The fight for civil rights did not end with the Voting Rights Act. For Black Michiganders, the struggle extends far beyond the ballot, into policies that dictate access to wealth, education, safety, and representation. Michigan is home to over 1.5 million Black residents, surpassing states historically tied to Black political power, yet deep inequities persist. The policies on the table in Michigan’s legislature could either dismantle these injustices or reinforce them, making this moment a defining one for racial equity in the state.
The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) and the Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC) have outlined clear priorities to address economic disparities. Pay transparency laws are among their top legislative goals, as wage gaps remain a pervasive issue. Despite having comparable experience and education, Black workers consistently earn less than their white counterparts. The adoption of these laws would provide accountability for employers and help close the racial wage gap, but the political will to pass such reforms remains uncertain.
“In 2020 we heard the phrase Black Lives Matter, but do we really know what that means?” posed author Dr. Andre Perry, senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution. “In my new book Black Power Scorecard, I actually measure the most important factors on life expectancy itself and what we find, no surprises here, is that homeownership, income, business ownership, air quality, family structure, safety, are some of the most important factors whether or not Black people are living well or not in their community. So, when we’re talking about, what should Black people rally behind? It should be for policies that most directly impact the quality of life.”
Education
Education remains a fundamental pillar in the fight for equity. Michigan’s school funding model disadvantages districts with predominantly Black student populations, particularly in Detroit, Flint, and Benton Harbor. BLAC’s 2024 recommendations call for an increase of at least $6 billion in School Aid Fund revenue and a permanent weighted funding formula, which would allocate resources based on student need. Universal early education for children ages 0-3 is also a priority, as research overwhelmingly shows the impact of early learning on long-term academic success. Yet, without significant policy shifts, Black students will continue to be deprived of the resources necessary to succeed.
Recent legislative actions threaten to worsen these disparities. House Republicans hastily and irresponsibly passed two appropriations bills this month—House Bill 4161 and House Bill 4162. HB 4161 slashes the state budget by almost 92%, gutting investments in critical areas such as state police and veterans’ services. Even more alarming, it proposes a 100% cut in the Michigan Departments of Education; Leadership, Education, Advancement and Potential; and Health and Human Services. HB 4162 slashes 25% of the school aid budget for K-12 schools, stripping away universal school meals and resources from classrooms, educators, and students. In response to these drastic cuts, State Representative Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) stated, “I voted no on this plan because it is irresponsible and reckless. Michigan students are already struggling in the classroom from low reading rates due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—students are, frankly, behind. These cuts would further the problems we are already facing. What we need is a budget that is timely and ensures our students are receiving the best educational opportunities and teachers have the tools and resources to uplift students’ success. Passing these bills is an attack on growth and prosperity for our kids and classrooms.”
Healthcare
The disparities extend into health care. Black communities in Michigan face higher mortality rates, lower access to primary care, and a severe shortage of Black mental health professionals. The licensing process for mental health practitioners has created systemic barriers for Black professionals entering the field, making culturally competent care even harder to access. BLAC has pushed for targeted reforms to remove these barriers, ensuring that Black Michiganders receive care from professionals who understand the cultural and historical contexts of their experiences. Until these changes are implemented, the cycle of health disparities will persist, disproportionately affecting Black communities.
Public Safety
Public safety policy must be reimagined. The Policing Improvement Package—House Bills 4605 and 4606—seeks to establish a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund, directing sales tax revenue to crime prevention programs instead of merely expanding law enforcement budgets. This shift reflects a broader movement toward addressing the root causes of violence, rather than reacting to crime with increased policing. Additionally, BLAC is advocating for the reinstatement of community violence intervention legislation, which has previously provided resources for grassroots organizations working to de-escalate violence in Detroit and other high-crime areas. Without a commitment to funding these programs, the state will continue to rely on reactive, rather than preventative, measures.
Economy
Economic exploitation remains a pressing issue. The payday lending industry preys on financial instability, targeting Black and low-income communities with high-interest loans that create cycles of debt. Sen. Sarah Anthony has been a leading voice in efforts to regulate these lenders, proposing legislation that would cap interest rates and protect consumers from predatory financial practices. These reforms are not just about financial stability; they are about economic justice. Without them, Black families will continue to struggle against a system designed to keep them in debt.
Sen. Anthony’s bill introduces a pivotal change by capping the annual percentage rate (APR) for payday loans at 36%, a stark contrast to the existing rates that can soar up to 370%. This measure aims to alleviate the financial strain on individuals trapped in a cycle of debt due to excessive loan interest rates. Anthony expressed her motivation for the bill, reflecting on her experiences in Lansing, “Growing up on the southside of Lansing, I remember seeing predatory lending facilities as well as liquor stores and fast food all around me, and it always bothered me that because I came from a marginalized community, that individuals and organizations and businesses tried to basically come into our community and prey on the most vulnerable among us.”
As we delve into the complexities surrounding the payday loan industry, particularly in the context of its operations within underserved communities, a pressing question emerges. It beckons us to ponder the depth and reality of the impact these financial services have on populations that are predominantly Black and Brown. These communities, often situated on the margins of financial stability, find themselves in the crosshairs of payday lending practices, which, on the surface, offer a lifeline but may, in reality, forcing borrowers in a cycle of debt. This situation prompts a critical examination of the ethical dimensions and social responsibilities of such lending practices. Are these services genuinely meeting an unaddressed financial need, or are they capitalizing on the economic fragility of these communities? “Michigan payday lenders disproportionately locate their stores in communities of color in rural areas,” said Anthony. “This means predatory lending has the biggest impact on family farmers, on working poor, and again on low-income individuals in every corner of our state.”
Prison Labor
Even the very foundation of Michigan’s legal system contains remnants of racial injustice. The state’s constitution still permits forced labor as punishment for a crime, a direct parallel to the loophole in the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The so-called “exception clause” has long been criticized for enabling modern-day slavery under the guise of prison labor, disproportionately impacting Black individuals. Representatives Edwards and Anthony have introduced legislation to remove this language, but the battle for its passage is an uphill one.
Prison labor has become a multi-billion-dollar industry nationwide, with incarcerated individuals—many of them Black—performing work for little to no pay. In Michigan, incarcerated workers are paid as little as 32 cents per hour while private corporations and state institutions profit from their labor. This system, rooted in post-slavery Reconstruction laws, was deliberately designed to replace the economic void left by the abolition of slavery. Michigan is one of many states still operating under these exploitative policies, reinforcing the link between mass incarceration and economic exploitation.
Though symbolic, the proposed removal of the exception clause is a necessary step toward dismantling a legacy of racialized oppression that continues to exist in legal frameworks. Advocates argue that until these laws are abolished, slavery has not truly ended—it has simply evolved. The fact that such a provision still exists in Michigan’s constitution is a sobering reminder of how deeply systemic racism is embedded in legal structures. The push to remove this language represents a moral and legal imperative, one that requires bipartisan support and public pressure to become reality.
Representation
Cultural recognition and representation are also part of the push for racial equity. BLAC’s proposal for a gubernatorial proclamation recognizing African Day on May 25 seeks to celebrate Michigan’s Black immigrant communities and foster connections within the African diaspora. Similarly, increased funding for the Michigan Arts Council would provide Black artists with greater opportunities, ensuring that cultural contributions from Black Michiganders are preserved and celebrated. Detroit has long been a hub for Black artistic excellence, yet Black artists often struggle to secure funding. Investing in the arts is an investment in Michigan’s cultural and economic future.
The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus has entered a new chapter with the election of State Representative Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) as chair in January 2025. Under his leadership, the caucus is prioritizing economic growth, education, health care, and the preservation of Black history. These policies go beyond reforming laws; they create structural change that uplifts entire communities.
“In many cases, there’s a disconnect of what the national discourse should say and what is happening on the ground. People in communities want strong families, they want good jobs, they want greater homeownership, higher income,” said Perry. “These are things that all Americans rally behind, but in particular Black people want just as much. I believe that the culture wars have distracted us from looking at basic quality of life issues that should be translated into legislation and because we have essentially moved our eyes off the goals of homeownership, business creation, business expansion, clean environments, clean water, clean air, strong families – these are the things that politicians must have a strong policy agenda for.”
The battle for equity in Michigan is far from over.
The policies under debate today will shape the future for generations of Black Michiganders. The fight is no longer about gaining access to the ballot—it is about ensuring that the power of the ballot translates into tangible policy changes. The unfinished business of civil rights demands not just discussion, but action. Michigan’s leaders have a choice: uphold the status quo or take bold steps toward justice. The urgency of this moment cannot be ignored, and the time to act is now.
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