On the next American Black Journal, our roundtable weighs in on the results of the major races and proposals on the ballot in Detroit’s general election.
Stephen Henderson
Stephen Henderson is an award-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster whose work is rooted in Detroit and shaped by a deep commitment to public-interest reporting and civic life. A native Detroiter, he is the founder of BridgeDetroit, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering the city through sustained engagement with residents and their primary concerns. Over nearly three decades, he has focused on the forces that shape cities and communities—urban policy, government accountability, education, race, and economic inequality—with an emphasis on how public decisions affect everyday lives.
His work bridges print, television and radio, and it brings together data, history, and lived experience, helping audiences understand not just what is happening, but why it matters and what comes next.
He is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and has received more than two dozen national honors for his writing and editing, including recognition as Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. His career has spanned some of the country’s leading news organizations, including the Chicago Tribune, where he helped build one of the nation’s earliest digital news platforms; the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, where he covered the U.S. Supreme Court; and The Baltimore Sun, where his editorials contributed to clemency for a death row prisoner.
In Detroit, Henderson spent more than a decade at the Detroit Free Press, where he became the first African American to lead the editorial page and the paper’s first Black Pulitzer Prize winner. He is also the host of American Black Journal on Detroit Public Television and the founder of The Tuxedo Project, a literary arts and community initiative based in the home where he was born.
Henderson is the co-author of The Civility Book (Wayne State University Press, 2025), a reflection on disagreement, democratic culture, and the importance of sustaining civic dialogue. A frequent moderator, speaker, and convener, his work continues to focus on strengthening public conversation and helping communities navigate disagreement, change, and the challenges of democracy.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: Gun Violence in Detroit
Stephen has a candid conversation with Detroit Police Chief James White about the possible reasons for the spike in shootings, the impact of the pandemic on human behavior, and how the police department and the community can work together to reduce the violence.
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American Black Journal: Leadership Succession in the Black Church
On the next American Black Journal, we’ll continue our yearlong series on The Black Church in Detroit with a look at Pastoral Succession in the Black Church.
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American Black Journal: Voting Rights/ Shirley Woodson Exhibit
On the next American Black Journal, a controversial petition drive that could change voter rules in Michigan is drawing major concern from organizations like the Detroit Branch NAACP and the Michigan Democratic Party.
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American Black Journal: COVID’s Impact on Black Church Congregations
The series on “The Black Church in Detroit” examines the impact of covid-19 on ministers and their congregations. We’ll hear the stories of loss and grief caused by the pandemic and talk about vaccine hesitancy in the African American community. Plus, a look at the Black church’s role in alleviating this public health crisis.
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American Black Journal: Rental Assistance / Facial Recognition Controversy / Satori Shakoor
On the next American Black Journal: Now that a federal moratorium on evictions has ended, we’ll look at how the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program can provide financial help for tenants who have fallen behind on their rent payments during the pandemic.
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Help power our coverage of the Detroit election
Our November election coverage crowdfunding campaign kicks off today! Will you support BridgeDetroit?
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American Black Journal Special: Muhammad Ali’s Legacy and Detroit’s Impact on Boxing
On the next American Black Journal, Stephen is at the Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit for a special episode on Muhammad Ali, Detroit’s major impact on the sport of boxing, and combining boxing with academics to empower young people.
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American Black Journal: Diverse Reading / Rebuilding Neighborhoods / Caregiver Training
The national nonprofit Little Free Library partners with local nonprofit Brilliant Detroit to get diverse books into the hands of Detroit children and families through free, book-sharing boxes in the city’s neighborhoods.
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American Black Journal: Diversity of Denominations in the Black Church / History of Detroit Pastors
On the next American Black Journal, we’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’s long history of pastors who have risen to international or national leadership roles in their religious communities.