Detroit social media influencers don’t believe politicians understand their communities • Michigan Advance
Detroit social media influencers met Monday to discuss strategies for engaging potential voters on social media ahead of the November election.
The national advocacy organization AAPI Victory Fund organized the hearing and moderated it by rapper Beanie Sigel, record label executive Wayno Clark and activist Yusef Shakur. Organizers reached out to people of color in Detroit who had a following on social media to join the discussion.
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist also appeared briefly halfway through the event and thanked participants for their honest discussions about political issues.
“I think we planned the election as a solution in itself, as part of what it takes to make change happen,” Gilchrist said. “There’s a lot of work that needs to happen before, during and after the vote to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Most creators made it clear that they were interested in politicians who truly understand the communities they represent and focus on the issues in their campaigns rather than just talking down to the other side.
“I think this goes back to what we said earlier about speaking with and not To”, Kamaria Gray, who helps @DetroitHoodstead, said after the hearing. “Because you can’t stand up for people you don’t know or what’s important to them.”
Many of the participants also had personal contacts in the community, for example in work with children or young adults.
Since all participants were online influencers, some discussions focused on getting people – especially younger voters – excited about political engagement in the run-up to the election.
Donny Wilson, a YouTuber who makes videos about food in Detroit, said he has conversations with younger people and his peers about politics, not candidates. He advises people to think about what’s important to them and vote based on who represents their values, not just how the candidate talks or acts.
“When I work with young people, I try to make sure they learn not only who the candidates are, but what the issues are. The policies are important,” Wilson said.
But sometimes it seems like none of the candidates in the upcoming election support what voters care about, said Amber Lewis, an influencer and advertising executive. That’s why it’s important for people to get politically engaged and voice their opinions on the issues that matter to them, because that can influence the agenda over time, participants said.
Other speakers cited reparations, investing in public education, and protecting free speech online by not banning TikTok as important policy issues for them.
“I have a lot of conversations with influencers because politicians and organizations are asking us to advocate for others,” Lewis said. “And people think, ‘Why would I advocate for someone who isn’t already working on policies that affect me or benefit me, and then put my name on the line for people who aren’t doing anything?'”
Asima Khan spoke about how she uses her platform to speak out about her political views, particularly in relation to her posts about a ceasefire in Gaza. She said that her online engagement has caused her to lose some followers, but it has also helped educate more people.
Many children have difficulty reading and writing, which, according to Gray, makes it difficult to inspire the younger generation to become politically active.
Gray said she believes there is a “bystander effect” happening in Detroit, where young people are taking notice of the complicated political situation and hoping someone else will take care of it.
“It’s a big challenge for us to overcome the lack of education … the kids can’t read, for example,” Gray said. “How can we expect them to participate in local elections, to organize and get involved, or even to run for office?”
The creators stressed the importance of elected officials seeing their voters as real people, which could mean engaging with them outside of purely “campaign events.”
For musician Jay Pitts, it was a kind of basketball game between teachers and students, where the students could get to know a more human side of their teachers.
“It represents that level of identification, community, trust; you’re sitting in the community’s chair,” Pitts said after the hearing. “So when it’s time for you to preach to me, you have my ear, my respect, because you’ve come and got on my level. So it’s like you’re replicating that culturally.”
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