(WXYZ) — In tonight's 7 UpFront report we're taking a closer look at the issues facing African American communities in metro Detroit and around the country.
We're being joined by Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence to talk about it.
You can see the full interview in the video player above.
"The issues that are affecting Black America have been accelerated during this pandemic. We know that the death rate, we know the unemployment rate, we know those who are economically challenged have just poured a whole bucket of ice water on prosperity in America," Lawrence says. "The education piece, the fact that in our lower-income communities, where children need to learn and sometimes need additional support, they're really pretty much on their own. So when I look at the challenges of the Black community, I also know, economically, the small businesses and the businesses that brought Detroit back, Detroit was on an amazing accelerated path of redeveloping itself, it was being driven by small minority-owned businesses, and we know they are now struggling to survive. So, do I have hope? Absolutely."
