Detroit social media influencers don’t think politicians understand their communities

The AAPI Victory Fund held a listening session in Detroit on issues this election | Lucy Valeski

Social media influencers from Detroit met up Monday to talk engagement tactics for potential voters on social media ahead of November elections.

The national advocacy organization AAPI Victory Fund organized the listening session, and it was facilitated by rapper Beanie Sigel, record label executive Wayno Clark and activist Yusef Shakur. The organizers reached out to people of color in Detroit who had a following on social media to participate in the conversation.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist also made a brief appearance halfway through the event, thanking the participants for talking about political issues honestly.

“I think we planned voting as a solution in and of itself, at the pulse of being part of what it takes to make change happen,” Gilchrist said. “There’s a lot of work that happens, up to, for and then after ballots are cast, that it takes to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Most of the creators made it clear they were interested in politicians who truly understood the communities they represented and who focus on issues in campaigns, rather than just talking down on the other side.

“I think that goes back to what we were saying earlier about speaking with and not to ,” Kamaria Gray, who helps run @DetroitHoodstead, said after the listening session. “Because you can’t advocate for people who you don’t know or you don’t know what they care about.”

Many of the participants also had in-person followings in the community, like working with kids or young adults.

Since all of the participants were online influencers, some of the discussion focused on getting people, specifically younger voters, engaged in politics ahead of the election.

Donny Wilson, a creator that makes videos about food in Detroit, said he has conversations with younger people and his peers about policy, rather than candidates. He tells people to think about what is important to them and vote based on who represents their values, not solely on how the candidate talks or acts.

“Working with young people, I try and make sure they’re exposed to not just who the candidates are, but the issues. The policies, those are important,” Wilson said.

But sometimes it seems like none of the candidates in the upcoming elections are supporting what is important to voters, according to Amber Lewis, an influencer and advertising director. This makes it important for people to engage in politics and voice their opinions on what matters to them, which can shape agendas overtime, participants said.

Other speakers floated reparations, investment in public education and  protection for free speech online by not banning TikTok as policy items that were important to them.

“I have a lot of conversations with influencers, because we are getting asked by politicians, by organizations, to advocate,” Lewis said. “And people feel like: ‘Why would I advocate for somebody who is not already working on policy that impacts or benefits me, and then put my name on the line for people who are not doing work.’”

Asima Khan spoke about using her platform to talk about her political beliefs, especially surrounding her posts about a ceasefire in Gaza. She said her online advocacy lost her some followers, but it also helped educate more people.

Many kids struggle with skills like reading and writing, which Gray said makes it hard to get the younger generation involved in politics.

Gray said she thought there was a “bystander effect” happening in Detroit where young people see the complicated political situation and hope someone else will handle it.

“It’s very challenging for us to push past the lack of education…like the kids can’t read,” Gray said. “How do we expect them to get involved in local elections and organize and be a part or even run for office?”

The creators emphasized the importance of elected officials seeing their constituents as real people. This could mean engaging with them outside of strictly “campaign events.”

Jay Pitts, a musician, saw it like a teacher-student basketball game, where students could see a more human side of their educators.

“That represents, right there, that level of relatability, community, trust; you sitting in the chair of community,” Pitts said after the listening session. “So therefore, when it’s time for you to preach to me about anything, you have my ear, my respect, because you came and you got down with me on my level. So, it’s like replicating that culturally.”

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