They called her the girl behind the camera, but make no mistake, Leni Sinclair wasn’t standing in anyone’s shadow. She was shaping history from the other side of the lens.

After emigrating to the United States in 1959 and studying at Wayne State University, Sinclair immersed herself in the cultural pulse of Detroit. In the 1960s, she documented revolution, both musical and political, capturing icons like Aretha Franklin and the raw passion of the MC-5. 

Her photographs didn’t just freeze moments in time, they helped define an era.

Leni wasn’t only observing movements, she was leading them. A political activist, cultural catalyst, and champion for generations of artists, she transformed Detroit’s creative landscape while chronicling it.

The Detroit Historical Society is honoring Sinclair’s extraordinary legacy with a year-long exhibition, “Leni: Looking Through the Lens”.

The celebration kicks off March 12 at the Detroit Historical Museum. The evening will be moderated by WDET’s Ann Delisi with an ensemble performance led by Kasan Belgrave, son of legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave.

Leni joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to chat briefly about her career and upcoming event.

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For generations, we’ve all heard fairy tale love stories. We learn early on in life who gets to be loved and who doesn’t. 

Oftentimes, those characters from those stories are written through a specific lens. Rarely do these great romantic tales center Black characters or characters of color at all. 

Black love stories are seen as a niche genre.

The State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Study tracks the publication of books written by authors who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color) in the traditional romance genre.

According to findings, only 11% of the books published within the romance genre were from writers of color. 

So, what does it mean to call Black love “niche”? And who decides which love stories are universal?

Sylvia Hubbard is an author of over 70 romance novels. She joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about diversity within the romance genre.

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“As I Die and Wheeze” is a melodramatic comedy following the impact a death has on the family. Southern twin sisters, complete opposites, thought the sky was the limit until the death of their daddy.

Now, the twins face debt, scheming suitors and a spicy, sharp tongued aunty. “As I Die and Wheeze” is showing at Planet Ant theatre through the end of the month.

It is written by Katie McGraw and Maggie O’Reilly and directed by Bryan Lark. Maggie and Bryan joined us on The Metro to talk more about the play and the importance of theater and laughter right now. 

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 Food is a connection to the past and a living memory. It has a way of reminding the senses that love existed.

It’s never just about the food. It’s about who taught you. It’s about who was there to help you stir the pot and give you the spoon to lick the cake batter. It’s about the traditions passed down on purpose and by accident. And sometimes it’s about learning the hardships that put the food on the table.

Ifayomi Christine is a writer, director, and lens based artist. She recently directed the film “Until It Feels Like Worship,” which untangles generational grief and trauma through remembrance and release.

Cornetta Lane-Smith is a Detroit-based filmmaker, writer, producer and the founder of Studio 8278. She wrote and executive produced the docu-series “Recipes of Resistance.” The series explores how food and conversation help unpack human complexity. 

They both joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about the film and docu-series. 

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Sacred Spaces is more than a tour,  it’s a celebration of cultural stewardship, collaboration, and the powerful role Black creatives play in shaping the city’s identity.

Throughout the month, nearly twenty Black-owned galleries, cultural institutions, and creative spaces have their doors open and are cross-promoting one another, inviting residents and visitors alike to experience the depth, diversity, and resilience of Detroit’s art ecosystem.

Misha McGowan is the gallery director and co-founder of Irwin House Detroit on West Grand Blvd. She also is the creator of Sacred Spaces.

We begin the conversation learning more about its origins and what’s happening right now to keep Detroit’s arts ecosystem connected. 

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On this episode of The Metro, we tackled a really serious topic: online child exploitation.

It’s a criminal act that targets the most vulnerable people in our communities, kids and teens. Online child exploitation comes in many different forms, including online grooming, enticement and solicitation.

Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and an expert in the psychosocial and technological factors associated with cybercriminal behavior. She focuses on the criminological characteristics and grooming strategies of online child sex offenders.

Seigfried-Speller offers advice on keeping minors safe in our modern digital landscape.

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According to the National Crime Information Center more than 271,000 girls and women were reported missing in 2022 alone. 36% of them were Black.

These are not just numbers. They are daughters, sisters, classmates, and friends. And too often, their stories are underreported, or not reported at all.

Black girls and women are disproportionately impacted by violence, trafficking, and systemic neglect. And that neglect has consequences. It has led to higher rates of disappearance than their white counterparts and far less urgency when they go missing.

The loss of a Black girl doesn’t just affect a family. It ripples through entire communities, through classrooms, neighborhoods, and peer groups, leaving behind fear, grief, and anger that rarely make headlines.

“Unseen” is a new production by Teen Hype that confronts this silence head-on. It invites audiences into a necessary conversation about what young people—especially Black girls—are facing today, and what it means to be unseen in moments when visibility can save lives.

Teen HYPE is a Detroit-based organization dedicated to empowering young people through education, advocacy, and holistic creative expression.

“Unseen” is directed by Teen Hype alum Mallory Childs, who is currently a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta. She and Teen HYPE co-founder Ambra Redrick join the show to talk about the project.  

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Malcolm X was a leader during the Civil Rights Movement known for his more radical approach to advancing Black Americans rights. But he was also a young man that grew up in Michigan, known as Detroit Red.

Though most only recognize “Malcolm X,” he went by several names throughout his life. His birth name is Malcolm Little, which progressed to Malcolm X. He ended his life as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

Who was Detroit Red and how did his name change reflect his personal transformation?

Dr. Tareq A. Ramadan is an anthropologist, historic preservationist, and interdisciplinary adjunct professor of Anthropology and Near Eastern Studies at Wayne State University and at Henry Ford College. He’s also the co-founder of The Malcolm X House Historic Preservation Project along side Aaron Sims.

This month, Ramadan will take part in The Black Cannon’s program “Martin and Malcolm” where they will discuss the lives and legacies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. 

Tareq joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to discuss how Detroit Red became Malcolm X.

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This Sunday is Super Bowl LX. Usually, the teams playing would be the be the main topic of discussion. Yet, they’re getting much less attention than who’s performing at the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

Bad Bunny is the first solo Latin and Spanish speaking musician to lead the show. The Puerto Rican born artist’s selection sparked conversations across music, sports, and culture, making this more than just a halftime performance. 

In his announcement, he said this is for his people, culture and their history. 

So, what does this moment mean for Latino representation? And furthermore, what does this performance say about the American public’s idea of what it means to be American.

Alejandra Márquez is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Department of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University. She joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to discuss Bad Bunny’s performance and its significance to Latino culture. 

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Since 1986, The McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood on Detroit’s east side has been home to the Heidelberg Project, an environmental art installation that pushes the boundaries of what outdoor art could be and how it can improve a community. It was created by life-long Detroiter, painter, and visionary place-maker Tyree Guyton.

Through trials and tribulations, the Heidelberg Project celebrates 40 years this year. The installation preserves community history while reimaging the neighborhood where three generations of Guyton’s family lived. 

Guyton, now 70, is this year’s Kresge Eminent Artist. He’s being honored for his life’s work improving community through the arts. 

Guyton and the former manager of The Heidelberg Project Jeanne Whitefield joined The Metro. Whitefield is also Guyton’s wife of 25 years. Both spoke about life, legacy and the future of Detroit Heidelberg Project. 

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Artists in Detroit largely depend on support from charitable organizations and government funding. So, what does that support look like? And how can artists and city government come together to make art happen?

The Detroit Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship or ACE is the city’s department that oversees its investment in the arts. It supports the city’s creative workforce with education, mentorship and networking opportunities.

Lacey Holmes is the Project Manager for Detroit ACE . She joined the show to help us understand the city’s role in this conversation. 

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The William G Anderson Lecture Series: Slavery to Freedom, An American Odyssey formed at Michigan State University 26 years ago. The series brings in guest speakers to lead thought provoking discussions about solutions to issues impacting civil and human rights.

This year the guest speakers are Dr. Jelani Cobb, the dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) and Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway of Gee’s Bend Quilting Collective.

Dr. Marita Gilbert is the Associate Dean of Osteopathic Engagement & Community Practice at Michigan State University. She leads the lecture series. Dr. Gilbert joined The Metro to talk about the lectures this year, and the big question of who really influences history.

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Latinos in this country continue to fight for the right to exist. Through battles unknown and battles seen in full color, Latinos and their contributions to this country can not be denied. That includes contributions to art. Many in Detroit are familiar with Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, but what about the lesser known artists and artforms? 

Black velvet paintings were important artworks on display in most Latino households during the early and mid 20th century. For many, seeing the paintings was a normal part of everyday life. But a new exhibition highlights how the paintings are more than a kitschy item for the home, they are a cultural love letter to art itself. 

“Black Velvet: A Rasquache Aesthetic” is an exhibition at the Michigan History Museum that invites visitors to learn more about black velvet paintings and their place in Latino and Chicano history. It’s open through November.   

Elena Herrada is a Detroit community and labor activist. Diana Rivera is Librarian Emeritus at Michigan State University. She also founded the task force that created the Chicano Latino Studies Program at MSU. 

Elena Herrada and Diana Rivera joined The Metro to talk more about the exhibition and the importance of the artworks. 

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Home healthcare workers in Michigan have unionized after a campaign formed in 2024 for protections and better working conditions.

In October of 2025, 32,000 home care workers in Michigan voted to secure protections and the right to unionize. Home care workers assist the elderly and people with disabilities.

The win comes at a time when unions and the fight for workers rights has taken center stage around the country. From Starbucks to Amazon, workers want to feel secure in their positions. 

Ethan Bakuli is an independent journalist based in Detroit. He’s been following the Michigan Home Care Workers United campaign for nearly two years. 

He recently wrote in Capital and Main about the victory and what it could mean for other professions looking to unionize. Ethan joined The Metro to talk more about the union and what it means for the future of organizing in the country. 

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Women have been at the forefront of civil rights and human rights movements throughout history. Yet, their stories are left untold and forgotten.

Dr. Keisha N. Blain is a historian, speaker, advocate, and social justice activist who is a best-selling author. She is a professor of Africana studies at Brown University.  Her most recent book “Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights” takes a historical look back at various civil rights movements and the Black women behind the scenes who created global change. 

Dr. Blain spoke at Wayne State University as part of the university’s annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration. She joined The Metro to talk about the women who helped progress human rights, often leading to systemic change.

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Andre “Dre” Dukes is a living example of what happens when you get a second chance in life. Dre grew up in Detroit on the eastside and watched once thriving neighborhoods collapse. 

Dre lived a rough life, growing up in Detroit riddled with gun violence and drugs. He battled addiction and spent a decade in prison. Since his release, he has changed the way he approaches life. He works at recovery centers, and with at-risk kids and teens.

He has been motivated to make an impact to ensure the next generation of young Black boys have a blueprint to follow and learn a better way to escape their issues. 

“Street-Wise & Real Talk” is an autobiographical guide for boys who simply need to feel seen and heard. It’s a fictional, age-appropriate book for at-risk youth that focuses on consequences and not glorifying crime.

Dre spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about “Street-Wise & Real Talk.”

Being a mom can mean a lot of different things. For people experiencing pregnancy, the whole ordeal can be stressful, daunting and quite scary.

And without the proper tools and resources, moms are often at risk after giving birth during the postpartum period, which can lead to dangerous outcomes for mom and baby. 

ROSE or The Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials program is for birthing parents. It provides pregnant people with the skills and information they need to have better outcomes after giving birth. 

Dr. Jennifer E. Johnson is the founding Chair of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health at Michigan State University. Dr. Johnson is a University Distinguished Professor, and the first C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at MSU. 

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In the past few weeks, the country has experienced an onslaught of news and information that can often be hard to process. 

From the capture and detainment of the president of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro—which included multiple civilian deaths—to the murder of U.S. citizens by ICE agents, it’s not hard to understand why some people simply check out or take matters into their own hands.

But how much of this is learned behavior? How can it be contributed to learned helplessness? The idea that no matter what you do as an individual or group, the outcome will NOT change.

Dr. Julia Felton, associate professor of psychology at Wayne State University. Dr. Felton joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to unpack learned helplessness in our society right now.

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The Empowerment Plan has been in service to metro Detroit’s homeless population since 2012. 

Empowerment Plan employs people living in shelters. They manufacture coats made from sleeping bags that they distribute to people in need. That includes people in Detroit, across the nation, and in dozens of other countries. 

Veronika Scott is the founder of Empowerment Plan. She talks about her struggles with poverty and homelessness as a kid. She remembers driving around with her mother, getting sent in circles from one caseworker in Detroit to another in Pontiac. 

Years later, a class at College for Creative Studies called “Designing to Fill a Need” led her where she is today—and that’s helping people experiencing homelessness.

This year, Empowerment Plan hand made its 100,000th sleeping bag coat. 

Veronika, founder of Empowerment Plan joins host Tia Graham on The Metro to talk more about reaching this milestone and what’s next for organization.

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