BLAC Detroit Magazine December 2020

INSIDE

DECEMBER 2020

22

6 8 9

Online at BLACdetroit.com Letter from the editor Contributors

FEATURES 22 GOODIE MOB Our all edible gift guide 28 CHURCH AND STATE The Black church’s role in the modern-day Black Lives Matter movement 32 ALL DRESSED UP Fantasy fashion at the Detroit Opera House

DEPARTMENTS 12 DISCOVER Community orgs that could use a hand during the holidays, a rotating retail space for Black businesses, a new cookie spot and much more 18 APPRAISED Bakpak Durden makes art accessible and inclusive 20 IN STYLE Rich and royal jewel tones 46 ACCESS The rules of the COVID-19 pause 49 SEEN Light Up Beacon Park kicks off SPONSORED 46

BRITTANY MERRITT, MIDWEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE

49

WHY CAN TELEMEDICINE BE AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE OPTION?

Photo Left by Lauren Jeziorski ON THE COVER: Ashley Jones, RGA Model Management Photo by Boswell Hardwick taken at the Detroit Opera House For style details, see Page 44

BLACdetroit.com

Online in December Visit BLACdetroit.com for web exclusives and to stay up on what’s happening in Black Detroit

Opinion Piece BLAC’s former editor chats with environmental justice advocate and MacArthur fellow Catherine Coleman Flowers.

Holiday Cheers

Festive, holiday-themed cocktail recipes

Get BLAC Fridays Visit BLACdetroit.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Your inbox will thank you.

Fantasy Come to Life

SEEN Galleries

Behind-the-scenes photos from our fashion shoot

Check out the full digital gallery.

Did we spot you?

Fb.com/BLACdetroitMagazine

6 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

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@BLACdetroitMag

EDITOR’S LETTER

Art Meets Life

CEO/Publisher: Billy Strawter Jr.

T

o cap the year of the bizarre, we thought we’d recall the spirit of seasons past. By now, we’d be in full fashion swing with holiday parties, fundraising galas and charming stage shows to attend. There will be none of that, but we thought why not play dress up anyway with 13 pages of lavish looks (Page 32)? It’s a bit of fantasy, a spoonful of sugar, to down with your medicine. The Detroit Opera House served as our backdrop. This time of year, the venue’s calendar would be packed with theatrical productions and glittery events. Instead, we were alone in the space, probably among the first to walk its patterned carpet all year, but we brought the sparkle with us in the form of elegant eveningwear.

In reality, we know this year has been anything but glamourous and the holidays will look a lot different for most of us. Simplicity was the inspiration behind our all edible, locally curated gift guide (Page 22). For the first time, perhaps ever, your extended family may not be getting together, but maybe they’d fancy delicious care packages.

That impressive spread of three mains and 12 sides may not make sense this go-round, but one of the best parts of the holidays is the food. If this year has taught us anything, it’s how to scale back. Yes, we’ve learned to trim the fat, except from the wagyu pastrami that we procured from Mongers’ Provision in Midtown. The paper-thin slice of heaven almost literally melts in your mouth. We recommend buying extra to snack on in the car on the way home – and then charging someone else in your house with hiding the rest from you.

We also thought it an appropriate time to consider the role of religion, specifically the Black church, in the fight for freedom (Page 28). The Black church played a starring role in the civil rights movement of yesteryear, but this current, more progressive Black Lives Matter movement is noticeably less connected to the church and its conservative ideals. And the church, in turn, has been slow to speak up about and out Photo by Lauren Jeziorski against injustices. The holidays also inevitably evoke a spirit of generosity and empathy. If you’ve made it through this year relatively unscathed, you’re one of the lucky ones. While most of us have been wading through months of moderate inconvenience, others among of us have lost homes and businesses and loves ones – and hope. Metro Detroit is home to numerous nonprofits and community-based orgs that could use our help this season. We’ve checked in with a few to find out how we can get involved (Page 12).

On a sweeter note, a new bakeshop promising the perfect cookie prepares to open in Detroit (Page 14), the Detroit Shipping Company offers a rotating retail space rent-free to Black-owned businesses (Page 14) and we caught up with folks enjoying the kickoff to Light Up Beacon Park (Page 49). Plus, find Bakpak Durden’s work on Page 20. The gender-nonconforming artist pushes against the idea that art is for the elite and works to steady a sense of realism and inclusivity.

EDITORIAL Senior Editor: Paris Giles Copy Editor: Kim Kovelle Contributors: Sydney Kispert-Bostick, Kaye Byrd, Ann Duke, Jasmine Graham, Boswell Hardwick, Bettie Lutcher, Marv Neal, Nick Pizana, Arianna Smith, Ashley Valentina DESIGN Creative Director: Kelly Buren Senior Graphic Designer: Lindsey Lawson Photographer: Lauren Jeziorski

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT MILO DETROIT, INC. Chief Creative Officer: Mark Simon Creative Director: Doug Blanchard Director of Content: Jeremy Smith Production/Advertising Operations: Christine Lasalle SALES Director of Sales: Samantha Alessandri PARTNERSHIPS Partnership/Events Coordinator: Ebony Jones CIRCULATION Distribution Coordinator: Meaghan Smith ADMINISTRATION Director of Business Operations: Victoria Webb Accounting Associate: Judy Stewart PRINTER LSC Communications

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Enjoy the issue.

©2020 by BLAC INC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part without the express written consent of BLAC magazine is prohibited.

Paris Giles Senior Editor 8 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Meet Our Contributors

Each issue would be impossible without the help of our freelance writers and creative contributors.

Kaye Byrd, writer Kaye is a heart-centered writer focused on social justice and wellness issues.

An advocate for mental health, she is passionate about facilitating meaningful conversations for women that normalize therapy and cultivate a healthy mindset as the basis for self-care. She shares the passion for her soul-nourishing, empathydriven and life-giving work on her social media platforms. Born and raised in Detroit, she is a world traveler and avid reader, and welcomes opportunities to share her wisdom to uplift others. @heykayebyrd girlgrow.com

Ann Duke, feature editor Ann Duke is a veteran of the magazine business with over 20 years experience on both the business and creative sides. As one of the founding staffers at Hour Media, she was instrumental in the launch of numerous publications including Hour Detroit and Detroit Home.

While marketing director at Tapper’s Jewelry, she developed their very successful Jewelry Stars program for Tapper’s Accent magazine. By day, Duke is the director of philanthropy for Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County.

For this issue, as feature editor for “A Night at the Opera,” she was able to tap into her love of architecture, fashion and Detroit history. ann@BLACdetroit.com

Boswell Hardwick, photographer For Detroit-based photographer Boswell – often working in Paris – the inspiration for “A Night at the Opera” came from a love of historic Detroit architecture and his obsession with fashion. He says being in the Opera House was an almost spiritual experience.

Having worked in the challenging space twice before was a big advantage for the photographer. Boswell’s work can be seen across many international fashion magazines including Institute, German-based Kaltblut and MOEVIR. His clients include Audi, Le Snob and Christian Dior Haute Couture. @boswellcreative boswellstudio.com

Nick Pizana, writer Nick Pizana is a professional artist and writer from Detroit. He studied journalism at Wayne State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in painting at Cranbrook Art Academy.

As a painter, Nick works primarily in making colorful murals that draw from his background in street art and comic books. His work can be seen all around Detroit, from Hart Plaza to Eastern Market. In addition to his painting practice, Nick co-owns KO Studio/ Gallery in Hamtramck. @shorin_nick nickpizana.com

Arianna Smith, writer Arianna is a 22-year-old native Detroiter with a varied background and a love for cultural news. A graduate of Wayne State University’s journalism program and BLAC’s former intern, you can find her scoping out the latest restaurant, boutique, art project or gaming lounge in Detroit – when she isn’t glued to the screen watching a Marvel movie. A Blackowned business is the best kind of business, in her eyes, and Detroit stories are the best kind to tell. ariannasmithport.weebly.com

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE: Writer Jasmine Graham, photographer Sydney Kispert-Bostick, hairstylist Bettie Lutcher, fashion stylist Marv Neal, makeup artist Ashley Valentina

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 9

A year-long series featuring Detroiters who are driving positive change in their communities.

Driving Community Sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund

Brittany Merritt, Midwest Executive Director, Springboard Collaborative This Louisville native heads the local arm of an organization that’s committed to improving literacy and bridging the gap between home and school.

A common criticism of summer vacation is that, especially for students who may be falling behind, this disruptive break in in-school lessons can prove detrimental. Now more than ever, when most children are attending school remotely, equipping parents with the tools required to take the handoff from educators and continue the work at home is crucial. National literacy nonprofit Springboard Collaborative – with the help of GreenLight 10 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Fund Detroit and other local partners – launched its program in Detroit last summer with a mission of improving literacy and bridging the gap between home and school.

With tailored family workshops that invite parents into the (virtual) classroom, through the summer months, Springboard Collaborative was able to teach hundreds of Detroit families to implement tips and practices in an effort to improve reading skills in pre-

K through sixth grade students. That work has continued into the fall semester. Educators and school administrators also learn how to meaningfully engage with parents and bring them to the table.

Midwest executive director Brittany Merritt says, “We really empower families to be coaches. A child, 75% of their waking hours are with their parents.

So, our CEO envisioned an untapped resource and that’s leveraging parents

to be able to be ambassadors – and providing them with the tools at home to be literacy coaches.” The Springboard Collaborative program employs Family-Educator Learning Accelerators: five- to 10-week cycles during which teachers and parents team up to support learning at home and the child’s reading goals.

“Pre-COVID, we delivered our program exclusively in person. So, we really had to pivot back in March and

be able to provide meaningful and impactful programming virtually,” Merritt says. “Keeping that same family engagement methodology remotely has been effective just as it was when we were pre-COVID.” Merritt also adds that launching a virtual offering opened up new partnership opportunities. She says Springboard is now serving families in twice as many cities as would’ve been possible before, allowing them to reach rural communities, especially.

Merritt came on board as the first Midwest executive director in October. States including Illinois, Missouri and the Dakotas will be within her wheelhouse, but, Merritt says, “Detroit, I want it to be the epicenter of the Midwest.” Born and raised in

Louisville, Kentucky, it was her dad’s career with Ford Motor Company that moved the family to Michigan.

Prior to her role with Springboard Collaborative, Merritt spent 13 years with the American Heart Association, 10 of those dedicated to youth, teaching healthy habits and fighting against childhood obesity.

In that position, she regularly worked with schools and youthfocused organizations, going on to become the first Black executive director for the greater Detroit area.

So, Merritt says, while the realm of traditional education is new, engaging children, parents and educators and imploring them to work together toward a common goal is not. She says those partnerships are paramount to Springboard Collab-

orative’s mission of having helped 100,000 students reach reading goals by the end of 2022. “We see ourselves as a catalyst.”

Springboard Collaborative is also rolling out a professional development program for onsite teachers who want to become administrators of the program, and they hope to forge a partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District in the near future. For parents looking to implement best practices at home, Merritt says repetition is key.

She encourages parents interested in Springboard’s programs to reach out to teachers and school administrators to connect with the org. “Our goal is to continue to work with schools to increase the landscape and provide literacy gains.”

“ Ford Fund believes that investing in the needs of our youth is an essential step toward empowering our communities for a promising future.”

– Pamela Alexander, director of community development for Ford Motor Company

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER For more information on Springboard Collaborative, visit springboardcollaborative.org.

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 11

DISCOVER

By Kaye Byrd

Giving

Season

Spread love while working to make the holidays a little brighter for families in need. Nonprofits and community-based organizations have reimagined celebrations and gift-giving this year, but they still need your efforts and support as we enter the season of giving. Here are a just few.

Detro Rescu it Missioe Minist n ries

D He etr De al oit tr s oi t

One of the largest organizations in the fight against homelessness and substance abuse has a wish list for donations of practical but important items such as disinfectant spay, wipes and hand sanitizer. Items can be dropped off at 150 Stimson St. in Detroit. They are also seeking financial donations, which can be given online, to continue to touch the lives of more than 2,000 men, women and children in the Detroit community.

Detroit Heals Detroit is an organization created by youth for youth to combat trauma and transform pain into power. They are currently revitalizing a vacant property to become The Sincerely, Detroit House – a healing hub that will lead initiatives around food justice, education, healing justice and youth-led organizing. They are seeking volunteers and donations to help advance the work of the space.

drmm.org detroithealsdetroit.org

12 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Brilliant Detroit Brilliant Detroit provides programming and support to children, helping them to be healthy, stable and school ready. Based in high-need neighborhoods across Detroit, this family-centered organization is accepting new toys and culturally relevant books. Donations can be dropped off at the Southwest Detroit location at 5675 Larkins St. Or get involved through volunteer opportunities, including mentoring and literacy tutoring.

brilliantdetroit.org

Coalitionrary on TempoCOTS) Shelter ( Use your creative gift-wrapping skills. COTS – a Detroit-based nonprofit that helps families break the cycle of poverty – will deliver donated toys this season. Register to volunteer for this campaign soon; gift boxes will be delivered by Dec. 20. Additionally, COTS could also use your time and talent to prepare newly renovated homes for families. Volunteer for the Mission Mover or Home Maker campaigns to help prepare homes for a grand reveal on move-in day for more than 50 families.

Southwest Solutions

Southwest Solutions has served Detroit’s Southwest community since 1970 and focuses on helping families write new chapters of resiliency and purpose. They are collecting new toy donations for families and children of all ages. This year, the traditional plan of dinners and gatherings for veterans has been canceled, but they will be gifting $25 gift cards from Walmart or Meijer instead.

The org is hoping for 150 gift card donations. All donations can be dropped off at 5716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit.

swsol.org

cotsdetroit.org

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 13

DISCOVER

By Jasmine Graham and Paris Giles

RETAIL I

BAKED GOODNESS J

effrey Gisstennar, founder of Good Cookies LLC, has spent years perfecting a good cookie – and now he is taking his operation from the home kitchen to a brick-and-mortar. It started out as a passion project.

In 2011, the real estate broker began to bake cookies to relieve stress. He says, “I was waking up in the middle of the night thinking, why did that cookie come out flat? Why did it come out puffy?”

Towards the end 2012, Gisstennar hosted a cookie tasting. He invited guests to comment on what they thought the company name should be. While talking with his buddies after the party, one said, “That’s a good cookie.” The other looked at him and said, “Man, just shut up and eat it.” That became his company name and tagline: Just eat it!

Gisstennar registered the name Good Cookies in 2013 as he hit the ground running, catering for events, birthday parties and other celebrations. The demand became so high that his customers wondered when they could expect a brick-and-mortar.

Good Cookies won a Motor City Match grant and, with that, they completely gutted what used to be hair salon in his old North Rosedale neighborhood. When we spoke, Good Cookies was planning to open the location between Small Business Saturday and early December.

“I am a true Detroiter. They ask, ‘Will you ever move out?’ I say never,” Gisstennar says. “I wanted a comfortable, warm, walkable place where the community can say, ‘I’m going to get a coffee. I’m going to get a breakfast scone.’” On certain days, Good Cookies will host live bands or DJs. He also plans to make the space available for poetry readings and community meetings.

Online orders for pick up are also accepted.

14 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

THERAPY

n the wake of what happened to George Floyd and at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, we saw a slew of mainstream brands speak up and out. Some were embarrassingly called out for hypocrisy and what felt like bandwagon performance, but others have shown an intentional commitment to supporting the Black community in real ways that may actually help move the needle. In June, Detroit Shipping Company reinvented its retail space, dubbing it “The Shop” and promising it rent-free to local Black-owned businesses on a rotating schedule for at least one year.

Owner Jon Hartzell says, “We wanted to be purposeful about letting the world know that we are in Detroit, and Detroit is 70% African American” – closer to 80%, actually – “and we wanted to represent that in our retail opportunity here.” He says they took care to make clear that they didn’t intend to step on any toes, but to instead act as a supporting partner, each arm exposing the other to their respective clientele.

The program received about 35 applicants, Hartzell says. The first resident was David Vintage, on board through the end of the November. Now up is Eumelanin, the fashion brand that plays to and celebrates the most abundant type of melanin found in brown skin and hair. They’re locked in until the end of February. “(Eumelanin owner Deirdre Roberson) is a great collaborator for us in that space in that weird transitional moment,” Hartzell says, speaking to the December retail boom that slingshots into a start-of-year lull.

DSC general manager Matthew Zacklan says they’ll work to expose different types of businesses, allowing them each creative control over the space while continuing to center inclusivity and a model that reflects the city. “We wanted to give back,” Zacklan says, “whatever we can do to support the community, to support local small businesses.”

– J.G. – P.G. 19007 W. McNichols Road, Detroit @justeatgoodcookies justeatgoodcookies.com

474 Peterboro St., Detroit @detroit_shipping detroitshippingcompany.com

DISCOVER

By Nick Pizana and Arianna Smith

MIX AND MINGLE E

ntrepreneur and fashion designer Darylynn Mumphord – also known as “Dream Rich” – is bringing fashion and art together under one roof with the Dream Rich Exclusive Art Museum. The art museum, which opened in November, offers artists the opportunity to showcase their work and network with other creatives in the city.

Mumphord has been involved in Detroit’s creative community for several years, working in fashion with her brand Dream Rich. “When I say rich, I mean rich in success, rich in health. It has a deeper meaning than just money,” Mumphord says. “I always wanted a deeper meaning than just clothes.”

While working on her brand, Mumphord began making connections with local designers and artists. She soon realized that they were struggling to find space, an issue she had dealt with. Mumphord was already planning to launch her retail space but saw an opportunity to take her idea further by combining it with art.

“Honestly, I understand the struggle. I know most artists are struggling” she says.

“They don’t have anywhere to sell their art. I decided to intertwine the two, so it’s where fashion meets art.” Mumphord curates the exhibitions and allows work to be hung until it’s sold. In addition to traditional art shows, the art museum plans to host other special events, like combined karaoke and paint parties.

Mumphord hopes that by crossing art and fashion in one venue, she’ll help elevate both of these forms and their respective communities. “I like to inspire people.

To me, my purpose in life is to get people to go where they need to go.”

– N.P. 2627 Gratiot Ave., Detroit @dreamrichstore dreamrichexclusiveartmuseum.com

CREATIVE CONTROL A

t BLAC we love finding, hearing and sharing stories from Detroiters – specifically the Black folks – that are authentic, quirky, heartwarming or just plain cool. FORCE Detroit and TandemEd agree, which is why they launched the Detroit branch of the national Own Your Story campaign in August called Detroit Is Us. The goal of Detroit Is Us should be apparent in the name, which was chosen by young volunteers. The initiative is aimed at Black Detroiters from every walk of life and background, encouraging them to record and share their unique perspectives on life in the D. “There’s an external force moving into our cities that’s trying to rewrite the narrative of hard work and sacrifice of the people existing there,” says Jason Rivers, Own Your Story managing director. “Local OYS campaigns are centered on healthy perspectives meant to further prompt actions that align with collective best interests, and that will help yield better life outcomes for Black youth, families, residents and businesses.”

The stories were collected through surveys, video submissions and interviews, then compiled into an interactive media project that focused on three pillars: Own the Block & Business; Level Up: Mind, Body & Spirit;

16 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

and Advocate for Blackness. The campaign also proposed an idea for an ongoing fund that they hoped to create with other influential Detroit organizations to further support initiatives like Detroit Is Us. James “Screal” Eberheart Jr., Detroit’s city manager for Own Your Story, says that the pillars were chosen because they represent the areas of the community that Black people can and should take upon themselves to readily improve. He says, “Through showing them the benefits of ownership and how that directly correlates to building and sustaining wealth, we can better fund the needs of our communities. Pillar two is where we focus on the overall health of our people. The third pillar is vital to the livelihood of Black people, advocating for Blackness through education.”

– A.S.

@tandemed tandemed.com

HEALTH ADVICE FROM ASCENSION MICHIGAN

Why can telemedicine be an effective health care option, especially for women?

S

imply getting in the car and going someplace as ordinary as the grocery store is a risky endeavor these days. That’s not apt to change any time soon given that COVID-19 rates are skyrocketing across the nation and a vaccine is still likely months away for most of us. Continued social distancing where able should be our priority – but what if you’re an expectant mother in her third trimester? Or a woman dealing with an issue that requires the assistance of an OB-GYN professional?

Telemedicine and digital physician visits might seem cumbersome and less than effective on the surface, but Ascension Medical Group physician and OB-GYN specialist Dr. Janet Mullings-Britton says that it can be a feasible option. “Not only has the situation in the office space changed, the climate in many women’s homes has also changed. We see ripples from this such as an increase in pregnancy rates – albeit, not necessarily in safe or wanted conditions,” says Dr. Mullings-Britton, a fellow of the American College of

Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“Women can’t come in for their routine breast and pelvic exams or lack access to child care, so they miss appointments. While we urge everyone to minimize social interactions, doctor’s visits should not be one of those.

Women are often the chief cornerstone nurturers of our families and must be well.” Telemedicine appointments are usually held over the phone or through video conference with your physician.

Dr. Mullings-Britton says that she and the Ascension team have tried to keep things running as smoothly as possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual visits may improve access to routine health care for women encumbered by social distancing, work challenges, lack of transportation and child care needs.

“Telehealth is a useful, convenient alternative. Insurance, family planning and health screens get complicated when you mix in the natural distrust many in the community have for doctors and new technology. We try to be inventive, accommodating and caring,” she says. Nothing will ever replace

Janet Mullings-Britton, M.D.

human touch and connection, which is pivotal to healing, and Dr. Mullings-Britton cautions that there are some issues which still require physical, in-person attention and assessment. However, she says telemedicine is an accessible tool which can increase the chances of a situation being resolved or diagnosed expeditiously. Telemedicine isn’t just for the body’s ailments, either.

“The isolation takes its toll on everyone, but again, for women who may be at home in less than ideal situations, stressors mount – and it can start to really negatively impact one’s mind.

For many of my patients, video visits are a way to connect and dialogue with someone, even if but for a few minutes out of the day,” she says. Dr. MullingsBritton says that the most important thing for physicians to remember during this time is to be understanding of their patients’ circumstances, reservations and fears.

“The last thing we want people doing is neglecting their health because they’re afraid, anxious or disconnected due to the pandemic. I’ve had patients

reject treatment until what was deemed a nonacute symptom became critical simply because they didn’t know who to trust or what to do. Having doctors who mirror you and who have experienced some facets of life the way you have, certainly is impactful. If you haven’t walked a mile in my shoes, how can you best help and fully identify with me?”

The crucial thing to recognize is that there are new avenues emerging every day and innovative assistance becoming available. Dr. Mullings-Britton says we must take care of ourselves as best and as completely as we can. “Holistic remedies won’t replace conventional medicine, but I can’t say there’s anything wrong with trying to boost your immune systems with adequate sleep, exercise, water, elderberry, zinc and echinacea,” she says. “Paramount to optimizing one’s health is stability of spirit, mind and body. Get some vitamin D and C as safely as you can.

Bask in the sunshine. Do things that make you happy, and give your body what it needs.”

GET MORE HEALTH INFORMATION AND FIND A DOCTOR NEAR YOU BY VISITING ASCENSION.ORG/MICHIGAN OR CALLING 866-501-DOCS (3627)

IN STYLE Curated by Paris Giles

Dropping Gems Cushnie

Silk Midi Dress Contact for pricing • cushnie.com

Feeling like a million bucks in rich and royal jewel tones

Kimberly Goldson Grace Lace Shirt $198 • kimberlygoldson.com

Kimberly Goldson

Lace Wide Leg Trousers $298 • kimberlygoldson.com

Mateo

Emerald Croc Elizabeth Bag $395 • mateonewyork.com

Fenty

Power Point Pumps $690 • fenty.com

18 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Kimberly Goldson Ayva Boyfriend Jacket $249 • kimberlygoldson.com

Diarrablu

Sustainable Pino Jumpsuit $215 • diarrablu.com

Fenty

Roped In Earcuff $230 • fenty.com

Andrea Iyamah Raffe Dress $199.50 • andreaiyamah.com

Pyer Moss Wrap Sleeve Maxi Dress $550 • pyermoss.com

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 19

APPRAISED

By Nick Pizana

INCLUSIVE REALISM

D

riving around Detroit, you may have seen the photorealistic murals by artist Bakpak Durden. Durden’s hyper-realistic manner of painting, particularly portraits, has been acclaimed for its lifelike detail – recreations of the human figure charged with mood. The paintings are as lifelike as they are emotive, setting the viewer into an ethereal space of contemplation. Although Durden has been an illustrator for many years, you may be surprised to learn that they (Durden’s pronouns are “they/ them”) are self-taught, after picking up oil painting only a few years ago.

“I learned how much of a process it was, and I loved it,” Durden says. Oil paint is a notoriously difficult medium to work in, but Durden was drawn to the challenge, setting their sights on being able to render as well as Michelangelo or da Vinci. In the pursuit of this style, however, Durden quickly found that they were at odds with painting’s exclusive history. “I studied the ‘old masters,’ and I realized a lot of that stuff was never taught to people like me, so it was almost a spite thing, and I started learning that way.”

Since then, Durden’s work has been shown in exhibitions at The Schvitz, Cass Cafe, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, the Arab American National Museum and elsewhere, and they’ve worked on mural projects like Detroit’s City Walls and Murals in the Market. This year, Durden and Cyrah Dardas launched Paper Street Press, a publication platform focused on queer and Black trans, Indigenous and disabled BIPOC artists.

Durden has also continued painting.

This summer they created a mural for Quicken Loans and recently showed at the art fair Intersect Chicago with Playground Detroit.

@bakpakdurden bakpakdurden.com 20 BLAC • DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Photo By Toya Golden

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 21

rose A a SUCH

PLATTER W

e invite you to savor our all edible, locally curated gift guide.

Assemble tasty care packages for the family that won’t make it in this year. Or opt for simplicity even at home, and let these be the goodies you unwrap on Christmas Day and enjoy draped in front of the tree or the fireplace – or the TV. After all, near or far, few things bond us like food.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN JEZIORSKI

DARK The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch Whiskey $99.99 • Off the Wagon Market

Sexy

&

Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Black Tea $8.33 • DeVries & Co. 1887

Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bomb Call for pricing • Good Cakes and Bakes

Zingerman’s Coffee Company Night Fall Dark Roast Coffee $13.99 • Narrow Way Cafe & Shop

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 23

A rose a SUCH

PLATTER

Strawberry Shortcake Call for pricing (served in a jar) • Good Cakes and Bakes

Maple Nut Brittle $29/lb (pre-packaged onepound box $25) • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

24 BLAC •DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Caramel and Pecan Popcorn $5.25 (mini) • Poppin Top Hat

Rush

SUGAR

Licorice Wheels $13.96/lb • Sweet Factory

Red Velvet Truffles $3.30 each • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

BLACdetroit.com • DECEMBER 2020 • BLAC 25

A rose a SUCH

PLATTER

WHERE

Shopped WE

DeVries & Co. 1887 2468 Market St., Eastern Market, Detroit devries1887.com Good Cakes and Bakes 19363 Livernois Ave., Detroit goodcakesandbakes.com House of Pure Vin 1433 Woodward Ave., Detroit houseofpurevin.com

Tempesta Wagyu Pastrami $26/lb • Mongers’ Provisions

Mongers’ Provisions 4240 Cass Ave., Unit 111, Detroit mongersprovisions.com Narrow Way Cafe and Shop 19331 Livernois Ave., Detroit thenarrowwaycare.com Off the Wagon Market 1500 Crooks Road, Clawson fb.com/offthewagonmarket Poppin Top Hat Popcorn Creations 1376 Broadway St., Detroit poppintophat.com Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 2800 Big Beaver Road, Somerset Collection, Troy rmcf.com Sweet Factory 2800 Big Beaver Road, Somerset Collection, Troy sweetfactory.com

26 BLAC •DECEMBER 2020 • BLACdetroit.com

Clawson Windsor Red Cheddar with Port and Brandy $10.91/lb • DeVries & Co. 1887

Brown Estate Chaos Theory Red Wine $45 • House of Pure Vin

Mitica Crunchy Picaquicos Spicy Giant Corn Kernels $4 • Mongers’ Provisions

The Jerky Outlet Smoked Venison $6.35 • DeVries & Co. 1887

Essex Black Betty Gouda $38/lb • Mongers’ Provisions

Charcuterie

BOARD

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During the civil rights movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the Black church played a pivotal role. It was where we organized, where we grieved, where we sang and where we wiped away the blood.

This modern-day Black Lives Matter movement is helmed, in large part, by progressive young people, far less connected to the church and its conservative ideals. Is there still room for faith in the fight for freedom?

BY ARIANNA SMITH

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f you didn’t know by now or perhaps forgot, Black Lives Matter is a global movement with a local focus. Each branch – from tiny towns to big cities – targets different areas, practices and organizations for reform and has done so since the murders of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

The creed on the BLM Detroit website reads, in part: “We are the living representation of the struggle our ancestors have endured. We are their legacy, and we embody the victories of our future. We are the living record.”

Throughout BLM’s lifespan, one collective voice has been noticeably sluggish to offer support on the whole – our Black church. Reactions to BLM vary from congregation to congregation, with some pastors keeping it cute in public remarks and others outright condemning BLM as harmful. In response, many young Black activists are finding different ways to connect to their spirituality or cutting ties with organized religion outright.

Where is the disconnect, and why are two groups dedicated to uplifting Black people butting heads so badly? The answer has to do with changing activism tactics, the general attitude and reverence toward tradition, and hard questions about certain realities in the church that need to be addressed.

We shall … overcome?

There’s no question that the church played a huge role in rallying for Black liberation. When I’m told to think of the civil rights movement of the ’50s and ’60s, my mind goes to a sepia-tinted scene in an old gym or church basement, shiny black shoes and paper fans, men with deep voices preaching about deliverance and justice – while gospel music plays in the background.

“When the church applies their faith in its praxis, it can benefit the Black community in real substantive ways,” says Troy Stinnett, chairman of the board of deacons at Second Baptist Church in Detroit, the oldest Black church still operating in the Midwest. “Our congregation was involved in the underground

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“Today, we can fight back. We as a people feel like if the cops are going to keep treating us like this no matter what we do, then they’re ready to drop the Bibles and start metaphorically swinging."

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railroad, the abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement, and the struggle for racial equality in Detroit and America since 1836.”

That’s the view of Black history we’re most familiar with and told to emulate in the new struggle.

But Tristan Taylor, co-founder and organizer for Detroit Will Breathe, says today's BLM agenda isn’t your grandmother’s civil rights march.

“Back in the day, agendas and attitudes regarding protests, safety and faith were a lot more aligned.

The church supported nonviolence and some people went with that as pacifists. But the majority just knew it was safer that way. It wasn’t ideal, but the whites were nastier and we couldn’t fight back. If you got hurt, you might get some sympathy on the national stage and that was the best you could hope for,” Taylor says.

But today? “Today, we can fight back. We as a people feel like if the cops are going to keep treating us like this no matter what we do, then they’re ready to drop the Bibles and start metaphorically swinging,” he says. The exasperation with strict pacifist and nonviolent codes of conduct is only part of it. History repeats itself and while the church did eventually take up the reins in the most recent fight against discrimination, quite a few of them were slow to speak on political issues and even slower to commit to action.

On Black millennials’ and Gen Zers’ relationship with the Black church, Watson Jones III, senior pastor of Compassion Baptist Church in

Chicago, told Christianity Today at the height of the BLM protests: “I think the struggle may come when they don’t hear churches talking about justice. I remember when I was in Philadelphia, I’m preaching sermons that I thought were good sermons, but the question that came from one of my members was, ‘What does God have to say about this? We have been in this same boat since 1619, so what does God have to say about this?’ So I think the frustration that many younger people will feel in the Black church is when their churches have nothing to say about this.”

They weren’t always unified in their rhetoric, either. According to the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford, there were many Black churches in King’s day who were against what he was doing and wanted no part of the movement. Several prominent pastors called him a “mastermind of turmoil” and their arguments over how best to serve the community led to a fracture in Baptist society – and this was over nonviolent tactics.

Imagine what they said about Mr. Malcom X. “I had a young man tell me he stopped attending his congregation because his pastor refused to say anything about George Floyd,” Taylor says. “Detroit is full of pastors and deacons, but very few of them have reached out to us or spoken about these issues. I’ve spoken with one pastor who told me the rest were too frightened to try.” The message from new activists to the church is clear: Speak up for us.

Support us.

Problems in the pulpit The goal here is not to bash the basic tenants of church, religion or the impact those things have had on the community. But if the drift between Black millennials, the movement and the church is ever going to be fixed, certain splinters might need to be removed from eyes. Essentially, hard conversations need to occur about who and what is welcome in our houses of worship.

John Sloan III, BLM Detroit co-founder and organizer, says, “Religion itself can be such a positive thing. It’s how a lot of people find peace, understanding, and uplift themselves and their families.

The church was a place of meeting, safety and fellowship for us – and we should honor that. But, when we don’t recognize that organized religion is inherently flawed and we frame today’s context with outdated or harmful doctrines, that’s where we go wrong.”

Sloan says BLM was created and has been sustained primarily by Black women and queer individuals, which forms the second barrier between the two institutions.

Lingering conservative attitudes in church culture can sometimes clash horribly with new ideals of blind, equitable acceptance and progressive expression that range from embarrassing and unsightly (Pastor Ellis and the Ariana Grande fiasco, anyone?) to downright abysmal treatment of and teachings regarding LGBTQ people.

“There’s a lot of misinformation about what we stand for. Some religious people are convinced that we’re anti-men and similar things,” Sloan says. “What Black Lives Matter is is inclusive and progressive.

We pulled away from that arcane, heteronormative toxicity and we focus on uplifting and protecting the most disenfranchised. I had a pastor once who started preaching about the tenants of being a man, and without missing a beat he said

‘not those sissy men though … real men.’ It erased everything good he was telling us.”

Organizations like BLM and Detroit Will Breathe take the phrase “All lives can’t matter until all Black lives matter” deeply to heart, as well as their promises to foster queer and feminist affirming networks. This explains the pushback from more conservative or neutral-minded congregations. “I consider myself bisexual, and I’ve sat through many a sermon that made me squirm and feel uncomfortable. You can’t exclude people with your words and ideas and then expect them to come running to support you when you need tithing,” says Taylor of Detroit Will Breathe.

African Americans are, for the most part, a pretty religious people.

According to Pew study, 83% of us believe in God and an almighty. In many ways, how we treat and exemplify religion in Detroit is directly related to the formation and history of the city, and the sensibilities of the times. Sloan says, “Detroiters are used to a unique struggle. We get up at 3 a.m., shovel three yards of snow, then go break our backs at work until the sun goes down, and we don’t complain. We’ve been nationally maligned, screwed over, pandered to. Believing in a reward at the end of all that makes sense.

But ideology shouldn’t be valued over people in exchange.”

Taylor believes that the true disconnect from the community began when the church started adopting, in his opinion, the bad habits from traditionally white or oppressive systems. “When a lot of the funding started coming from state and federal institutions, you saw bits of those institutions creeping in. The ‘other’ became an enemy.

Material things mattered more.

That shuck and jive mentality, that if you’re just a good quiet Black you’ll be rewarded through pain, got amplified. The church was a place

of relaxation, but it also became a place of stress and struggle for a lot of people when white Jesus showed up,” Taylor says.

Offering the olive branch Whether religion plays an important role in your life, it needs to be repeated that the importance of the Black church in our communities has been and continues to be monumental to our history. Bad energy and miscommunication between the leaders of liberation and the leaders of faith can only spell bad news for a cohesive movement. And while it might seem that one side is more willing to reach out than the other, consider what we as Black people yell at the world all the time: We are not a monolithic people – but we are a collective.

In honor of Juneteenth, The Positive Community – a faith-based lifestyle magazine geared toward Black Americans – affirmed Black Lives Matter and the new movement, repented for and rebuked toxic behavior, and pledged to stand in solidarity with activists’ efforts. The piece read, in part: “We, a collective of interdenominational Black pastors and Black theologians representing the prophetic tradition of Black churches in the United States of America, lift our voices to emphatically repudiate the evil beast of white racism, white supremacy, white superiority and its concomitant and abiding anti-Black violence.”

It continues: “It is no secret that the Black Church has been imperfect in its approximation of this moral claim. Self-reflexively, Black Church commitments to the patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, class fragmentation and Christian triumphalism indicate moral failure and a stronghold of anti-Blackness in our own communities that compel us to despise ourselves and our mirror image in the world.”Second Baptist is set to

announce a new pastor soon, and Stinnett says he’s excited for future discussions of activism and culture in the church. “He is deeply committed to faith in action,” he says of the new pastor. “He believes in self-determination but also speaking truth to error, even when harbored by the powerful. He believes that white supremacy’s doctrines have caused many in the Black community to internalize self-hatred, and the church is one of the few places where Black people are encouraged to see the imago Dei (the image of God) upon their being. I have been a deacon at Second Baptist Church of Detroit for more than 15 years, and I am excited about our next chapter in our long, rich history.”

Taylor, an atheist, thinks the community at-large is ready to move on from organized religion and the darkness entrenched in it. “Personally, I believe if we’re fighting for real freedom, then the whole system needs to be reborn anew. We can move on from waiting for a single entity to deliver us from our struggle and force us to act right. We need to build agency and better institutions that serve everyone,” he says.

Sloan has a slightly more optimistic outlook, but he says it will take real work, as with everything else.

He says, “I do want to build more bridges with that side of our identity as Black folk. The gospel shaped our music, food, communities. But there are a lot of hurdles, both perceived and real. I deal with people based on morality. We need to have some tough conversations with ourselves about how much power we give the harmful parts of belief, and when it’s necessary to trim those parts completely.”

ARIANNA SMITH IS BLAC’S FORMER INTERN AND A DETROITBASED FREELANCE WRITER.

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From the over 8,000 Detroit Youth who had work experiences this summer.

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t the tail end of November, in the face of rising COVID-19 numbers, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a three-week “pause” in Michigan, halting in-person learning at high schools and colleges, and dining in at restaurants and bars – among other particulars. The tentative date for the break to end is Dec. 8, but, honestly, who knows if it’ll get pushed back or what the rules will be afterward. So, in the meantime, our advice is simple:

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SEEN

Photos by Sydney Kispert-Bostick

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We were there for the kickoff of Beacon Park’s winter wonderland on Nov. 20, filled with interactive lighting, a giant hot chocolate, other sweet treats and more.

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