Detroit’s Tomorrows, Tomorrow’s Detroits

Conference explores link between racism and economic injustice, seeks paths to prosperity.

Rev. William Barber III said, “we have a heart problem in America.” The civil rights leader made that comment during a speech at the Democratic National Convention in July. He’s calling for a moral revival in America’s politics, after a bitter and divisive election. Barber will be the keynote speaker at a two-day conference this weekend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The event is called “Detroit’s Tomorrows/Tomorrow’s Detroits”, presented by the Institute for New Economic Thinking. The group’s president, Rob Johnson, tells WDET’s Pat Batcheller the conference has three goals.

Pat Batcheller

“First to re-examine the history, and what we might call the false histories, of what’s happened to Detroit. The second is to discuss how the economics profession has dealt with the question of race. And the third is to look at ways forward.”–Rob Johnson

 

 

 

Rev. Barber is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Click on the audio player to hear the conversation.

Author

  • Pat Batcheller
    Pat Batcheller is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, presenting local news, traffic and weather updates during Morning Edition. He is an amateur musician.