Detroit barbershops are becoming hubs for election discussions

DETROIT – Fridays are usually busy at Metro Detroit Barber College. They engage with barbers, customers and other community members to discuss current topics between haircuts.

However, the chat in this area is a little different this week. The upcoming elections are in the foreground.

“The barbershop is a safe place for black men,” said Harrison Shelby, a community activist in Detroit. “We are already having conversations from politics to sport. And what’s happening in this barbershop, we’re trying to use it as an opportunity to organize in this moment.”

Shelby is one of the organizers of an event called “The Barbershop Vote: Black Men & The Power of the Ballot.”

It is a grassroots effort to engage men in discussions about important issues and the political process as they prepare for the election.

“All eyes are on Detroit,” Shelby said. “All eyes are on black men right now. And we need to have these discussions about what’s really at stake. The topics and things that matter to us. Things we want to see for ourselves. Our families and our communities.”

Organizers said Friday’s event is about meeting the people, the voters, where they are and giving them the opportunity to share what matters to them.

Barber Ulie Walker and his client James Beasley believe there is a lot at stake.

“How can we bring everything together when it comes to finances and education for our people,” Walker said.

This event included voter registration, a panel discussion with various community stakeholders, and a mobile health unit that offered free health screenings.

Organizer Dr. Alicia Shelby, MD, said providing comprehensive services and resources for this community event is important because she recognizes that access to health care is a community concern this election, both locally and nationally.

“I visited my husband’s hair salon and heard some information that wasn’t quite right, wasn’t quite wrong,” explained Dr. Shelby. “I thought, let’s bring everyone together to have a dialogue. Towards a collective understanding about the election.”

Organizers said they wanted neighbors to feel included and heard.

Christopher Ford from Force Detroit was among the participants. His organization focuses on community violence intervention. Ford said he has received a lot of interest from voters this election season.

“The conversation was very resonant,” Ford said. “We have a lot of people who are interested in the election itself. As far as participation in this election, we have some people who are not really committed to being part of the legislative process and voting.”

Organizers and supporters said the goal now is to keep the conversation going.

“I believe this is an opportunity to continue to build fellowship among the brothers,” Shelby said.