Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence gives her firsthand account of the frightening attack at the U.S. Capitol to ABJ contributor Orlando Bailey of BridgeDetroit.
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
Opinion | Republican politics formed the mob at the U.S. Capitol
Responsibility for yesterday’s failed coup in the Capitol lies in the heart of modern conservatism and Republican politics, which courts white nationalists and excuses racial bigotry.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: Benny Napoleon / Marlowe Stoudamire / Hill Harper / CCH Pounder
Taking a look back at 2020 and some of the guests who joined us in the year, including civil rights activist Al Sharpton, Detroit police chief James Craig,, and actors Hill Harper and CCH Pounder.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: PontiaConnect / Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion / Detroit Youth Choir
Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman talks with Stephen about a new app named “PontiaConnect,” which is keeping residents engaged and informed about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: Joan Belgrave / Detroit Jazz City
We’re celebrating the holidays with jazz. Vocalist Joan Belgrave talks with Stephen about an international music showcase she produced earlier this year in New York, prior to the pandemic.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: COVID-19 Vaccines / Dave Bing
Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, talks candidly with Stephen about the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the restrictions placed on businesses to reduce the risks, the importance of the impending vaccines, and when life could possibly return to normal. Plus, Stephen talks with NBA legend and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing about his new autobiography, “Attacking the Rim,” which chronicles his multifaceted careers as a pro basketball player, business owner, big city mayor, and mentor to African American youth.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
American Black Journal: AARP Michigan / Highways and Racism / Alex Way
The head of AARP Michigan, Paula Cunningham, talks with Stephen about the creation of a 4-year health and wealth policy agenda focusing on African American women ages 50 and older. The objective is to get federal and local elected officials to listen to Black women’s voices and issues here in Michigan. Plus, One Detroit Associate Producer Will Glover reports on the connection between race and the construction of highways in Detroit and across the country. And, we’ll check in with Detroit violinist and singer Alex Way, a 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow who has performed with internationally acclaimed musicians.
Posted in2020 Election, Civic and Community Information
Henderson: Assault on Black Votes in Wayne County Reminiscent of Jim Crow
The following is an essay by Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers’ initial refusal to certify election results.
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Posted in2020 Election, Civic and Community Information
American Black Journal: 2020 Election Roundtable
We convene our special roundtable guests for a frank conversation about the upcoming election. The group of political and communications specialists and radio personalities talk about the Presidential campaigns, getting out the African American vote, and the high-profile U.S. Senate race in Michigan between Gary Peters and John James.