Detroiters will elect their next mayor later this year, and the stakes are high. The government should reflect the communities in which it plans to represent, and race is expected to play a role in the election.  Throughout most of the city’s history, Detroit had white mayors. 

Coleman A. Young became Detroit's first Black mayor,which changed the trajectory of the city. Current mayor Mike Duggan, the first white mayor of Detroit since Roman Gribbs 1970-74, inherited a city with bankruptcy and significant leadership instability, being the fourth mayor in five years. During his tenure, Detroit has witnessed noteworthy economic growth, a slight population increase after years of decline, and a reduction in crime rates. 

However, Duggan's leadership also raises concerns about reinforcing the misleading notion that white leadership results in economic prosperity, while Black leadership is associated with turmoil.

Today on The Metro, we want to explore how the race of Detroit’s mayor impacts its citizens and how their efforts could continue to shape the city’s  perception as a whole. 

Guests: 

• Jeff Horner: Professor of Teaching at Wayne State University.
• Kandia Milton: Chairman of the Black Slate (Detroit), associate pastor at the Shrine of the Black Madonna, and national policy director for the Justice program at Dream.org.
• Sam Robinson: Reporter covering the city of Detroit and author of the Substack Detroit one million.

We also asked listeners: Should Detroit’s next mayor be Black? And how vital is the race for Detroit’s next mayor?

Listener Mama Jo said: “We should want somebody, I don't care if they are purple, with gold and green stripes, we should want somebody that's going to finish the job that Mike Duggan started.”

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 25, 2025: 

• Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell represents Michigan’s 6th Congressional District and has been sounding the alarm about cuts to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dingell joined the show to discuss.
• Former Michigan Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. has been named the new chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. He joined The Metro to discuss Democrats' overall goals and the lessons learned by the party in 2024.
• Angela Hanks is the former associate director of external affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). She was a Biden-Harris appointee and left the CFPB as part of normal administration transitions. Hanks joined the show to discuss what will happen if the nation’s consumer watchdog agency is gutted by mass layoffs. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.