Community Stories: Kenya Abbott Jr., Oak Park

My family was always very intentional about how we celebrated blackness. From our membership in the Shrine of the Black Madonna to my collection of Black Barbie dolls, it was constantly reinforced to me that being Black was something to be proud of and that has made a huge impact on how I show up in the world.

As an adult, that pride still resonates on my podcast PoliticKen where I bring together millennials, youth, and elders to discuss Black life as it relates to Detroit and beyond.

I don’t know if I would have become the success that I am today without those early positive reinforcements from my family – from my grandparents, in particular. Matter of fact, the house I live in now is the same home they raised my mother in. It was deeded to me on my 25th birthday which meant so much because of the memories I made there growing up and because it’s an opportunity to create generational wealth.

For centuries Black people were denied those opportunities and we still face hurdles when it comes to gaining, maintaining, and passing down generational wealth. I’m on a mission to change that.

Kenya Abbott Jr. is the founder of KenShip, an organization focused on community and youth development.

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