Detroit’s most influential Black women leaders are taking a stand, demanding significant changes to the planned debate on Friday July 26 at 10am, live streamed on WGPR FM 10.5 for the Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Their calls for action come as WHPR, a Black-owned television station, announced a debate format that excludes live broadcasts, open press, and public attendance.
These leaders, including Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell, Metro Detroit Black Women’s President Lavonia Perryman, and several prominent mayors, have voiced their outrage. They emphasize the critical need for a Black woman journalist to be added as a moderator in the debate between candidates Hill Harper and Elissa Slotkin. The current moderators are Darwin Griffin, Truth to Power TV Host, WHPR and Bishop Edgar L. Vann II, Senior pastor of Second Ebenezer Church. The leaders argue that Black women deserve a seat at the table, particularly in a debate held in Detroit, a predominantly Black city.
Bell didn’t mince words, stating, “We deserve a seat at the table and there is no excuse to not have a Black woman journalist on a panel at a Black-owned station, in the heart of a majority Black city within the wider majority Black city of Detroit. It’s outrageous. If they do not add a woman to the panel, open it up to the public, broadcast it to the voters, and let the press cover the debate, we are asking our candidate Hill Harper to withdraw from this sham affair.”
The group has formally issued a letter to WHPR owner RJ Watkins, demanding immediate changes. Their demands include the addition of a qualified African American woman journalist to the moderator panel, live broadcast of the debate, public attendance, and press coverage. The debate is a pivotal event in the Democratic primary race for an open U.S. Senate seat—a rare opportunity that occurs once in a generation.
The press conference held at Detroit Unity Temple highlighted the urgency of these demands. This debate is the sole scheduled event between the two candidates, and the exclusion of Black women journalists from the moderator panel is seen as a significant oversight, especially from a Black-owned station. The Detroit area media market boasts many highly educated and politically informed Black women journalists. Ignoring their presence and expertise is a disservice to the community.
Lavonia Perryman, representing the Metro Detroit Black Women’s organization, underscored the broader implications of this exclusion. “This is an affront to the democratic process and a slap in the face to Black women by not allowing them to participate as moderators. We demand a woman be included and that the restrictions be lifted.”
The leaders provided a list of highly qualified Black women journalists for WHPR to consider, including Hilary Golston from Fox 2 News, Rhonda Walker and Kimberly Gill from WDIV, Carolyn Clifford and Glenda Lewis from WXYZ, Karen Dumas from the Detroit News, and Mildred Gaddis from The Mildred Gaddis Show.
A video of the press conference is available on all Hill Harper for MI social media channels. The leaders have given WHPR until noon on July 25 to make these changes. If not, they urge Hill Harper to withdraw from what they deem an exclusionary and undemocratic event.
Hill Harper wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter on Monday, “It is critical that everyone understands the following: After pulling out of multiple statewide televised/streamed debates & candidate forums, @repslotkin and her team have agreed to a “debate” at 10 AM on a workday at a local tv outlet but NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE TELEVISED— audio only and no journalists. Are you kidding me? This is a blatant attempt to dodge real voter engagement. It’s disappointing that she withdrew from multiple primetime debates broadcast statewide, only to settle for a debate when hardly anyone will hear (let alone see). This kind of political theater is why so many people feel disillusioned and disconnected from politics. Michigan voters deserve better— transparency and honesty, not manipulation. Do not reward this kind of bad behavior with your vote. Vote Hill Harper for U.S. Senate on August 6th—I will always put people first.”
The collective voice of these women is clear: Black women deserve a seat at the table. Black voters deserve full access to the democratic process. This debate, a critical component in choosing the next Democratic nominee, must be transparent, inclusive, and accessible to all.
