DETROIT – Three Black fathers who are raising Black or biracial children in America spoke candidly about teaching their son to try to avoid racism and, quite frankly, just survive. All of the dads have incredible hope when it comes to social justice. He shared why he’s optimistic that things will get better in our country’s fight against racism. He, along with local musician Herb Harris Junior and Lucas Hagerty, are all raising Black or biracial sons. “I want to model that for them.”More: ‘Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream’ SpecialExtended cut: Evrod Cassimy talks with fathers on raising Black sons in AmericaSpecial Section: Spirit Of Detroit Fulfilling The Dream

DETROIT – There has been a wide spectrum of faces at the protests in Detroit, including those who’ve marched the path so many times before and those for whom the journey is relatively new. Local 4′s Devin Scillian was joined on Tuesday night by the head of the Detroit branch of the NAACP and a new face many Detroiters now recognize, Stefan Perez. Click here for more Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream reportsWatch the discussion in the video above

DETROIT – Local 4 sat down with eight local high school and college students ages 14 to 18 from the inner city to the suburbs to talk about the racial equality movement. READ: How Metro Detroit high school students are working for diversity, inclusion, acceptanceThe students said they believe attention and exposure to racial diversity initiatives is needed in school. They also said students need better education about race and the African American side of American history past and present. Extended cut: Rhonda Walker talks to youth in Metro Detroit about racism, climateWatch the full report aboveClick here for more Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream reports

DETROIT – It’s difficult watching what’s happened to Black men in our country. Many young Black men are taught by their parents how some people in the world might view them and the things they should do in hopes of staying safe. We sat down with three Black fathers about how and when they have this difficult conversation with their sons. They all spoke candidly about the challenges or differences raising black or biracial young men in today’s climate compared to their white counterparts. The conversations about race started when their sons began asking questions or as certain incidents, like George Floyd, have made headlines.

Local 4′s Paula Tutman shared a story of a couple who was there that day and has continued to risk their lives to pave the way for civil rights and social justice. When King debuted his original “I Have A Dream” speech in Detroit in 1963, somewhere in the crowd was a 22-year-old warrior for civil rights named Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge. “It was a very exciting day to be a part of the march,” Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge said. Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge and her husband Dan Aldridge have spent more than six decades fighting for civil rights, equality and social justice. Now, the fight for civil rights seems different.

Watch: Conversation on race with Wendell Anthony and Stefan PerezPublished: June 23, 2020, 11:05 pmThere has been a wide spectrum of faces at the protests in Detroit, including those who’ve marched the path so many times before and those for whom the journey is relatively new.

Students share their views on the racial equality movementPublished: June 23, 2020, 10:48 pmLocal 4 sat down with eight local high school and college students ages 14 to 18 from the inner city to the suburbs to talk about the racial equality movement.

Housing discrimination in Detroit: An example of systemic racismPublished: June 23, 2020, 10:26 pmOne concept has been often mentioned amid our country’s current crisis, but it is not as often understood: systemic racism.

DETROIT – Detroit teacher Quan Neloms is from the heart of Detroit and began working in the education system as a school volunteer in the late 1990s. Once thing he’s noticed since his journey began is the lack of Black men in the school system -- and, for the sake of our youth, that has to change. “The main thing is that we want to impress on Black men (is) that you are needed,” Neloms said. “Being involved in education, in the field of education as black men. The teacher also created an organization called In Demand, whose aim is to help older Black men make a positive impact on future leaders in the Black community.

DETROIT One concept has been often mentioned amid our countrys current crisis, but it is not as often understood: systemic racism. Systemic racism shows up across systems in our community such as education, the criminal justice system, employment and housing. When it comes to housing discrimination, there is no need to look further than what happened right here in Detroit. The Black man was forced to find a house in a Black neighborhood or in a newly-developed housing project, such as Brewster Douglass. By the 1960s, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Black people were fed up with housing discrimination in addition to systemic police abuse, job discrimination and other forms of bias.

We believe that as you mature -- in your lifestyle, as a person -- your wardrobe should match that, Dekoven Humes said. The Humes brothers recognize in some situations, though, no matter what you wear, those who harbor hatred still wont respect you. The brothers are encouraging people of all races to consider how they can also create positive change and address the nations inherited issue of racism. What are we going to do to make the change on something that we all inherited? said Dekoven Humes. The Humes Brothers said its important to have those tough conversations, not with just your friends and family members, but with your coworkers.

It’s difficult watching what’s happened to Black men in our country. Many young Black men are taught by their parents how some people in the world might view them and the things they should do in hopes of staying safe. Local 4′s Evrod Cassimy sat down with three Black fathers about how and when they have this difficult conversation with their sons. Watch the full extended cut of the interview in the video player above. Watch Local 4′s ‘Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream’ Special live here at 10 p.m. Tuesday, where we continue the discussion on racism in America.

As people across our nation are making their voices heard about changing systemic racism, Local 4 wants to make sure the local voices in our community, that are in support of that, are front and center. And WDIV is committed to keeping these discussions going. That is why Local 4s live special - Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream - confronts racism head on in the hopes of educating ourselves and helping to make a real difference in our communities. This live, one-hour special airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. It coincides with the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jrs march in Detroit, where he first debuted his I Have A Dream speech, and created a movement much like the one happening in cities across the world right now.