Tag: detroit

A Call to Wake Up: Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance

On Thursday, October 9, 2025, a seventeen-year-old young man was shot in the back—just twenty feet in front of my home—by a white adult male. I mention his race not out of racial animosity, but because it’s uncommon to see a white man on my street, and this man needs to be found and taken off the streets of Detroit.

Yesterday, I learned that the young brother died from his wounds.

As I sat in my home office that day, I heard a single gunshot. When I opened my blinds, I saw the young man lying motionless in the street and the White man running to his white Ford 150. I rushed outside, joined by a young man working in my home. As we knelt beside him, he kept repeating, “I don’t want to die.” We tried to reassure him that he would live while calling 911.

Within minutes—no more than three or four—Detroit’s first responders arrived and worked with professionalism and urgency. The police investigators spent over an hour inside my home and at least three hours outside gathering evidence and statements. But the young man never had a fighting chance. He was shot in the back.

That night, I lay awake hearing his words—“I don’t want to die”—echoing in my mind. Those words still ring in my ears. And the painful truth is this: just as that young man didn’t have a fighting chance, so it is for far too many children and youth growing up in our communities across urban America.

The next morning, I had to return to the rhythm of my daily ministry—praying with high schoolers at 6:30 a.m., as I’ve done for over 25 years, and later launching a new small group of young leaders through Be-Moor Radio.

That same day, only a few blocks from my house, tragedy struck again. At our neighborhood elementary school, a young girl stabbed another student—using a knife her mother brought to the school and handed to her. Yes, the mother gave her daughter a weapon and told her to use it.

Our children are in trauma. Our communities are in trauma. And too many have no fighting chance.

We no longer have a North Star—no shared moral compass or value-centered community. Black church, wake up! This is our role, our commission, and our divine assignment. Luke 4:18-19 makes it clear: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…”

We need a reset—a return to our mission, our values, and our call to a people-centered spiritual renewal. Genesis 4:10 reminds us, “The blood of your brother cries out to me from the ground.” The blood of our sons and daughters is crying out from our streets for justice. They must not be forgotten.

Every child living in an urban community is experiencing trauma. In truth, every person in our communities is carrying trauma. We all need healing, hope, and an intervention—and the Black church, as the ambassador of Christ, is God’s chosen instrument for that healing.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; but I have come that you might have life—and have it more abundantly.”
 An abundant life is a trauma-free life.

After decades of serving as an urban youth development specialist, I’ve seen more death and destruction than I care to recall. Yet this moment feels different. The urgency is greater. It was at my front door! The cries are louder.

Black church, wake up! It’s time for a people-centered revival—a movement that heals, restores, and reclaims our communities. Everything else we’re doing is insignificant compared to this call. As God said in Amos 5:21–23, “I hate your festivals (could it be our church services)… take away from me the noise of your songs (could it be our praise and worship).”

Let’s resolve, together, to give our children—and our communities—a fighting chance.

P.S. There is a Truth and Trauma Conference—sponsored by the Detroit Leadership Foundation—that will be held on Saturday, November 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on the campus of Wayne State University.
 Get healed. Get equipped. And let’s get to work.

Ode to My Friend Luther “Badman” Keith 1950 -2025

I’m up at 2:30 in the morning, trying to process the news of your death, Luther. I can only think about The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha. Brother Luther, you lived a life of courage, passion, and purpose, turning impossible dreams into reality—not just for yourself but for your family, friends, and, most importantly, for Detroit. You saw potential where others saw obstacles, hope where others saw despair, and you poured your heart into making a difference. Your legacy is one of vision and relentless determination, and though you are gone, the dreams you chased and the lives you touched will continue to inspire us all.

Luther was the consummate journalist—always asking questions, seeking information, and striving for truth. He was cut from a different cloth, deeply connected to the city and its communities in ways few journalists ever achieve. A proud graduate of the University of Detroit with a degree in journalism, he worked his way up from a cub reporter in Lansing to a leadership role at The Detroit News. He fought fiercely for Black representation in journalism, never shying away from the challenge of making newsrooms more inclusive. His impact was undeniable, particularly in his instrumental role in founding the Wayne State University Journalism Institute for Minorities, which opened doors for so many who had long been shut out of the field. For many of us, his dream seemed impossible—but he pursued it relentlessly, proving that barriers could be broken and that representation in media mattered. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of journalists to come.

My friend and colleague Luther Keith has joined the great cloud of witnesses as an angel for Detroit. He dreamed the impossible dream for himself and for our city. His dream for Detroit was that it would be better and do better.  Luther loved Detroit.   I have so many wonderful memories—from partying on Outer Drive into the early morning to badgering you as a young public relations executive to that unforgettable morning of the JOA when I represented Knight Ridder’s Free Press—a true day from journalism hell. Then we decided to take the lead on Mayor Kilpatrick’s failed vision of the Man Power Movement, believing we could make a difference. It’s almost unbelievable that we crisscrossed the nation on our own dime, studying men’s movements that we hoped to replicate in Detroit. And who could forget that Philadelphia trip, where we bravely spent the night with brothers trying to bring peace to a gang-infested neighborhood? We were crazy, but you had the dream—that safety and unity could be built not just through police intervention but through brothers coming together to serve and protect their own communities. Your vision was bold, your commitment unwavering, and your love for Detroit unmatched. 

I remember when he launched ARISE Detroit—his goal was to clean up every street and restore the city’s beauty through the power of volunteers. And that’s precisely what he did. We talked for hours about my teenage years leading KDB (Keep Detroit Beautiful) Teens and how a small cadre of Black teenagers organized youth in every Detroit zone to clean the city. I didn’t believe it could be done, but you dreamed it and made it happen. ARISE Detroit mobilized and empowered hundreds of thousands of city and suburbs volunteers to take on community improvement projects. If I had to guess, there were probably hundreds of these initiatives each year, and the man who believed in the impossible made it his mission to visit every single one on Neighborhoods Day. You were tireless for Detroit.

Despite being a relative of the esteemed Judge Damon Keith, Luther never carried an air of superiority. He connected with everyone, including a guy like me from the Northend of Detroit. He served on numerous boards, but one of his greatest passions was the Detroit Library Commission. He envisioned the library as more than just a place for books—it was a hub for the community, a sanctuary where Black children and youth could expand their horizons and dream beyond their circumstances.

Later in life, Luther discovered another passion—Blues music. He taught himself to master the guitar and became a fixture in Michigan’s Blues and Jazz scene, earning the name Luther “Badman” Keith. You could hear him play at nearly every Blues or Jazz joint across the state. At the last Detroit Chapter’s NABJ Valentine Celebration, I asked him, “Man, when do you sleep?” He laughed and said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” How prophetic. 

Well, my friend and brother, you left a great career at The Detroit News to pursue your passion. You nurtured that passion into one of Detroit’s most impactful coalitions of neighborhood groups dedicated to revitalizing the city and strengthening its communities. Now, rest. Your legacy is secure. You dreamed big, lived boldly, and made the impossible possible.

And don’t worry—Detroit will take care of your wife, Jacqueline, your superstar daughter, Erin, and your lifelong sidekick and blood brother, Terrance.

I have a dream in your honor—that Wayne State University will establish a School of Journalism bearing your name.

Love you, brother. See you on the other side.

P.S.  For those who may not be familiar—Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X, and Alpha—this is for you. The Impossible Dream is a timeless classic, and here’s one of my favorite versions by Josh Groban.

How About the Affirming Action Movement

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.  Genesis 50:20

Since the inauguration of President Trump on January 20th and his series of presidential declarations, I’ve been looking for the silver lining or God amid these heavy-handed and race-centered actions.  Well, I think I may have found it in a concept or idea of building an Affirming Action Plan for Black Children and Youth. 

Now you ask, what is an Affirming Action Plan, and how does it differ from the Affirmative Action strategies of the sixties?  Here’s the concept: The Black Church has historically played a pivotal role in nurturing, educating, and advocating for the well-being of Black children and youth in response to contemporary challenges. However, under the incoming Trump administration, Black children and youth will probably experience the most significant challenge in decades.  

Gen Z, Generation Alpha, and the Millennials have inherited our failure not to have been razer focused on educational disparities, economic disenfranchisement, systemic injustice, and cultural misrepresentation. Nevertheless, thousands of Black Churches nationwide have an opportunity to regroup and implement a concept we are calling the Affirming Action Plan. 

This initiative is designed to uplift and empower Black children and youth through intentional, faith-driven strategies that promote academic excellence, emotional resilience, economic literacy, and spiritual grounding.  The Black ecclesia (body of believers in fellowship) could galvanize an army of volunteers, philanthropists, college students, retirees, and others to create an Affirming Action Network to embrace our children and youth who will bear the brunt of the most significant upheaval culturally, academically, and economically in centuries. 

Black children and youth face unique structural barriers that hinder their personal and professional growth. While societal affirmative action policies have provided some relief along with justice-centered programs, including diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments by corporations, governments, and universities, they are not enough.  Effective January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump has declared war on DEI and Affirmative Action programs globally. In the Department of Education, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights wrote a Dear Colleagues (See the letter at the bottom of the blog) saying they should abandon their DEI programs and activities by February 28, 2025, and risk losing federal funding. 

In the end, we need a new approach to ministry that combines faith and works, where our works and faith is our worship. I’m Just Saying…. 

The loss of federal funding could impact Title One funding, designed to serve underserved children, the Free and Reduced Lunch Program (NLSP), programs that help students with disabilities including autism and emotional and other learning disabilities (IDEA funding) through the Social Security Act, and the lists of programs funded by the federal government could present irreparable harm to Black children, youth and society. 

However, the Affirming Action Network group of ministries can fill the gap! This affirming network of Black churches could present a united front against evil and present possibilities of hope.  John 17:21. In this passage, Jesus asks God that his followers and others who believe in them through their word may be unified so that the world will believe that God sent Jesus. Isn’t our objective that the world would know and love Him?

Okay, Apostles, Bishops, Pastors, and Evangelists, this potentially is our opportunity to be the church we preach about and be a living epistle through our faith and works.  Below, I offer a few examples of where we can be effective, thrive, and witness a biblical revival in our neighborhoods. 

  1. Academic Empowerment: Provide tutoring, scholarship opportunities, and mentorship programs through church-based and community partnerships.
  2. Spiritual and Emotional Resilience: Establish faith-based counseling and mentorship programs to support mental health and identity formation.
  3. Economic Literacy and Entrepreneurial Development: Implement financial literacy workshops and entrepreneurship training tailored to Black youth.
  4. Civic Engagement and Leadership Development: Encourage active participation in civic duties and provide leadership training for emerging community advocates.
  5. Cultural Affirmation and Identity Formation: Celebrate and educate Black children on their rich cultural and historical heritage, reinforcing positive self-identity.
  6. Faith-Driven Counseling and Mentorship: Pair youth with mentors from within the church and professional networks to foster positive relationships.
  7. Entrepreneurship Incubators: Develop church-led initiatives that support youth in starting businesses and managing finances.

These are just a few ideas that can represent a silver lining and hope to the hopeless. As I write this blog and share some ideas with the readers, I’m reminded of the civil rights movement in Montgomery during the bus boycott, where every Black church decided it was time to challenge the system of racism, bigotry, and religious disunity.  We can do this, what say you?

Letter from U.S. Department of Education:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ed.gov/media/document/dear-colleague-letter-sffa-v-harvard-109506.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email