<figure id="attachment_32340" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32340" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-32340" src="https://wordpress.detroitpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/March-on-Washington-2-1.png" alt="March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" width="650" height="366" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-32340" class="wp-caption-text">More than a quarter million people joined the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963 to fight against racism, housing discrimination and police brutality.</figcaption></figure>
As we continue our “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit</a>” series, &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; delves into the contemporary significance of civil rights, the impact of the march, and the current state of civil rights. <a href="http://www.therevcw.com/senior-pastor-rev-charles-e-williams-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Charles Williams II</a>, senior pastor of <a href="http://www.kingsolomonchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historic King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church</a> and a distinguished figure in the Black church and civil rights arenas, shares his perspectives with <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host Stephen Henderson</a> on the legacy of the 1963 March on Washington and the present-day state of civil rights advocacy. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
RELATED: <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/detroit-walk-to-freedom/">Explore American Black Journal’s coverage of the Detroit Walk to Freedom 60th anniversary events</a>
Plus, Rev. Williams underscores the role of the Black church in the ongoing struggle for democracy, social justice and equality, and talks about the issues that are still negatively impacting African Americans today, such as voting rights and police brutality. 
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Paving the way for today: How the Black Church supported the Civil Rights Movement

The power of the prophetic voice in the Black Church and its importance to the community | American Black Journal

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>The power of the prophetic voice and its importance to the Black community</h3>
American Black Journal&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221;</a> series examines the power of the prophetic voice of the Black Church and its importance today amid issues that are harming African Americans disproportionately, along with other marginalized groups.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> holds a candid conversation with Rev. Cindy Rudolph of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a> and Bishop Charles Ellis III of <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greater Grace Temple</a> about the church&#8217;s role and responsibility in the prophetic biblical tradition to speak out against racial and social injustice.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
They talk about preachers addressing issues that negatively impact African Americans today, such as the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/breaking-down-the-supreme-courts-ruling-ending-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20the%20%22NewsHour.%22,the%20University%20of%20North%20Carolina." target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling on affirmative action</a> and racial injustice, and taking the opportunity to advocate for change and give people a sense of hope.
The conversation also touches on the current topics being covered in the two ministers&#8217; sermons, the messages they have delivered from the pulpit regarding former President Donald Trump, and how the Black community&#8217;s narrative is often changed to have a negative meaning, such as what is happening now with the word &#8220;woke&#8221; from a political standpoint.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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The Black Church in Detroit’s connection to the 1963 Walk to Freedom | American Black Journal

Featured photo provided by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>Faith-fueled unity: The Black church’s role in the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom </h3>
The 1963 <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/detroit-walk-to-freedom/">Detroit Walk to Freedom</a> was a major milestone in the civil rights movement. Organized by prominent religious and civil rights leaders Rev. C.L. Franklin and Rev. Albert Cleage, Jr., and featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the march brought together more than 125,000 people on Woodward Avenue to peacefully advocate for racial equality and justice in what was the largest civil rights demonstration at the time. 
As the city commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Detroit Walk to Freedom, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> examines the role of the city&#8217;s religious community in the historic march and rally that featured Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
<a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Host Stephen Henderson</a> and guest, Bishop Mbiyu Chui of the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/portrait-of-the-black-madonna-black-church-detroit-american-black-journal/">Shrine of the Black Madonna #1</a>, delve into the often-forgotten connection between the city&#8217;s Black churches and the massive march for civil rights. Bishop Chui relates the backstory about how racism and violence against Blacks in the South led to the organization of the walk by the Shrine&#8217;s founder, Rev. Albert Cleage, Jr. and Rev. C.L. Franklin of New Bethel Baptist Church.  
Plus, they talk about the many voices represented in the Detroit civil rights demonstration, the Black Church&#8217;s role as a moral compass for America, and the challenges that remain today — 60 years after the Walk to Freedom. 
<h3>From attendee to activist: Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson’s life changed after the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom</h3>
Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, senior pastor of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2792809324181174/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Side Unity Church in Detroit</a>, was 12 years old when her grandparents picked her up on a summer afternoon in June 1963. Little did she know that day she would find her passion for activism and purpose in life. 
Her grandparents took her to the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-60th-anniversary-of-detroits-1963-walk-to-freedom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom</a>, the largest civil rights demonstration up to that point with 125,000 people attending, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King gave an early version of his “I Have a Dream” speech there before his famous national address two months later in Washington, D.C. 
Reflecting on her experiences at the 1963 march and her career in public service, Rev. Watson shares her memories from that historic day and its impact on her life trajectory with One Detroit contributor <a href="https://www.wrcjfm.org/about/staff/cecelia-sharpe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cecelia Sharpe of 90.9 WRCJ</a>. Plus, they talk about Rev. Watson’s influence on the <a href="https://www.americangirl.com/collections/melody" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melody American Girl doll</a> and how people can commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Detroit Walk to Freedom.  
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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6/06/23: American Black Journal – The historical impact of Detroit’s Black churches

The historical impact of Detroit’s Black churches

4/25/23: American Black Journal – The Black Church in Detroit: Preachers’ kids

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>The &#8216;Black Church in Detroit&#8217; explores the lives of preachers&#8217; kids</h3>
We don&#8217;t often hear the perspective that preachers’ kids have about growing up with a pastor as a parent. This week, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> examines the lives of preachers’ kids, or PKs for short.  
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down for a conversation with three Detroit preachers&#8217; kids: Rev. Charles Christian Adams, senior pastor of <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/">Hartford Memorial Baptist Church</a> and son of Pastor Emeritus Dr. Charles G. Adams; Freda Sampson, daughter of the late <a href="https://www.fgsfoundation.org/">Rev. Dr. Frederick G. Sampson II</a> of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church; and Kaletah Vancol, daughter of Rev. Kenneth Flowers of <a href="https://greaternewmtmoriah.org/">Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church</a>. 
Henderson talks with the group about how, as children, they first became aware their fathers were ministers. They also discuss some of their memorable experiences as children and how their fathers’ ministries influenced the type of work they do today. 
Plus, the panel of preachers’ kids explains what they see as their fathers&#8217; legacies in the church and the community. And, they speak to the life lessons learned from having a pastor as a parent. 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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3/28/23: American Black Journal – Trailblazing African American women in ministry

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>The Black Church in Detroit: Trailblazing African American women in ministry</h3>
In recognition of Women’s History Month, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> highlights two trailblazing African American women in ministry: <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/about-us/our-staff/member-detail/1627535/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church Pastor Rev. Cindy Rudolph</a> and the late <a href="https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/steinberg-martha-jean-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg</a>, a Detroit radio icon and founder of the Home of Love Church.  
<a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit">Host Stephen Henderson</a> sits down with Rev. Rudolph and <a href="https://wdet.org/shows/jays-place/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jay Butler of WDET-101.9 FM</a>, a longtime colleague and friend of Martha Jean Steinberg, to talk about the historic accomplishments of both women.  
Rev. Rudolph describes her journey to becoming the first female senior pastor at <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a> and talks with Henderson about the painful and cheerful times along the way. She shares how the church&#8217;s congregation has embraced her, the increase of women leaders in the AME Church, and the female mentors who inspired her. 
Plus, Henderson talks with Butler, who worked with Steinberg at <a href="https://wjlbdetroit.iheart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WJLB-97.9 FM</a>, about Steinberg&#8217;s rise to fame on the radio and her decision to transition from playing R&amp;B music to playing all gospel music on her show. He also talks with Henderson about how Steinberg bought WQBH-1400 AM and hired him as program director, her close ties to the community, how she lived her life according to what God told her to do, and her decision to start the Home of Love Church.
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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1/31/23: American Black Journal – Detroit’s Black churches champion education

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>Detroit’s Black churches partner with city schools, champion students’ education</h3>
What role do Detroit’s Black churches play in the success of Detroit Public Schools and their students? American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">“Black Church in Detroit”</a> series examines the important role of the church as champions for the city&#8217;s schools and students, and how the church fills the gaps, helps solve issues, and supports Detroit schools to make sure students can reach their full potential.  
Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Rev. Larry Simmons of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=113256582030807&amp;paipv=0&amp;eav=AfZ19S2TlOBiG7OS6ch0-1EYvPc43u9Dsotgso85LQRoGSWMOKVzhPDYsON6pp_1DZc&amp;_rdr">Baber Memorial AME Church</a>, Rev. Carnel Richardson of <a href="https://www.newnpmbcunity.org/">New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church</a>, and Sharlonda Buckman, assistant superintendent of family and community engagement at <a href="https://www.detroitk12.org/">Detroit Public Schools Community District</a> (DPSCD) for a thought-provoking conversation.  
They discuss two programs, DPSCD&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitk12.org/Page/10328">Faith-Based Initiative</a> and <a href="https://www.everyschooldaycountsdetroit.org/">Every School Day Counts</a> program, and talk about some of the issues impacting education, such as chronic absenteeism, a lack of transportation, and health and safety concerns.  
RELATED: <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/education-2/covid-recovery-chronic-absenteeism-and-a-700-million-building-campaign-dpscd-supt-dr-nikolai-vitti-discusses-districts-future/">COVID recovery, chronic absenteeism, and a $700 million building campaign: DPSCD Supt. Dr. Nikolai Vitti discusses district’s future</a>
Plus, they look at how DPSCD&#8217;s Faith-Based Initiative matches churches with schools in order to provide mentoring, tutoring, clothing drives, and other support services that will allow students to concentrate on getting a good education. 
<h3>Church of the Messiah honors Detroit’s first responders for keeping residents safe during Islandview fires </h3>
Detroit’s first responders were honored at an awards ceremony recently for their heroic efforts battling two major fires in the Islandview community just before Christmas.  
<a href="https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/12/23/crews-battle-fire-on-detroits-east-side-during-dangerous-winter-storm/">A fire broke out around 5 a.m. Dec. 23</a> near E. Lafayette Street and E. Grand River Boulevard at a vacant storage warehouse on the city’s East side. More than 65 <a href="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-fire-department">Detroit Fire Department</a> firefighters and other first responders were at the scene working to extinguish the blaze as heavy winds and cold weather temperatures made the fires harder to control.  
Twenty-three residents from a neighboring apartment building were evacuated to safety to avoid potential health risks from the smoke. No injuries were reported. 
The awards ceremony was hosted by <a href="http://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/">Church of the Messiah</a> Pastor Rev. Barry Randolph to thank the firefighters, homeland security and city officials involved in the efforts.
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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1/31/23: American Black Journal – Detroit’s Black churches champion education, Church of the Messiah honors first responders

12/27/22: American Black Journal – Detroit’s Black church leaders look ahead to 2023

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
From the continued <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/church-worship-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/">impact of COVID-19</a> to increased efforts to <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-black-church-in-detroit-roundtable-on-youth/">attract younger generations</a> to participate in the church to the advanced role that technology now plays in the church, and efforts to reduce violence in the community, the past year has held several challenges for some Black church leaders in Detroit&#8217;s smaller faith communities. Still, it has also brought new opportunities, like the ministers&#8217; ability to partner and push the needle forward.  
As Detroit&#8217;s Black church leaders look ahead to 2023, what are their goals, strategies and hopes for the new year?  
&#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/contributors/">host Stephen Henderson</a> sat down for an in-depth conversation with three ministers who are part of a coalition of more than 100 Detroit churches working collectively to make a difference in the city: Pastor Barry Randolph of <a href="http://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/">Church of the Messiah</a>, Rev. Anthony Estes of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SMSJDetroit/">St. Matthew&#8217;s &amp; St. Joseph&#8217;s Episcopal Church</a> and <a href="https://www.allsaintsdetroit.org/">All Saints Episcopal Church in Detroit</a>, and Rev. Cecile Massey of <a href="https://www.carrythewordministries.com/">Carry the Word Ministries</a>.  
As faith leaders of smaller churches in the community, the pastors talk about the challenges they are concerned about in 2023, both within their church walls and out in the community. They discuss how to engage both young people and older members of the church, the use of technology in ministry, reducing violence and <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-black-churchs-role-in-reducing-gun-violence-in-the-communities-they-serve/">gun violence in the community</a>, and the importance of partnering with other churches on issues impacting the community. 
Additionally, the guests talk with Henderson about the overall exhaustion being felt by members of the clergy and the congregation, and the ways they&#8217;re trying to deal with it. 
<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
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11/29/2022: American Black Journal – The Black Church’s role spreading hope and healing during the holidays

10/25/22: American Black Journal – The Black church’s role in Black politics

<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3>The pulpit and politics: the Black church&#8217;s role in Black politics, elections</h3>
With the midterm elections just around the corner, American Black Journal&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221;</a> series examines the political power of the Black church. We&#8217;ll talk about the church&#8217;s role in getting people to the polls, its influence on key issues and races, and the political leaders who have come from the Black church. 
Host Stephen Henderson sits down for a robust conversation with <a href="https://www.detroitnaacp.org/">Detroit Branch NAACP</a> President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony of <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/">Fellowship Chapel</a> and Rev. Charles E. Williams II, senior pastor at <a href="http://www.kingsolomonchurch.org/">Historic King Solomon Baptist Church</a> and president of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Action-Network-Michigan-Chapter-563898557059591/">Michigan Chapter of the National Action Network</a>.  
They talk about the history of the Black church in Black politics, the efforts that are taking place to suppress the right to vote, white evangelical activism, and how democracy is at stake in the elections. Plus, they discuss the fact that Detroit will likely not have <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/one-detroit/voters-choose-from-crowded-pool-of-candidates-with-fewer-districts-for-michigan-congressional-election/">Black representation in Congress</a> for the first time in nearly 70 years.   
Additionally, the ministers and Henderson discuss the importance of the Black church in helping to get &#8220;souls to the polls&#8221; and encouraging those who have demonstrated against racial and social injustice to take the next step by getting out the vote for the people who will bring change. 
&nbsp;
<h2>Watch Now:</h2>
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

A community conversation on gun violence prevention with Detroit’s Black church leaders | The Black Church in Detroit

Seminary-Education

9/27/22: American Black Journal – The Black Church in Detroit | Seminary education and the future of ministry

pexels-cottonbro-9577063-1

8/30/22: American Black Journal – The Black Church in Detroit Roundtable on Youth

Black-Church-Gospel-Music-min

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/negro-spirituals-the-music-that-helped-free-enslaved-african-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Negro Spirituals: The Music That Helped Free Enslaved African Americans</a></h3>
One of the largest and most significant forms of American folksongs, the Negro spiritual, has a long history in America, but how do these religious songs relate to the music heard in the Black church today? &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; continues its <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221;</a> series with a look at the history of Negro spirituals and gospel music, and the influence these two genres have had on contemporary artists.
&#8220;Black gospel music is an offset of the Negro spiritual. One of the main differences between the two is that we are not exactly aware of the composers,&#8221; said <a href="https://brandonwaddles.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Brandon Waddles</a>, a composer, arranger, choir director and music instructor at <a href="https://music.wayne.edu/profile/hf8691" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wayne State University</a>. &#8220;However, there are known composers of famous gospel songs.&#8221;
Producer <a href="https://twitter.com/AJWalkerNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Walker</a> talks with Waddles about how Negro spirituals uplifted enslaved Africans brought to this country and how it served as a universal language that helped lead them to freedom. Plus, they discuss R&amp;B singers, past and present, whose musical roots stemmed from the Black Church.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-sacred-and-the-secular-how-gospel-music-grew-from-the-blues/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sacred and the Secular: How Gospel Music Grew from the Blues</a></h3>
It was around the 1930s when gospel music first formed, but how did spiritual music transform from hymns to the contemporary music genre we know today? &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; continues its <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221;</a> series with a look at the history of gospel music and its intersection with the blues.
&#8220;You had these, sort of, blues musicians, who were looking at how the vitality was slipping out of sacred music, and they combined the blues with the sacred, and that produced gospel,&#8221; Baptist pastor and blues musician <a href="https://www.revrobertjones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.</a> said.
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down with Rev. Jones to explore the connection between the blues and gospel music — the sacred and the secular, and their symbolic, symbiotic relationship. Plus, they discuss gospel music&#8217;s roots in the African American community then and today.
<h4><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHwrrQWRhUU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Want to See More Gospel Performances?</a></h4>
Closing out the show, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;American Black Journal&#8221;</a> reaches into its archives for a look back at some of the past gospel music performances that have been featured on the show.
&nbsp;
<h2>Watch Now:</h2>
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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6/28/22: American Black Journal – Gospel Music in the Black Church

Black-Church-MentalHealth-Newsletter

5/31/22: American Black Journal – Mental Health Awareness in the Black Church

Black-Catholic-Priest-Newsletter

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
&#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; continues its series <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church in Detroit</a> with an examination of the impacts and contributions Black Catholics and parishes have made in Detroit. Host Stephen Henderson and producer AJ Walker will explore the history of the Black Catholic Church, its support during the civil rights movements and its focus on equal rights and racial justice.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/detroits-black-catholic-population-continue-efforts-to-rebuild-community-after-population-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit&#8217;s Black Catholics Continue Efforts to Rebuild Community After Population Decline</a></h3>
Detroit&#8217;s Black Catholic population isn&#8217;t what it used to be. What was once a thriving religious community here has dwindled over the years. 
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down with <a href="https://www.udmercy.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Detroit Mercy</a> President Dr. Antoine Garibaldi and Vickie Figueroa, the associate director of cultural ministries at the <a href="https://www.aod.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Archdiocese of Detroit</a>, for a discussion about Black Catholic parishes in Detroit, including the dwindling population of Black Catholics and what efforts are being made to rebuild the community. Plus, they talk about the state of Catholic education in the city.  
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/st-charles-lwanga-parish-prepares-for-its-centennial-celebration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Charles Lwanga Parish Prepares for its Centennial Celebration</a></h3>
It had a name change, has dealt with racially charged controversy and is preparing to celebrate being around for a century. &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; producer <a href="https://twitter.com/AJWalkerNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Walker</a> visits <a href="https://saintcharleslwanga.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Charles Lwanga parish</a>, formerly known as St. Cecelia Church, for a wide-ranging discussion with its pastor, Fr. Theodore Parker, as the parish prepares for its 100th-anniversary celebration.  
The two talk about the history of Black Catholicism, the church&#8217;s name change and the controversy that ensued after the church revealed a painting of a Black Christ in the 1960s. 
&nbsp;
<h2>WATCH NOW:</h2>
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Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
<h3>Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.</h3>
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4/26/22: American Black Journal – The Black Catholic Church in Detroit

Screenshot-147

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Originally posted on December 28, 2021. Updated on April 12, 2022.
<h2>This Week on American Black Journal: </h2>
What role do pastors&#8217; spouses play in growing and supporting the church ministry?
Continuing the yearlong <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit series</a>, this week host Stephen Henderson looks into the lives of pastors and their spouses, traditionally called First Ladies and First Gentlemen in the African American church, to see how they each support the ministry individually and as a couple together.
Stephen connects with Bishop Edgar Vann and First Lady Elder Sheila Vann from <a href="https://secondebenezer.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Ebenezer Church</a> to hear what&#8217;s expected from pastors&#8217; spouses in the church and how they work together as a team to support their congregation. Plus, American Black Journal producer Marcus Green talks with <a href="https://detroitchurch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Church</a> Pastor Sonny Smith and his wife, Sherita Smith, about how their ministry in Detroit started, how they feel about the term &#8216;First Lady,&#8217; and how they serve the church as a married couple.
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
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Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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4/12/22: American Black Journal – The Role of Pastors’ Spouses in the Black Church

Black-Church-Worship-COVID

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
This week, &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; continues its <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit</a> series, in partnership with the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and the <a href="https://www.thewright.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a>, with a look at how churches have adopted new ways to worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/technology-meets-theology-3-local-pastors-talk-changes-to-church-worship-during-covid-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Technology Meets Theology: 3 Local Pastors Talk Changes to Church Worship During COVID</a></h3>
From providing online and outdoor services to offering electronic giving methods and making food deliveries to those in need, Detroit&#8217;s Black churches have re-examined and re-imagined their ministries and outreach over the past two years of the pandemic. Although online worship has become the norm for many folks, and it may stay that way, a safe return to in-person services is on the horizon some local pastors say.
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down with Bishop Charles Ellis III of <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greater Grace Temple</a>, Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, Jr. of <a href="https://www.libertytbc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liberty Temple Baptist Church</a>, and Pastor Semmeal Thomas of <a href="https://citycovenantchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Covenant Church</a> to talk about the changes to their worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pastors share their thoughts about the ability to reach more people through virtual sermons, a safe return to in-person services and the role of technology in church worship as they look to the future.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-new-normal-how-oak-grove-ame-church-has-adapted-to-online-worship-outreach/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New Normal: How the Black Church Has Adapted to Online Worship, Outreach</a></h3>
When several of Detroit&#8217;s Black churches shuttered their doors temporarily two years ago, many church leaders likely didn&#8217;t think the changes they&#8217;d make would become permanent. While some local churches have plans to return to their former operations, other churches say they&#8217;ll never return to the way they operated prior to the pandemic.
&#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; producer <a href="https://twitter.com/AJWalkerNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Walker</a> meets with Rev. Cindy Rudolph, of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oak Grove AME Church</a> in Detroit, to learn more about how the church reacted and adapted new ways of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rudolph talks about having to quickly adapt to remote services, online tithing and increased community outreach, all in the midst of her first few months as the church&#8217;s new senior pastor.
&nbsp;
<h2>Watch Now:</h2>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Double-click to add Full Episode&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxCEKuRVvw&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.9&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Double-click to add Segment 1&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikPudKbk05o&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.9&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Double-click to add Segment 2&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opyHsBBERmY&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.9&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

3/29/22: American Black Journal – The Black Church in Detroit: Black church worship during COVID-19

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal: </h2>
<h3>The Black Church in Detroit&#8217;s One-Year Anniversary Celebration </h3>
American Black Journal celebrates The Black Church in Detroit&#8217;s one-year anniversary in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and the <a href="https://www.thewright.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a> with a special hour-long episode.
American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson kicks off the episode with a look back at what inspired the collaborative series to begin one year ago, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.&#8217;s PBS documentary &#8220;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/weta/black-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song,</a>&#8221; which explores the 400-year history of the Black Church. <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/black-church-documentary-director-discusses-impact-importance-of-pbs-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen sits down</a> with the documentary&#8217;s producer and director Stacey Holman to hear her perspectives on the series&#8217; impact and the importance of the church in the Black community.
Then, <a href="https://www.bridgedetroit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BridgeDetroit&#8217;s</a> Engagement Director <a href="https://twitter.com/orlandopbailey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orlando Bailey</a> meets with Bishop J. Drew Sheard and his wife Karen Clark Sheard, of <a href="http://theclarksisters.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Clark Sisters</a>, at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ (<a href="https://www.geicogic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C.O.G.I.C.</a>) for an extensive never-before-seen interview. The three discuss Bishop Sheard&#8217;s leadership role and responsibilities at the helm of the C.O.G.I.C. denomination,  his wife&#8217;s role as First Lady of the Church and an award-winning Gospel artist and more.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/bishop-j-drew-sheard-karen-clark-sheard-talk-black-church-leadership-the-clark-sisters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch Orlando Bailey&#8217;s Extended Interview with the Sheards</a>
Plus, Stephen pays tribute to The Black Church in Detroit&#8217;s one-year anniversary by revisiting some of the most captivating conversations and compelling guests featured on the show over the past year. We&#8217;ll revisit the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-women-in-the-black-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">role of women</a> in the Black church, <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/7-23-21-american-black-journal-millennials-and-the-black-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how millennials view spirituality</a> today, the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/covids-impact-on-black-church-congregations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impact of COVID-19</a> on faith leaders since the pandemic began, and the Black church&#8217;s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/2-14-21-american-black-journal-the-black-church-film-and-the-black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">focus on activism and change</a>.
<a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greater Grace Temple&#8217;s</a> Bishop Charles Ellis III and gospel musician <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPaulPorter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Porter</a> round out The Black Church in Detroit&#8217;s one-year anniversary special with a rousing musical performance of &#8220;Done For Me,&#8221; an original gospel song written, produced and arranged by Bishop Ellis III.
Featured Religious Leaders: 
<ul>
<li>Rev. Dr. Kenneth Harris, <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a></li>
<li>Rev. Dr. E.L. Branch, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/edwardlbranchministries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E.L. Branch Ministires</a></li>
<li>Bishop Edgar Vann, <a href="https://secondebenezer.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Ebenezer Church</a></li>
<li>Rev. Dr. Constance Simon, <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fellowship Chapel</a></li>
<li>Bishop Charles Ellis III, <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greater Grace Temple</a></li>
<li>Rev. Kenita Harris, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dbtabernacle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Bible Tabernacle</a></li>
<li>Rev. Charles Christian Adams, <a href="https://hartfordmemorial.thechurchonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartford Memorial Baptist Church</a></li>
<li>Rev. Charles Williams II, <a href="http://www.kingsolomonchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historic King Solomon Baptist Church</a></li>
<li>Rev. Barry Randolph, <a href="http://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of the Messiah</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
&nbsp;
<div class="pbs-viral-player-wrapper" style="position: relative; padding-top: calc(56.25% + 43px);"><iframe src="https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3064821741/" allowfullscreen allow="encrypted-media" style="position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;"></iframe></div>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.9&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 1&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWyd4BLWNA&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 2&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfKnyZcuO9Y&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 3&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n7itkreqx4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-black-church-in-detroit/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;See More Black Church Episodes &#8221; admin_label=&#8221;See More Episodes Button &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

2/22/2022: American Black Journal – The Black Church in Detroit One-Year Anniversary Special

1/25/22: American Black Journal – Prison Ministries in the Black Church

[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]
<h2>This Week on American Black Journal: </h2>
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> continues American Black Journal&#8217;s &#8220;The Black Church in Detroit&#8221; <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series</a> with the 12th installment exploring the role and services provided by Black churches in Detroit for incarcerated men and women, and their families, as well as exonerated former inmates re-entering society.
Stephen sits down with Bishop Mbiyu Chui of the <a href="https://www.shrineoftheblackmadonna1.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shrine of the Black Madonna #1</a> as well as Rev. Samuel Spruill of <a href="https://tmbcdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church</a>, and the CEO of the Helping Operations for People Empowerment (<a href="https://hopeindetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">H.O.P.E.</a>) nonprofit about the jail and prison ministry services their churches provide to current and former inmates in the region.
Then, producer <a href="https://twitter.com/ajwalkernews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AJ Walker</a> takes viewers inside United Kingdom Church to watch a welcome home celebration being held for exonerated former inmates. Walker talks with Terrence Devezin, <a href="https://unitedkingdomchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Kingdom Church</a> Pastor and Co-Founder of the <a href="https://www.theambassadorsgroup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ambassadors Group</a>, and Ambassadors Group Co-founder Maxine Willis about their celebrations for the wrongfully convicted, and the other resources their organization provides to exonerated individuals re-adjusting to life outside of prison after spending decades behind bars.

[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]
<h2>This Week on American Black Journal: </h2>
What role do pastors&#8217; spouses play in growing and supporting the church ministry?
Continuing the yearlong <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Church in Detroit series</a>, this week host Stephen Henderson looks into the lives of pastors and their spouses, traditionally called First Ladies and First Gentlemen in the African American church, to see how they each support the ministry individually and as a couple together.
Stephen connects with Bishop Edgar Vann and First Lady Elder Sheila Vann from <a href="https://secondebenezer.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Ebenezer Church</a> to hear what&#8217;s expected from each of their roles in the church and how they work together as a team to support their congregation. Plus, American Black Journal producer Marcus Green talks with <a href="https://detroitchurch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Church</a> Pastor Sonny Smith and his wife, Sherita Smith, about how their ministry in Detroit started, how they feel about the term &#8216;First Lady,&#8217; and how they serve the church as a married couple.
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Full Episode&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj6Ke9wZm38&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.5&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 2&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZHuyU0u91A&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 1&#8243; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxtS3cQwcNU&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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12/28/21: American Black Journal – The Role of Pastors’ Spouses in the Church

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
Host Stephen Henderson will continue American Black Journal&#8217;s yearlong series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church</a> in Detroit with a look at Womanist Theology. The term refers to an approach to the study of God that is centered on the experiences and perspectives of African-American women in the United Stated and throughout the diaspora. Henderson talks with three thought leaders in womanist theology: Rev. Dr. Constance Simon and Rev. Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds, both from <a href="https://www.fellowshipchapel.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fellowship Chapel</a> in Detroit, and Ashley Lewis, a Master of Divinity student at the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>. The four explore the important voice African American women bring to the Black Church and examine what it means to be a Black feminist. It&#8217;s a thought-provoking conversation you don&#8217;t want to miss.
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Full Episode&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTgLG0jTbo4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.14.1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56">YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/">Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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11/30/21: American Black Journal – Womanist Theology

10/26/21: American Black Journal – Leadership Succession in the Black Church

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Host Stephen Henderson continues American Black Journal&#8217;s yearlong series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church</a> in Detroit with a look at Pastoral Succession in the Black Church.
Rev. Dr. Tony Henderson, associate professor of practical theology at the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>, explains how succession planning and the process of selecting new church leadership varies according to the denomination. And, he speaks to the importance of churches having a plan in place.
Plus, Stephen talks with Rev. Dr. Jim Holley, senior pastor of <a href="https://www.historiclittlerockbc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Historic Little Rock Baptist Church</a> in Detroit, about his decision to step down at the end of the year after 50 years leading the church. They talk about his reason for retiring now, how the succession process is going, the next generation of leadership, and his hopes for the future of the church.

iStock-1220682823_adobespark

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<h2>This Week on American Black Journal:</h2>
<div>As faith leaders, ministers are called upon to comfort their parishioners in times of sorrow and need, nut what happens when the grief touches them personally?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Host Stephen Henderson continues American Black Journal&#8217;s yearlong series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church</a> in Detroit with a look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ministers and their congregations. In a special report, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Harris, <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/">President of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>, and his daughter Rev. Kenita Harris, Minister of Social Engagement at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dbtabernacle/">Detroit Bible Tabernacle</a>, talk about their personal experience with loss during the COVID pandemic.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Plus, Stephen talks with two Detroit-area pastors featured in a State of Michigan television and radio campaign focusing on the lonely goodbyes that have resulted from the coronavirus and the importance of getting vaccinated. Rev. Charles Williams II of <a href="http://www.kingsolomonchurch.org/">Historic King Solomon Baptist Church</a> and Rev. Dr. John Duckworth from <a href="https://www.gmbcwestland.org/">Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church</a> address the ongoing vaccine hesitancy in the African American community and talk about the impact of COVID-19 on their congregations.</div>
<h3> </h3>
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
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Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56">YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/">Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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9/28/21: American Black Journal – COVID’s Impact on Ministers and Congregations

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On the next American Black Journal, we&#8217;ll continue our yearlong series on The Black Church in Detroit with a look a the diverse denominations in the African American Church and Detroit&#8217;s long history of pastors who have risen to international or national leadership roles in their religious communities.
Stephen Henderson talks with Rev. Cindy Rudolph, the first female senior pastor of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/">Oak Grove AME Church</a>, and Rev. Dr. Tony Curtis Henderson, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/">Ecumenical Theological Seminary.</a> They&#8217;ll examine the origins and history of the largest denominations, along with the differences and similarities in their beliefs.
Plus, Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit talks with Bishop Charles Ellis III of <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/">Greater Grace Temple</a> about his former role as Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and about Detroit&#8217;s significant influence in numerous denominations.
Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Full Episode&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLg0tY4q_Ok&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLDmfzD59hU&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfo5wclOWs&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.10&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HyDPTdW3zI&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.27.4&#8243;]&nbsp;
Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/american-black-journal/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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8/29/21: American Black Journal – Diversity of Denominations in the Black Church / Leadership Roles of Detroit Pastors

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On the next American Black Journal, we&#8217;ll continue our yearlong series on The Black Church in Detroit with a look at Millennials and the Black Church. A study by the Pew Research Center found young African American adults are less religious and less engaged in predominantly Black churches than older generations.
Stephen Henderson has an intergenerational conversation with <a href="http://thirdnewhope.com/">Third New Hope Baptist Church</a> Pastor Emeritus, <a href="https://www.elbranchministries.com/">Dr. E.L. Branch</a>, and his successor, Pastor QuanTez Pressley. Dr. Branch spent 42 years leading the church, and Pastor Pressley is a millennial and longtime protege pf Dr. Branch.
Plus, Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit talks with 23-year-old minister <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mikiahk/">Mikiah Keener</a> of <a href="https://www.triumphch.org/">Triumph Church</a> about answering the call to the ministry as a teenager and how she uses social media to engage her more than 70,000 followers. Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_video_slider controls_color=&#8221;light&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Full Episode&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiM2-MZUDQo&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLXv0qxr1k&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLPK_MSGdM&#8221;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkIhye4G44&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item admin_title=&#8221;Seg 3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.5.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; show_image_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; src=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR0RDMfZ2t8&#8243;][/et_pb_video_slider_item][/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.27.4&#8243;]&nbsp;
Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/american-black-journal/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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7/25/21: American Black Journal – Millennials and the Black Church

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On the next American Black Journal, we&#8217;ll continue our year-long series on The Black Church in Detroit with a special look at gospel music in honor of Black Music Month.
We take a look at the origin of gospel music and how it has evolved over time to include the contemporary sounds of today. And, we&#8217;ll examine gospel&#8217;s impact in Detroit and its rich history of producing great gospel artists. Host Stephen Henderson talks with Pastor Robert Smith, Jr. of <a href="https://www.nbbcdetroit.org/">New Bethel Baptist Church</a>, where the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin grew up singing in the choir. He talks about the church&#8217;s long connection to gospel music and how it is changing with the times.
Plus, Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II shares his love of gospel music as the founder and director of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495311087">The Hallelujah Singers,</a> a Detroit-based community choir that has performed with music greats and won gospel music competitions. And, WMXD-92.3 FM gospel radio show host and University of Michigan-Deaborn professor, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/debsmithpollard">Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard</a> traces the evolution of the gospel sound and explains why it still matters today.
Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
&nbsp;
Check out the extended interviews here:
Extended interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEng_GG7dMk">Pastor Robert Smith, Jr. of New Bethel Baptist Church.</a>
Extended interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl9C8DvN4U8">Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II with the Hallelujah Singers.</a>
&nbsp;
<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
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Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/american-black-journal/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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6/27/21: American Black Journal – Gospel music in the Black Church

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<div>
On the next episode of American Black Journal, we take a historical look at the identity of the Black Church. From the important role that spirituality played in the lives of enslaved Africans to the early Black churches in Detroit, we explore the question, &#8220;How do you Define the Black Church?&#8221;
</div>
<div>
ABJ host Stephen Henderson talks with the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Harris, president of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETSeminary/">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a>, and Rev. Kenita Harris, minister of social engagement at Detroit Bible Tabernacle, about the roots of spirituality in the Black Church. They examine the connection between theology and racist ideology during ancient times, the historical values of the Black Church, and the distinct religious culture of the Black Church.
Plus, we&#8217;ll visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CharlesHWrightMuseum/">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a> for an up-close tour of an exhibition that shows how religion has always been a major force in African American culture and traces the history of some of Detroit&#8217;s most influential early Black Churches.
This fourth installment of our year-long series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">The Black Church in Detroit</a> airs on Sunday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.
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<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
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5/30/21: American Black Journal – How Do You Define the Black Church?

2021-04-23_1058

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We&#8217;ll continue our yearlong series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">The Black Church in Detroit</a> with a look at how the church ministers beyond the walls of the building. Historically, the Black Church has been the cornerstone of the African American community, providing an economic and social foundation for members and residents. Stephen Henderson talks with two prominent Detroit pastors, Bishop Charles Ellis III of <a href="http://www.greatergrace.org/">Greater Grace Temple</a> and Rev. Charles Christian Adams of <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/">Hartford Memorial Baptist Church</a>, about the role of the church in meeting more than just spiritual needs.  The two ministers talk about their faith-based initiatives in the surrounding neighborhoods. Plus, Orlando Bailey of <a href="https://www.bridgedetroit.com/">BridgeDetroit</a> visits <a href="https://secondebenezer.org/">Second Ebenezer Church</a> to talk with its senior pastor, Bishop Edgar Vann, about the specific needs his church is addressing in 2021.
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Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal-episode-list/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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4/25/21: American Black Journal – The Black Church in the Community

2021-03-26_1048f

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American Black Journal’s series on the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church</a> in Detroit continues, produced in partnership with the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and <a href="https://www.thewright.org/">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a>. In honor of Women’s History Month, the show takes a look at the history of women in the Black church.
Historically, the contributions of Black women have been extremely crucial to the church’s growth, operations and survival, yet many houses of worship remain male dominated with few women in leadership roles. Stephen Henderson has a candid conversation with three women ministers: Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson of <a href="https://www.westsideunitychurch.com/">West Side Unity Church</a>, Rev. Cindy Rudolph of <a href="https://oakgroveame.org/">Oak Grove AME Church</a> and Rev. Kenita Harris of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dbtabernacle/">Detroit Bible Tabernacle</a>. They’ll talk about the importance of faith and religion in the lives of Black women, their roles in the church today, and the ongoing debate over gender equality in the ministry.  
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<h2>View More About The Black Church in Detroit</h2>
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Women in the Black Church

2021-03-26_1047

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From the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church in Detroit</a> series, produced in partnership with the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and <a href="https://www.thewright.org/">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a>, American Black Journal explores the history of women in the Black church with a look at the portrait of the Black Madonna, which was unveiled at the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit in 1967.
Erika “Nireti” Butler, general counsel and assistant secretary at the church, as well as Judge Cynthia Stephens, an executive committee member of the church, and Bishop Mbiyu Chui come together to talk about <a href="https://www.shrineoftheblackmadonna1.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the church’s</a> founding and the creation of Black liberation theology. Plus, the trio discusses the social and cultural impacts of the portrait, and the significance of showing diverse versions of the iconic image. Producer Marcus Green has the story.
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<h2>Watch Now: </h2>
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<h3>Full Transcript:</h3>
Erika &#8220;Nireti&#8221; Butler, General Counsel &amp; Assistant Secretary, Shrine of the Black Madonna  I call upon my brothers, I call upon my sisters, together, we can overcome evil and injustice in this world if we choose to act with courage and conviction.
Judge Cynthia Stephens, Executive Committee Member, Shrine of the Black Madonna  Women in the church have always been the backbone of the church, but the backbone in the background, and that&#8217;s not where we are here.
Bishop Mbiyu Chui, Shrine of the Black Madonna  The church started in 1953 after our founder, Rev. Albert B. Cleage Jr., left the Presbyterian Church, St. Mark&#8217;s Presbyterian, because he felt like he didn&#8217;t have the latitude to do the kind of social ministry that he wanted to do, and in 1962 they purchased this building, and it became The Central United Church of Christ. In 67 with the unveiling of the portrait of the Black Madonna, also came the launch of Black Christian Nationalism. That was the movement that gave birth to black liberation theology and everything we know about that struggle.
Judge Cynthia Stephens, Executive Committee Member, Shrine of the Black Madonna  I heard all sorts of pushback. I heard, &#8220;That&#8217;s ridiculous.&#8221;.  I heard, &#8220;Did you see? She&#8217;s so dark; she&#8217;s ugly.&#8221;.  I heard, &#8220;Well, what&#8217;s that light skinned man doing with that dark baby and child up in his church? Everybody knows, blah, blah, blah.&#8221;. There was a lot of pushback. But, from then to now, it is amazing to see how many brown angels, brown Madonna&#8217;s, Brown Jesus, are in churches from the storefront to the big cathedrals.
Barbara- Rose Collins, Member, Shrine of the Black Madonna  Some churches, the Baptist churches, some what you call holiness, the Sanctified churches, didn&#8217;t allow women in the pulpit. If a black woman was permitted to give the announcements to the church, she had to stand in front of the pulpit, not on the pulpit. And you didn&#8217;t hear of black women preachers.
Bishop Mbiyu Chui, Shrine of the Black Madonna  It inspired a whole revolution of iconography, black iconography, not just religious, but also cultural and social iconography. So it had a tremendous impact on the culture and the social force of black communities, white community all across the world. And also, he wanted to pay tribute to the role of black women in our historical struggle for freedom and justice and equality, and who better to represent that than the mother of Jesus, Mary.
Judge Cynthia Stephens, Executive Committee Member, Shrine of the Black Madonna  You know how they first started to talk about we as a community said, well, we needed representation, right? And so we wanted to see ourselves in various careers. Well, what better to see yourself as?
Bishop Mbiyu Chui, Shrine of the Black Madonna  The mother of Jesus represents motherhood and the important role that women play in the family, in the community, but also, I think she&#8217;s an example of our willingness to serve God. So she represents that highest level of servanthood to be used as an instrument to do the work of God here on Earth every single day.
Judge Cynthia Stephens, Executive Committee Member, Shrine of the Black Madonna  Amilcar Cabral said, &#8220;You can judge people by how they value their elders and their women.&#8221;. And people often think about that as, you know, value, put up on a pedestal, isn&#8217;t she pretty, let&#8217;s buy her something cute to wear, isn&#8217;t she lovely, I&#8217;ll open the door. I want a door opened, OK.  And I love it when my husband buys me something pretty, but respect and making use of the talents. If you don&#8217;t fully make use of the talents of women, the community is forever robbed.
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Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
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Portrait of Black Madonna Still Stands as Symbol of Black Liberation

2021-03-26_1047d

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We&#8217;ll continue our yearlong series on <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">The Black Church in Detroit</a> with an up-close look at the role of women in the Black Church, as we mark Women&#8217;s History Month. Historically, the contributions of Black women have been extremely crucial to the church&#8217;s growth, operations and survival, yet many houses of worship remain male dominated with few women in leadership roles. Stephen has a candid conversation with three women ministers: Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson of West Side Unity Church, Rev. Cindy Rudolph of Oak Grove AME Church and Rev. Kenita Harris of Detroit Bible Tabernacle. They&#8217;ll talk about the importance of faith and religion in the lives of Black women, their roles in the church today, and the ongoing debate over gender equality in the ministry.  Plus, we&#8217;ll visit the Shrine of the Black Madonna where a mural of a Black Madonna and Child was unveiled on Easter Sunday 1967. The painting not only served as a symbol of Black liberation, but it also depicted the strength and power of the Black woman in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
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Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/american-black-journal/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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3/28/21: American Black Journal – Women in the Black Church

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On the next episode, we launch a monthly series focusing on &#8220;<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">The Black Church in Detroit</a>,&#8221; and produced in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.etseminary.edu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ecumenical Theological Seminary</a> and the <a href="https://www.thewright.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a>.
We preview the PBS documentary from Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., &#8220;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/weta/black-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song</a>,&#8221; which traces the 400-year history of the Black Church in America.  And, Stephen leads a roundtable with three Detroit ministers on the Black Church&#8217;s involvement in the fight for racial and social justice, from the Jim Crow era and Civil Rights Movement to today&#8217;s Black Lives Matter Movement.  Guests include Rev. Dr. Constance Simon, Fellowship Chapel, Pastor Barry Randolph, Church of the Messiah and Rev. Charles Williams II, Historic King Solomon Baptist Church.
The group also talks about how the Black church meets the needs of the community, both historically and now, during the pandemic. Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
This week we also pay tribute to artist and icon, Mary Wilson. Watch the full episode from Detroit Black Journal with Mary Wilson along with the clip we put together below.
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<h3>WATCH NOW:</h3>
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Don&#8217;t miss American Black Journal on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal-episode-list/">View more from American Black Journal &gt;</a></h3>
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2/14/21: American Black Journal – The Black Church Film and The Black Church in Detroit

pbsnewshour-ss-insurrection

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<ul>
<li>Insurrection and Aftermath Former President Donald Trump&#8217;s second impeachment is underway in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. One Detroit&#8217;s Will Glover talks to experts in social media research, right wing extremist groups, and a former senior national security director to get a better understanding of what was on the minds of insurrectionists as they laid siege to the Capitol.</li>
<li>The COVID Vaccine: Vaccine Hesitation and the Trust Gap &#8220;People just have more questions than they do answers. And now we have a new problem, which is a lot of those people who are ‘No’ or ‘No, for now’ have become a yes. And we have a waitlist in Genesee County of over 30,000 people and the list grows by about 2,000 people a day.&#8221; Christy talks with Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, an epidemiologist at MSU&#8217;s Division of Public Health and director of Flint Health Equity Solutions, about vaccine distribution and helping local groups get their questions answered when it comes to COVID vaccine safety.</li>
<li>American Black Journal: The Role of Activism in the Black Church This month, American Black Journal is kicking off a year-long initiative highlighting the historic importance and continuing influence of Black churches in Detroit. One Detroit has a preview of Stephen Henderson&#8217;s conversation with Pastor Barry Randolph of Church of the Messiah, Rev. Dr. Constance Simon of Fellowship Chapel and Reverend Charles Williams II of Historic King Solomon Church.</li>
<li>Motor Bella &amp; the Future of the Auto Show News that the North American International Auto Show is on hold again this year is causing speculation that we’ll never see a big auto show here again. Not so fast says NAIAS Chairman Doug North. He talks with Nolan Finley about their new event in Pontiac called Motor Bella next fall.</li>
<li>Remembering Detroit Legends Mary Wilson &amp; Charles McGee Detroit recently lost two iconic artists—Mary Wilson of The Supremes and Charles McGee. Wilson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was an author, and fiercely loved Detroit. Charles McGee&#8217;s artwork can be seen all around the city. Wilson appeared on Detroit Black Journal in 1986, and McGee talked about his work in his own words in a Detroit Performs segment from 2017, where he talked about the unveiling of his mural titled “Unity.”
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<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/the-legacy-of-a-master/">Watch this story and find out where you can see more of McGee&#8217;s work around the area, click here&gt;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/remembering-mary-wilson/">View the Detroit Black Journal episode with Mary Wilson</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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<h2><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/one-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h2>
Watch One Detroit every Monday and Thursday at 7:30pm ET on Detroit Public TV.
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2/11/21: One Detroit – Insurrection / Vaccine Hesitation / The Black Church in Detroit / Motor Bell

Black-Church

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Watch Party for “The Black Church”</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Hosted by Stephen Henderson of American Black Journal</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"> February 1, 2021</h3>
At our virtual watch party event, we explored and honored the significance and history of the Black church in Detroit &#8211; in connection with the national premiere of the new PBS series <a href="https://www.pbs.org/weta/black-church/">The Black Church</a> by noted historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
We got a sneak preview of the series, along with highlights from an exclusive interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Following the viewings, we discussed local history and the importance of the Black Church to the Detroit community with a group of esteemed panelists, including:
<ul>
<li>Rev. Kenita Harris, Detroit Bible Tabernacle</li>
<li>Freda Sampson, President, Frederick G. Sampson Foundation</li>
<li>Dr. Terri Laws, Professor of African and African-American Studies and Religious Studies, U-M Dearborn</li>
</ul>
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Watch Party: Celebrating “The Black Church” series

Latest Episodes

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Screenshot 2025-06-25 at 10.47.34 AM

Families, faith leaders, law enforcement, youth advocates and other supporters gathered on Detroit’s eastside recently for the 18th annual Silence the Violence march and rally. The goal of the community-driven event is to end gun violence and honor victims. 
Held in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood, participants marched in memory of loved ones lost to gun violence, carrying signage and wearing t-shirts that honored victims. 
The yearly event, a 1.5-mile march, was created in 2008 by Church of the Messiah <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/leadership/">Pastor Barry Randolph</a>. What began with 50 people has grown into a citywide and now statewide and national anti-violence movement with thousands of supporters. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
Gun violence remains a crisis across the country, particularly for Black Americans. According to <a href="https://www.everytown.org/issues/impact-of-gun-violence-on-historically-marginalized-communities/">Everytown for Gun Safety,</a> Black individuals are 12 times more likely to die from gun violence than white Americans, and youth ages 15–24 are most affected.
American Black Journal <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/daijah-moss/">contributor Daijah Moss</a> attended the 2025 march and rally. She talks with several participants who marched in remembrance of their loved ones.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}">

Detroit’s Silence the Violence march marks 18 years of honoring gun violence victims

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From <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/negro-spirituals-the-music-that-helped-free-enslaved-african-americans/">Negro spirituals</a> to today’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/gospel-radio-host-historian-dr-deborah-smith-pollards-gives-history-lesson-on-detroits-gospel-influence/">chart-topping gospel hits</a>, African American religious music has continued to evolve and reflect Black culture and spiritual life across America. According to the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Library of Congress</a>, spirituals—considered the first distinctive form of American folk music—laid the groundwork for gospel, blues, jazz and several other genres.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
For <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/celebrating-black-music-month#:~:text=Breadcrumb&amp;text=June%20is%20African%20American%20Music,our%20nation's%20treasured%20cultural%20heritage." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Music Month</a>, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> examines the relevance and influence of Black religious music.  
  
<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/who-is-detroit-pbs/senior-staff/stephen-henderson/">Host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Mix 92.3 FM gospel radio host <a href="https://umdearborn.edu/people-um-dearborn/deborah-smith-pollard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard,</a> a professor emerita of African American Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Wayne State University Assistant Professor <a href="https://music.wayne.edu/profile/hf8691" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Brandon Waddles</a>, who is currently touring with &#8220;<a href="https://www.broadwayindetroit.com/events/the-wiz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wiz</a>&#8221; as associate music director. They trace gospel music’s deep roots and its continuing influence in popular culture.
Pollard cites several contemporary examples of how people are embracing gospel music on television shows and in movies. Plus, Waddles talks about how the revival of the popular theatrical production of The Wiz features songs with strong gospel influences.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> 
Additionally, they discuss how gospel sounds are generational and constantly evolving according to the needs of the community. They also reflect on many of the gospel greats over the years, the importance of the message in Black gospel music, and how African American music continues to evolve and influence itself.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">

Detroit gospel experts trace the genre’s evolution and influence in America

PastorBarry

The Church of the Messiah Detroit will commemorate its 150th anniversary this year with a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-church-of-the-messiah-150th-anniversary-dinner-celebration-tickets-1015614198407" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special gala event</a> Nov. 1 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. This year’s anniversary theme, &#8220;The Audacity of Faith,&#8221; celebrates the church’s 150 years of service and community building. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Founded in 1874, <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the church</a> serves a diverse congregation of Black, white, Asian, and Latino members in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood, but the church’s mission extends far beyond worship. <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/programs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It offers</a> vital services such as affordable housing, employment assistance, medical care, and free internet access for residents.
Additionally, the church proudly boasts an 84-member marching band that promotes literacy. Each year, Church of the Messiah <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/leadership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pastor Barry Randolph</a> organizes the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/american-black-journal/hundreds-in-attendance-at-17th-annual-silence-the-violence-march-to-end-gun-violence/">Silence the Violence march and rally</a>, one of the largest anti-gun violence events in the country.
<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/about/meet-the-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Randolph about the church&#8217;s upcoming anniversary. Randolph reflects on the church&#8217;s beginnings in Detroit, its move to the present location, the mission and work of the Episcopal Church, the importance of youth leadership, and the church’s impact in Islandview.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}">

Church of the Messiah marks 150 years of service, community building in Detroit

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A new book by historian and New York Times bestselling <a href="https://jemartisby.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">author Jemar Tisby</a> tells the untold stories of Black activists in the fight against racism. Tisby’s latest book, “<a href="https://jemartisby.com/the-spirit-of-justice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race and Resistance</a>,” explores the link between Black activism and <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/specials/black-church-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Black church</a>, highlighting how faith motivated some of the individuals who contributed to the racial justice movement.
Much like Tisby’s earlier work, “<a href="https://jemartisby.com/the-color-of-compromise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Color of Compromise</a>,” “The Spirit of Justice” offers a renewed call to action, emphasizing the ongoing role of faith in the quest for equality. Tisby also explores the intersection between faith and politics, using the variety of religious beliefs highlighted in the book as examples of how he believes faith and politics can work together.
<a href="https://detroitpbs.org/shows/american-black-journal/about/meet-the-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Tisby about the Black activists in his book and the impact their faith had on their fight for racial justice. Tisby also shares his thoughts about Black history being taught in schools.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to One Detroit’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/OneDetroit/videos"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="http://onedetroitpbs.org/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/onedetroit/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/DPTVOneDetroit"> Twitter</a> @OneDetroit_PBS, and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/one.detroit/?hl=en"> Instagram</a> @One.Detroit
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/one-detroit/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Host Stephen Henderson talks with Tisby about the Black activists in his book and the impact their faith had on their fight for racial justice. Tisby also shares his thoughts about Black history being taught in schools.

Jemar Tisby’s ‘The Spirit of Justice’ explores Black activism and its link to the Black church

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As students return to the classroom, the faith-based community continues to play a supporting role in their education. The partnerships created <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/black-church-abj-clips/detroits-black-churches-partner-with-city-schools-champion-students-education/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">between school districts and churches</a> often bridge gaps in resources, provide emotional support, and address various challenges faced by the school system. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">“Black Church in Detroit” series</a> explores the contributions of local churches. Guest host Trudy Gallant-Stokes leads a discussion with Bishop Dr. Corletta Vaughn of <a href="https://www.gotellit.org/holy-ghost-cathedral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Holy Ghost Cathedral Church</a> and Pastor Velma Jean Overman of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Christ-Temple-City-of-Refuge-CTCOR-100064276496158/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christ Temple City of Refuge</a>. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Bishop Vaughn, <a href="https://www.detroitk12.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&amp;DomainID=4&amp;ModuleInstanceID=4585&amp;ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&amp;RenderLoc=0&amp;FlexDataID=25399&amp;PageID=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a board member</a> of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, talks about the spiritual support faith leaders provide to students, parents, and educators. She emphasizes the faith community’s role in addressing chronic absenteeism, which has been a major issue for the district. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
At Pastor Overman’s church, students are rewarded for consistent school attendance. Pastor Overman discusses those efforts and emphasizes the close collaboration between her church and local educators to enhance out-of-school time learning opportunities for children.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit PBS’<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.

Local Black churches play a supporting role in students’ education

Hundreds in attendance at 17th annual Silence the Violence march to end gun violence

In August 2023, eight-year-old Shawntaze Cameron Moore was fatally shot after he and other children got ahold of an unsecured gun at his mom’s house on Detroit’s west side. In 2016, 15-year-old Jada Rankin was killed by gun violence in Detroit. Each year, families of victims like Shawntaze and Jada, along with supporters, come together to honor loved ones lost to gun violence at the <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/silence-the-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Silence the Violence march and rally</a>. 
The 17th annual event took place on June 15 at the <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of the Messiah</a>. Hundreds of people attended the event, which recognizes the innocent victims of gun violence and advances efforts to eradicate gun violence. Michigan <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/ltgov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II</a>, Detroit <a href="https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/police-chief" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Police Chief James White</a>, and Detroit <a href="https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council/city-council-president-district-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Council President Mary Sheffield</a> were also in attendance, offering their thoughts on reducing gun violence in the community.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/16th-annual-silence-the-violence-march/">16th annual Silence the Violence march advocates for ending gun violence in communities of color</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/15th-annual-silence-the-violence-march-rallies-to-stop-gun-violence-in-detroit/">15th annual Silence the Violence march rallies to stop gun violence in Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-black-churchs-role-in-reducing-gun-violence-in-the-communities-they-serve/">The Black church’s role in reducing gun violence in the communities they serve </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/force-detroit-discusses-creative-solutions-to-gun-violence-in-communities-of-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FORCE Detroit discusses creative solutions to gun violence in communities of color</a></li>
</ul>
The event began in 2008 in the church’s Islandview neighborhood with little more than 50 people in attendance. Within a few years, the march and rally became a citywide event, and <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/15th-annual-silence-the-violence-march-rallies-to-stop-gun-violence-in-detroit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 2022</a> it was recognized statewide.
American Black Journal contributor Daijah Moss joined attendees at the march and rally to talk with family members who showed up in remembrance of loved ones who lost their lives to gun violence. The event’s founder, Church of the Messiah Pastor Barry Randolph, talked about the event’s growth over the years and its influence on similar marches being held in cities across Michigan. 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit PBS’<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.

From spirituals to contemporary gospel: The history and influence of African American religious music

June marks Black Music Month, <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/celebrating-black-music-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a celebration</a> that traces its origins to 1979 when then-Jimmy Carter first proclaimed it to be African American Music Appreciation Month, as it&#8217;s formally called. The celebration acknowledges the contributions Black musicians have made to the nation’s cultural heritage, dating back to the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/negro-spirituals-the-music-that-helped-free-enslaved-african-americans/">spirituals sung by enslaved Africans</a>.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Several of the music genres today have transcended from religious roots, serving as a vital medium to express emotions, bridge cultural divides, and enhance mental well-being. <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/gospels-orgins-and-evolution-gospel-artist-darius-twyman-detroits-gospel-history-american-black-journal/">Gospel music</a> itself, which was born in the Black church, has evolved into a global phenomenon, blending traditional and contemporary elements while retaining its spiritual message.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/negro-spirituals-the-music-that-helped-free-enslaved-african-americans/">Negro Spirituals: The Music That Helped Free Enslaved African Americans</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/gospel-radio-host-historian-dr-deborah-smith-pollards-gives-history-lesson-on-detroits-gospel-influence/">Gospel radio host, historian Deborah Smith Pollards gives history lesson on Detroit’s gospel influence</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/darius-twyman-discusses-detroits-major-influence-on-traditional-and-contemporary-gospel-music/">Darius Twyman discusses Detroit’s major influence on traditional and contemporary gospel music</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/henry-louis-gates-jr-examines-gospel-musics-rich-history-in-new-pbs-docuseries-gospel/">Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines gospel music’s rich history in PBS docuseries ‘GOSPEL’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-sacred-and-the-secular-how-gospel-music-grew-from-the-blues/">The sacred and the secular: How gospel music grew from the Blues</a></li>
</ul>
For Black Music Month, “American Black Journal” <a href="http://h/">host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with <a href="https://www.detroitchamber.com/bios/rev-larry-simmons/">Rev. Larry Simmons</a> of Baber Memorial AME Church and <a href="https://brandonwaddles.com/">Dr. Brandon Waddles</a>, assistant professor of choral conducting and music education at Wayne State University, about the power of music to evoke emotions, connect cultures, improve mental health, and serve as a universal language.
They also talk about the enduring influence of spirituals and gospel music on American culture, how white entertainers have been influenced by Black music, and the role of storytelling in music.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:-20,&quot;335559737&quot;:-20,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit PBS’<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.

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More than 60 Venezuelan migrants have arrived in Michigan and are being assisted by the <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of the Messiah</a> while staying at a shelter in Detroit. The church started noticing the migrants show up for Sunday services and quickly collected footwear and clothing for them, as well as provided food for them. 
“Everybody in the community told them to come to the church,” <a href="https://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/leadership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pastor Barry Randolph</a> of the Church of the Messiah said. Some of the migrants came directly from Venezuela while others have spent time in other countries like Peru, Ecuador and Colombia before coming to the United States. 
Many are fleeing economic hardships and political corruption.  <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/emergencies/venezuela-situation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The United Nations estimates</a> more than seven million people have left Venezuela, many to other South American countries with some making their way to the U.S.  
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/one-detroit/afghan-refugees-resettle-at-eastern-michigan-university/">EMU students help Afghan refugee families move into new homes</a></li>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/news/manoogian-school-opens-its-doors-for-ukraine-refugees/">Fostering refugees: Ukrainian families find new home with metro Detroit Armenian community</a></li>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/one-detroit/michigans-immigration-status/">Michigan’s immigration status: The impacts of refugee resettlement on the state</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/contributors/#bill">One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota</a> spent a Sunday afternoon at the church talking with Pastor Randolph, Jennine Spencer Gilbert, a volunteer who has been leading the efforts to help, and some of the migrants about the help they’re receiving from the church and community and the support still needed. 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to One Detroit’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/OneDetroit/videos"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="http://onedetroitpbs.org/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/onedetroit/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/DPTVOneDetroit"> Twitter</a> @DPTVOneDetroit, and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/one.detroit/?hl=en"> Instagram</a> @One.Detroit
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/one-detroit/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
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Detroit’s Church of the Messiah supports Venezuelan migrants with clothing, food

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A new PBS docuseries from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves into the origins and influence of gospel music on Black spirituality. Premiering Feb. 12-13, “GOSPEL,” a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/gospel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-part documentary series</a>, explores the rich history of sermon and song in the Black church. The docuseries reunites Gates, an acclaimed Harvard scholar and documentarian, with directors Stacey L. Holman and Shayla Harris, who created “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/henry-louis-gates-jr-s-making-black-america-documentary-tells-the-story-of-african-american-resilience-empowerment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Making Black America: Through the Grapevine</a>” and “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/black-church-documentary-director-discusses-impact-importance-of-pbs-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Black Church: This Is Our Story. This Is Our Song</a>” in collaboration with Gates.
Throughout the “GOSPEL” docuseries, viewers will hear conversations with a number of gospel singers as well as clergymen and scholars. The series also explores how evolving preaching styles, cultural innovations and consumer technologies shaped the development of gospel music since its conception. 
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-sacred-and-the-secular-how-gospel-music-grew-from-the-blues/">The sacred and the secular: How gospel music grew from the blues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/gospel-music-in-the-black-church/">Gospel music in the Black church</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/negro-spirituals-the-music-that-helped-free-enslaved-african-americans/">Negro Spirituals: The music that helped free enslaved African Americans</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The &#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a></li>
</ul>
In anticipation of the “GOSPEL” series premiere, “American Black Journal” <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host Stephen Henderson</a> talks with Holman, the director and producer of the docuseries, about the music history it chronicles and the impact on the Black church. They also discuss <a href="https://www.dptv.org/gospel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit’s connection to the genre</a> and how other music genres have been influenced by gospel. 
Plus, join “American Black Journal” for its “GOSPEL” Watch Party on Thursday, Feb. 15 on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1505211520045836" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/live/x0Rhpb5NeQM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube.</a> Local gospel music experts, as well as performers, writers and producers in the genre, will discuss Detroit’s rich gospel music history and where gospel music in our city is headed today. 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> and don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines gospel music’s rich history in new PBS docuseries ‘GOSPEL’

Detroit and the nation are mourning the loss of one of this country’s most influential African American ministers. <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/dr-charles-g-adams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams</a>, pastor emeritus of Detroit’s <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartford Memorial Baptist Church</a>, passed away last month at the age of 86. He left behind an enduring legacy as a prominent minister, civil rights activist, and community service leader.
RELATED: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/black-church-in-detroit-preachers-kids/">Rev. Charles Christian Adams talks about growing up with his father as a minister</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-58eKFII2E" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Charles G. Adams of Detroit’s Hartford Memorial Baptist Church celebrates 50 years as pastor</a></li>
</ul>
“American Black Journal” host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down for a conversation with Rev. Adams’ son, <a href="https://hmbcdetroit.org/our-pastor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Charles Christian Adams</a>, who became the senior pastor at Hartford when his father retired in 2019 after more than 50 years in the pulpit. Pastor Adams reflects on his father’s many contributions and achievements, including serving as president of the <a href="https://www.detroitnaacp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Branch NAACP</a>, being among the first to ordain women into the ministry, and traveling to the Mideast with then-President Bill Clinton for the signing of the Jordan-Israel peace treaty in 1994.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Plus, Pastor Adams, who is a member of American Black Journal’s “<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">Black Church in Detroit</a>” advisory committee, also talks about his relationship with his dad and the profound impact of the loss of his father on his life.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

Remembering the legacy of African American minister Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams

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Featured photo provided by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
The 1963 <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/detroit-walk-to-freedom/">Detroit Walk to Freedom</a> was a major milestone in the civil rights movement. Organized by prominent religious and civil rights leaders Rev. C.L. Franklin and Rev. Albert Cleage, Jr., and featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the march brought together more than 125,000 people on Woodward Avenue to peacefully advocate for racial equality and justice in what was the largest civil rights demonstration at the time. 
As the city commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Detroit Walk to Freedom, American Black Journal’s <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221; series</a> examines the role of the city&#8217;s religious community in the historic march and rally that featured Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
<a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Host Stephen Henderson</a> and guest, Bishop Mbiyu Chui of the Shrine of the Black Madonna #1, delve into the often-forgotten connection between the city&#8217;s Black churches and the massive march for civil rights. Bishop Chui relates the backstory about how racism and violence against Blacks in the South led to the organization of the walk by the Shrine&#8217;s founder, Rev. Albert Cleage, Jr. and Rev. C.L. Franklin of New Bethel Baptist Church.  
RELATED: <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/portrait-of-the-black-madonna-black-church-detroit-american-black-journal/">Portrait of Black Madonna Still Stands as Symbol of Black Liberation</a>
Plus, they talk about the many voices represented in the Detroit civil rights demonstration, the Black Church&#8217;s role as a moral compass for America, and the challenges that remain today — 60 years after the Walk to Freedom. 
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/detroitpublictv56"> YouTube Channel</a> &amp; Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

Faith-fueled unity: The Black church’s role in the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom

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In observance of <a href="https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mental Health Awareness Month</a> in May, a growing spotlight is being placed on a sometimes-overlooked demographic: ministers. These spiritual leaders play pivotal roles in their communities, providing guidance, support and solace to their congregations. However, the demanding nature of their responsibilities coupled with the societal pressures they face can take a toll on their own mental well-being.  
With mental health awareness gaining momentum, discussions surrounding the unique challenges experienced by ministers in <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/">the Black church</a> shed light on the importance of prioritizing their mental health and fostering a supportive environment within religious communities.  
As Mental Health Awareness Month closes out, “American Black Journal” <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host Stephen Henderson</a> has a frank conversation with Rev. Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey, a clinical specialist at <a href="https://www.dwihn.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network</a> (DWIHN), about the need for clergy to practice self-care, take time off and know when it is time to seek help. They talk about resources and ways ministers can get support. Plus, Dr. Spight-Mackey offers ideas on how to <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/communities-of-color-break-down-stigmas-prioritize-self-care-for-mental-health-awareness-month/">reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness</a> in the African American community.
<h2>Full Transcript:</h2>
Stephen Henderson, American Black Journal, Host: We continue our series on the Black Church in Detroit, which is produced in partnership with the Ecumenical Theological Seminary and with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to talk about the mental health of ministers. Self-care and taking time off are just as important for pastors as they are for everyone else. But often ministers put their own health and problems aside to care for others. I spoke with Reverend Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network about the importance of ministers maintaining their mental health.
I&#8217;m really intrigued by this idea. The idea of care for caregivers is something that we talk about a lot right now in our culture, because more and more people find themselves in the role, I think, of caregiver than ever before. But in some ways, that means we&#8217;re not always thinking about people who have always been in the role of caregiver their entire careers or in some cases, their entire lives. And I think pastors fall into that category. They need care, too. And this is Mental Health Awareness Month. You&#8217;re trying to draw attention to the idea that they need mental health support sometimes as much as the rest of us do.
Rev. Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey, Clinical Specialist, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network: Absolutely. I think quite often we as the community, even though I&#8217;m a minister and serve as a pastor, I think that quite often we forget that pastors are the number one human. Number two, we as pastors&#8230;. suffer twice.
Let&#8217;s say it that way. I can say it that way because of course, throughout COVID and moving into where we are now, we have funeralized so many of our members and family and friends. And it&#8217;s not just going to do a eulogy, but it&#8217;s eulogizing someone, you know, and you take on that you empathize and are entrenched in it. And if we don&#8217;t take care of ourselves, you know, we could be worse off than the people we&#8217;re trying to take care of.
Stephen Henderson: Yeah. You know, as you point out, the pandemic was just absolutely terrorizing for religious communities in particular, as they had to bury their own and pastors lead the congregations in that exercise. But now we&#8217;re past that. And I feel like there are a lot of people who are saying, okay, well, we&#8217;re done with that and we can go back to, quote-unquote, normal, whatever that is. But the lingering effects of it, I think, are the thing that especially for pastors, I think look really different than what people might expect. Can you talk just a little about what pastors are dealing with now in the wake of everything that they&#8217;ve had to do in the last three years?
Rev. Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey: Well, and I&#8217;m glad you asked this. That&#8217;s a very layered question, and I&#8217;ll put it that way, because there&#8217;s the first layer of us dealing with the situation, but the aftermath. And we don&#8217;t often think of the trauma that is there. The underlying causes. What is still not taken care of, so to speak, because all of this is a journey, just like life is a journey. Every situation, every emotional, I&#8217;ll call it an attack is another journey that has to be healed through. And it and it requires us. I remember one of my fellow clinicians also said, you know, we need to step back and we need to quote-unquote &#8220;detox&#8221; because what happens is that trauma that those things that we haven&#8217;t dealt with are still there.
And, you know, I don&#8217;t know how many people know, but within our society, pastors have a high rate of suicide because of the trauma that is there. Those things that are underlying. Those things that haven&#8217;t been dealt with. And so that&#8217;s some of the after-effects and that&#8217;s where we are there. What sometimes are called walking wounded that it&#8217;s kind of not that anything is lightweight but it is lighter than those deeper healing things. You know pastors have had losses, you know, and I&#8217;ll be just transparent. I just lost my husband in March. And so walking in that if we don&#8217;t know how to step back, you know, people will ask often and we try to be the hero with the, you know, great cape on and always say God will take care of it. But God expects us to take care of ourselves to you know.
And so that aftermath is dealing with grief. It&#8217;s dealing with the rise of domestic violence. It&#8217;s dealing with the number of suicides and attempted suicides. It&#8217;s all of those things. It&#8217;s dealing with people who are stressed out and burnout while you as the pastor, the minister, the layperson working in ministry are also dealing with those things yourself.
Stephen Henderson: Yeah. So let&#8217;s talk about ways and places that clergy members can find support. It seems like it might be a little harder again because people aren&#8217;t always thinking about them as needing it. They can&#8217;t always go to the places that their congregants go, which is to the church and to the pastor. So how do you fill those gaps? How do you find the support that they need?
Rev. Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey: So one of the things that I think is very amazing is that many of the ministers, many pastors, folks working on the front line in ministry that I know have formed circles. So calling on each other, you know, to support each other through that. But also there is when COVID first started, the church I was affiliated with started a group called Grief Share. Grief Share is a national organization. It&#8217;s Christian based, and even lay people can run it. And so one of the things that happened for me is that one of my one of the pastors I know and are very close to said what you need to do is you need to find a Grief Share group that&#8217;s away from where you would be ministering yourself.
And they&#8217;re all over the place. And you can find them online just by going to Grief Share. Griefshare.com and they&#8217;ll give you lists of Grief Share groups that run and they&#8217;re 13-week programs and they&#8217;re just really awesome people who are walking that walk. But building a network in advance. Letting, being transparent enough to say you know what, today is not a good day. Today, I shouldn&#8217;t be in the pulpit. Today I shouldn&#8217;t be seeing people and then having your ministry set up. Such that you have kind of perused your congregation. Can identify those who are therapists and counselors and support people, you know, chaplains all over the place and making sure that they are available for your congregation. We cannot, you know, in this era, try to meet the needs of everyone, particularly if we don&#8217;t have time to take care of ourselves now.
Stephen Henderson: Yeah, I want to spend a little bit of time talking also about because it is Mental Health Awareness Month, the desperate need in our community, the African-American community, to emphasize mental health. That&#8217;s another barrier that Black pastors, of course, probably face as well. Is the stigma or the dismissal, I guess, of the importance of mental health. But this is the time each year when we really try to focus on that. And it&#8217;s still a big problem for us.
Rev. Dr. Carla Spight-Mackey: Absolutely. One of the I think greatest problems within the African-American community is built on shame. Like we ought to be ashamed if we&#8217;re not okay, whatever that means. It is, it is due time from my perspective that we validate that we have members in our community who are differently abled. They have issues that sometimes we don&#8217;t understand as laypeople and we need to as ministers, pastors, normalize that. We ought to be transparent about it.
We need to link into organizations like Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network and get to know the provider network that is in the community near our church and get to know those people who run those organizations so that when our congregants show up, a lot of things are beyond our own abilities, our capabilities. And we need a clinician. We need someone licensed. And so it is a great thing for organizations to link into our network here in Wayne County. We actually have a faith-based committee. Many&#8230;. There are many ministers and pastors who belong to that committee and who do a lot of prevention work in their church. So it&#8217;s not voted null and void, but it needs to be more. We need to be more vocal about it because we have members in our congregation sitting in the pews, in the chairs who need to know that it&#8217;s okay to say you&#8217;re not okay.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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Ministers’ mental health takes center stage during Mental Health Awareness Month

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Detroit’s Black churches partner with city schools to champion students’ education

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Detroit’s first responders were honored at an awards ceremony recently for their heroic efforts battling two major fires in the Islandview community just before Christmas.  
<a href="https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/12/23/crews-battle-fire-on-detroits-east-side-during-dangerous-winter-storm/">A fire broke out around 5 a.m. Dec. 23</a> near E. Lafayette Street and E. Grand Boulevard at a vacant storage warehouse on the city’s East side. More than 65 <a href="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-fire-department">Detroit Fire Department</a> firefighters and other first responders were at the scene working to extinguish the blaze as heavy winds and cold weather temperatures made the fires harder to control.  
Twenty-three residents from a neighboring apartment building were evacuated to safety to avoid potential health risks from the smoke. No injuries were reported. 
The awards ceremony was hosted by <a href="http://churchofthemessiahdetroit.org/">Church of the Messiah</a> Pastor Rev. Barry Randolph to thank the firefighters, homeland security and city officials involved in the efforts.  
<h2>Full Transcript:</h2>
Pastor Barry Randolph, Church of The Messiah:  It is truly about a day of service. And we are here to honor our firefighters, homeland security, and some of our other officials. 
Sheree Watson, President, Mustard Tree Co-op: As a community person, as a citizen, we take the services that we get for the city for granted. We know that the work is important. But until you&#8217;re there and you&#8217;re up close and personal, you don&#8217;t see just how important. 
Pastor Barry Randolph: I watched the firefighters not only put that fire out but protect our property. They actually protected the property from catching fire. You have to remember, these winds were blowing 55 miles an hour and we watched the embers fly from the warehouses going over to the other property. They were in the alley protecting the property. They were in front of the buildings, protecting the property. And we were like, wow, they are going beyond the call of duty. Of course, when we spoke to them, they&#8217;re like, this is our job. We know this is your job, but we&#8217;ve never seen that in action. 
Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, City of Detroit: In Detroit, we don&#8217;t have to get ready because we stay ready. We&#8217;re prepared. This is the service that Detroiters deserve. And to the firefighters, to Homeland Security, to Terra DeFoe out of the mayor&#8217;s office, who oversees Code Blue, to everybody involved, the mayor and I could not be more proud of you. 
Adam Hollier, Director, Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency: You take care of people. You take care of families, and you make sure that families have the thing that matters most to them, and that&#8217;s the people that they love. Because you take care of people, property is secondary. But people is first and you show that in this day you said, hey, people are our priority. Which is why you weren&#8217;t just fighting the fire, you were making sure the folks who had lost everything had a space to go. And once they went there, were safe and taken care of. 
Gregory Love, Senior Associate, Center For Public Safety Management: What happened that night took the three C&#8217;s, communication, collaboration, and you know what else? Cooperation. 
Terra DeFoe, Senior Advisor, Mayor&#8217;s Office, City of Detroit: The job itself is so rewarding. You know, we come in and we work for an administration that we care about people. And so, when we have incidents like this that happen, these four-alarm fires, which we know from October to April is a critical time because of, you know, how people heat their homes. Just anything can happen during those winter months. And so, we all work together as a team to get the job done. 
Hilton Kincaid Deputy Director, Homeland Security and Emergency Management: We enjoy doing what we do. So, we want to thank you all for recognizing us because we count the zero. How many lives we don&#8217;t have to say we lost. How many buildings didn&#8217;t get burned up because we&#8217;re responding properly. We&#8217;re one of the few departments that tracks our progress success by zero. It&#8217;s hard to track zero, but that&#8217;s how we do what we do. So, we want to thank you, pastor, very much, for recognizing and giving us a one instead of a zero today. 
Pastor Barry Randolph: A lot of times in the city of Detroit, you always hear the problems. People don&#8217;t take the time out to stop and say, &#8220;Thank you, job well done.&#8221; And even though I tried to do that and everybody kept saying, &#8220;No, you don&#8217;t need to do something.&#8221; The people in the neighborhoods say, &#8220;Yeah, we do.&#8221; 
James Harris, Chief Public Infomation Officer, Detroit Fire Department: It&#8217;s not a job, it&#8217;s not a career, it&#8217;s a culture. It&#8217;s a lifestyle and we love it. We wouldn&#8217;t do anything else. 
Stephen Henderson, Host, American Black Journal: Pastor Barry presented the first responders and city officials with awards, followed by a reception for their families and neighborhood residents. 
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
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Church of the Messiah honors Detroit’s first responders for keeping community safe during Islandview fires

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The Black Church’s Role in Reducing Gun Violence in the Communities They Serve 

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It was around the 1930s when gospel music first formed, but how did spiritual music transform from hymns to the contemporary music genre we know today? &#8220;American Black Journal&#8221; continues its <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/abj-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Black Church in Detroit&#8221;</a> series with a look at the history of gospel music and its intersection with the blues.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHwrrQWRhUU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View American Black Journal&#8217;s gospel music performance archives!</a>
&#8220;You had these, sort of, blues musicians, who were looking at how the vitality was slipping out of sacred music, and they combined the blues with the sacred, and that produced gospel,&#8221; Baptist pastor and blues musician <a href="https://www.revrobertjones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.</a> said.
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/SHDetroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Henderson</a> sits down with Rev. Jones to explore the connection between the blues and gospel music — the sacred and the secular, and their symbiotic relationship. Plus, they discuss gospel music&#8217;s roots in the African American community then and today.
<h2>Full Transcripts:</h2>
Stephen Henderson: I&#8217;m one of the people who listens to popular music all the time and delights in the idea that, in so many songs written by so many artists, I can hear the church, right? I can hear gospel music in Prince. I could hear it, of course, in Aretha. I can hear it in Demi Lovato or Chance the Rapper. It really is part of American music, this history of gospel. But nowhere do you hear more, of course, than in the blues. And the connection between those two is really something special.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. Baptist Pastor &amp; Blues Musician: Right. Well, absolutely, Stephen. I mean, when you think about American music, if you were to come up with the metaphor of a tree, that all of these different styles that you just mentioned are the branches and the trunk is the blues. But even deeper in the ground would be the roots, and the roots, that&#8217;s the spiritual. So, not only do you— because you can hear, you know, you can hear it in Demi Lovato, you can hear it in, you know, just name whoever, because it&#8217;s all sort of rooted in the black spiritual and then comes up through the blues and branches out through everything else.
Stephen Henderson: So as a reverend and a musician, talk about how you navigate those connections and how they kind of spill over, I guess, from one line of work into the other.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: Well, I was really blessed. I&#8217;m a native Detroiter, but I was blessed to have this grandmother from southern Alabama, from Conecuh County, Alabama, who loved many, many kinds of music. So, aside from going to and growing up in the black church, she had no problem with putting some Muddy Waters, and Lightnin&#8217; Hopkins, or B.B. King on the Magnavox and entertaining the entire block.
So, I grew up with like both of those influences and I really feel fortunate that if I had just been a church kid, I may not have been able to make the connection with the blues. And if I&#8217;d just been sort of a kid who listened to nothing but blues, I probably wouldn&#8217;t hear that. But being this hybrid kid allows me to view both of those kinds of music, in a sense, without prejudice, if that makes sense. So, I can see the connections, and I&#8217;ve really been blessed by the connections between both the sacred and the secular.
Stephen Henderson: Yeah. So, you know, the blues is about people expressing pain and sadness through music. And gospel is usually about healing and hope. Those two things would seem to be at odds in some ways. I&#8217;ve always felt like, though, there is a connection between the messages as well as the music itself.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: Definitely. Something happens with the spiritual, which is the music that came out of slavery, which was heavy, which was about, you know, getting heaven when you die or suffering or, you know, being resilient and enduring. And then, the blues was kind of like about the idea of not suffering on the plantation but hopping the train and getting away from all of that stuff.
And then, in like around 1930, they melded into this music called gospel. You had these sorts of blues musicians who were looking at how the vitality was slipping out of sacred music, and they combined the blues with the sacred, and that produced gospel. Which you rightly identified as being joyous music, right, It&#8217;s the good news.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: But there is no joy without some pain, right? Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning. So, you have both of those elements mixed in and I think the sacred and the secular really grew up right next to each other. And if your socialization was too steady, you know, be steady, to raise a family, to endure the hardships that you were given, you know, folks pushed you toward the sacred.
But if your inclination was, I&#8217;m going to escape from this situation I&#8217;m in and I&#8217;m going enjoy some life while I&#8217;m here, your inclination was toward the blues. But strangely enough, they always have this symbiotic relationship. The greatest gospel singers tend to come out of the blues and the greatest instrumentalists come out; or was that the other way around? The greatest instrumentalists come out of the blues and the greatest singers come out of the church.
Stephen Henderson: Yeah. So, if you think about both gospel and blues, you know, they&#8217;ve had time periods where they were more popular than they are right now. And I guess some people might say that they are becoming more and more lost art forms, especially as people leave the church or don&#8217;t react or interact with the church the same way they used to. And blues is not as prevalent on the airwaves or anywhere as it used to be. How do you feel about that?
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: I think these are foundational forms and they keep reinventing themselves. They find a way to push through because they don&#8217;t go away. I mean, chances are if you&#8217;re a young singer, the first place that somebody told you that you could sing was in church, right? So, I was having a conversation with a young lady the other day at the Henry Ford Museum, and she was amazed that the new Elvis movie, which of course, has to feature a lot of blues, has a cover of a tune done by Big Mama Thornton called, “Ain&#8217;t Nothin But a Hound Dog&#8220;, but it is re-defined by Doja Cat. So, it just&#8211; It doesn&#8217;t go away, it just sort of morphs into something else. And the difficulty is sometimes finding the strand, you know, finding why Ludacris has Lead Belly&#8217;s, &#8220;Pick a Bale Cotton&#8221; in a song called, &#8220;Rosa Parks&#8220;.
Stephen Henderson: Right.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: You know, how does that work?
Stephen Henderson: That&#8217;s right. I also want to talk about the fact that these are uniquely African American art forms. And they remind us, I think, just when you were talking about the modern influences that we see for them, they&#8217;re a reminder of how much, if not all, of American music really owes its existence and finds its roots in the African American experience, and therefore in the African American music.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: Definitely. You know, one of the things that I think we don&#8217;t necessarily appreciate at first listening, is that this music went far beyond entertainment. It was music that allowed you to work in rhythm. It was music that conveyed life messages of just, you know, wisdom of how men and women interact with one another. It was poetry and, you know, it carried a technology of work.
I think that one of the reasons that African Americans were as resilient as they were in a system like slavery, was they learn how to make the music, and keep their bodies moving; how to put their mind somewhere else in spite of the backbreaking labor that they were dealing with. Those are functions that come from African music, translated through American experience. And we don&#8217;t really think about it very much until we find ourselves using it, so that when you have a time of crisis.
Rev. Robert Jones, Sr.: I remember during 911, folks were singing spirituals. They were singing, you know, they were singing, &#8220;We shall overcome&#8221;, &#8220;We are not afraid&#8221;, all those kinds of things because it&#8217;s useful. And when the use, you know, when you find that not only is it beautiful and is resilient, but it&#8217;s useful and it comes back when you need it. And then there is the idea too, I think of no matter what the era, when you hear that voice that carries the African American singing esthetic, when you hear Fantasia Barrino, you instantly know, that&#8217;s a church girl, I don&#8217;t care what she&#8217;s singing, right.
She&#8217;s got the sanctified church right there with her, she kicks off her shoes, she lets the spirit have its way. And there is an experience in the black church called Singing Yourself Happy, right? So, at a certain point, not only does the music serve as entertainment, but it also can serve to sing yourself happy when you need that technology.
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<h2>Stay Connected: </h2>
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Catch the daily conversations on our<a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/"> website</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBlackJournal/"> Facebook</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/amblackjournal"> Twitter</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amblackjournal/"> Instagram</a> @amblackjournal.
<h3><a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/category/american-black-journal/">View Past Episodes &gt;</a></h3>
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