For over 10 years, Semester in Detroit has organized community classroom events that are free and open to the public. In recent years, SiD has collaborated with Wayne State University’s Department of African Studies, the Detroit Equity Action Lab, the Cass Corridor Commons and the General Baker Institute to bring Detroit community members, U-M + WSU students, faculty and staff together to learn more about Detroit’s past and present. The format varies from traditional panels to poetry readings to trips to jazz and cultural clubs throughout Detroit. Previous topics of discussion have focused on Education Justice to the Contemporary Labor Movement to Policing in Detroit. 

A special edition of Detroiters Speak for the fall 2023 semester will focus on Detroit hip-hop and its place in the broader recognition of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Presented in partnership with Detroit artists and cultural workers Khary Frazier and Sterling Toles, this series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the genre’s influence and its significance in shaping contemporary society, while delving specifically into the fascinating history of hip-hop and its roots in the vibrant city of Detroit. This includes explorations of the early developments, influential artists, and significant milestones that contributed to the emergence of hip-hop in Detroit, highlighting the city’s unique contributions to the genre. Students will learn from and with a range of Detroit artists exploring themes such as musical innovation, cultural identity and expression, language and slang, social activism and empowerment, global influence and cross-cultural exchange, technology and digital culture.