State of Black Detroit: Piper Carter delivers provoking presentation on the power of Media in Black Detroit

At State of Black Detroit IV: The Personal is Political, Piper Carter delivers a thought-provoking presentation on the power of media, messaging, and political engagement in Black Detroit. As a community organizer, activist, and media strategist, Piper breaks down how corporate media narratives disempower Black communities, leading to voter apathy, fear-based divisions, and a loss of collective power.

Recorded on December 30, 2024, at the General Baker Institute, and presented by Detroit is Different & Community Movement Builders Detroit, this discussion exposes the role of emergency management, divestment, and media manipulation in shaping Detroit’s present and future. Piper also highlights the importance of media literacy and community-driven storytelling through projects like Mapping the Water Crisis, proving that Detroiters must control their own narratives.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

✅ How mainstream media divides & disempowers Black Detroit

✅ Emergency management & voter apathy—why Detroiters feel their votes don’t matter

✅ The power of community-driven storytelling—resisting media manipulation

✅ Mapping the Water Crisis—how grassroots research can shift the narrative

✅ Why building real relationships, not just consuming media, strengthens communities

💬 Notable Quotes:

🔹 “When we talk about democracy, we talk about power. That’s the people’s power being taken away from them.”

🔹 “People say, ‘Well, voting don’t matter because they’re going to do what they’re going to do anyway’—and they’re not wrong.”

🔹 “It’s just important for us to analyze those messages and the deeper agendas at play.”

🔹 “If we don’t control the narrative, we leave it up to outside sources to define us.”

Piper Carter makes it clear: media is a battleground for Black power. Detroiters must become critical thinkers, media creators, and organizers to reclaim their political and social influence. This presentation is essential viewing for anyone who cares about elections, community empowerment, and shifting the narrative for Black Detroit.

📍 Location: General Baker Institute

🎤 Presented by: Detroit is Different & Community Movement Builders Detroit

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