The Center for Social Solutions is committed to establishing concrete solutions to our four initiatives. While these issues are relevant across the entire nation and in all corners of the world, it is also useful to examine their local presence in a specific location. Doing so can help us to better grasp the fact that no community is immune to these problems, and provide clarity when assessing the larger-scale version of these issues.

 

Today’s focus is the Slavery and Its Aftermath initiative and its themes. To learn more about the lasting effects of slavery in Michigan, take a look at the content below.

 

Read 

“Black people are 40% of COVID-19 deaths in MI. What does that mean?” by Bryce Huffman, Michigan Radio

Despite representing 12% of the statewide population, African Americans compose 40% of COVID-19 cases in MI. Social inequalities in sectors such as healthcare, jobs, and pre-existing health conditions are thought to be contributing to this disparity.

 

“Black-owned business battle to survive during COVID-19 crisis” by Ken Coleman, Michigan Advance

While many small businesses across the state are suffering from the coronavirus outbreak,  black-owned businesses may be uniquely impacted because of a historic lack of access to government and private sector loans.

 

“How Farmington played a role in the Underground Railroad” by Jenn Mckee, Metromode

Recently uncovered information about Farmington’s past sheds new light on the prominent historical role that Metro Detroit played in the Underground Railroad during the 19th century.

 

“Minority Patients Benefit From Having Minority Doctors, But That’s a Hard Match to Make” by Ryan Huerto, Michigan Medicine

A family physician discusses health disparities in minority communities and how implicit bias can shape doctor-patient relationships in this op-ed article exploring the possibility and challenges of matching minority patients and doctors together.


Watch 

“From the Edge of the Ghetto/Women Authors” by American Black Journal, DPTV (2020)

The center’s associate director, Dr. Alford Young Jr., discusses his latest book about low-income African American communities in Ypsilanti and the world of work in this thought-provoking episode. The episode also pays tribute to female African American authors and journalists in Michigan with interviews by two prominent women in the field.

Watch now on DPTV


Listen 

“How black pioneers built lives in Michigan before the state was founded” by Stateside, Michigan Radio (2020)

Many early pioneers in Michigan were of African descent and helped shape the future of the state and the country as much as their European-descended counterparts did in the late 18th century, even before Michigan was officially declared a state.

Listen now on NPR, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify