ABOUT VOD

VOICE OF DETROIT (VOD)

Unbought and unbossed, published by Voice of Detroit LLC

P.O. Box 32684 Detroit, Michigan 48232

Phone: 313-825-6126

Fax: 313-557-1576

http://voiceofdetroit.net

The Voice of Detroit (VOD) presents in-depth news stories on the people’s struggles, here in Detroit, nationally and world-wide.  VOD also features commentary and announcements by progressive organizations of upcoming events. It is based in Detroit, Michigan.

DIANE BUKOWSKI, EDITOR

Diane is a life-long Detroiter. She  produced thousands of ground-breaking investigative articles and photos  for The Michigan Citizen for more than 10 years. In 2000, she broke the story of Eugene Brown, the Detroit police officer who unjustifiably killed three men in 1995, 1996 and 1999, in a piece headlined SERIAL KILLER KOPS?

She continued to expose killer and rapist cops, as well as the failure of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to charge them. She  authored numerous stories on battles against prison abuses like juvenile life without parole. She covered the Detroit Public Schools beat for eight years, the devastation of public services and employment, the Detroit Medical Center, and numerous other matters.

She is now a contributing writer for The Final Call and San Francisco Bay View Newspapers, with free-lance articles appearing in other papers in addition to the VOD.

Bukowski worked for the City of Detroit from 1974 t0 1999, in the Health and Human Rights Departments. She was a union leader in Local 457 of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). She co-founded the Coalition to Stop Privatization and Save Our City in 1992.

KENNETH SNODGRASS, ACTIVIST, PHOTO/VIDEOGRAPHER, JOURNALIST

Mr.  Kenneth Snodgrass, author of From Victimization to Empowerment, The Challenge Of African American Leadership, The Need Of Real Power, is an African American intellectual,  who has been a political activist for more than 44 years. His work with numerous community organizations has supplied him with an arsenal to study the lessons of our ancestors and people from the past and present.  

Mr. Snodgrass’s writings show his deep conviction, dedication and spirit.  He considers himself an African Warrior struggling to bring about economic, political, and social changes in America that will help to empower African people in America and the Diaspora. His writings, opinions and poetry continue to be provocative and controversial occasionally!  They express his originality, creativity and his analysis! 

They reflect the reality of Two Americas, one white and powerful and one Black, a nation of people who have been subject to hundreds of years of Slavery, white supremacy and Jim Crow. They reflect the need for collective struggle, strength and commitment, by African Americans locally, nationally and internationally. 

Mr. Snodgrass believes that we need to evaluate the concepts, ideas, writings and projections of our past and present historians, intellectuals, because there are so many different viewpoints about the movement.  We need to begin answering these new questions about our future with new ideas, new thoughts and new projections.  

One of Ken’s past editors Wanda Roquemore, publisher and editor of “All About Detroit,” said, “Your writings and analysis always challenge you to think about the problem and to think about the solution.” 

Mr. Snodgrass has a philosopher’s understanding of what is Freedom, Citizenship, Political Direction, Culture and sub-Culture, our Identity, Dignity, Pride, Spirituality, Humanity, Collective Struggles, Freedom, and the African Identity.  Questions we ask as a people and as a nation will need to be answered in the 21 century. 

Mr. Snodgrass has worked with many community and political groups, e.g. Black Panther Party, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the All African Peoples Union (AAPU), the Committee for Political Development, the Advocators, National Organization for America (NOAR), Save Our Son and Daughter (SOSAD), the Michigan Committee to Organize the Unemployed, Detroiter’s for Dignity (a senior citizen group), U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange, the Justice for Cuba Coalition, Black Left Unity (BLU), and many other issue oriented groups. 

Mr. Snodgrass (Ken) is opposed to the U.S.A. dominating international policies on Central America, Africa and the Third World Countries, because it projects American chauvinism and racism and works against the development of self-autonomy of their Nations.  Also the USA is in the process of carrying out low intensity warfare.  He supports the liberation struggles of oppressed people for humanitarian advancement i.e. their struggles for the elimination of racism, sexism, materialism, consumerism, militarism, colonialism, U.S. hegemony, environment destruction etc.            

Kenneth has been writing publicly for the last 25 years and his articles have appeared in over 50 different weekly and monthly publications, including journals, newsletters, local and national newspapers and national wire services. Some of the publications were weekly and some are monthly.  

The publications include Witness for Peace and Justice (focus on Central American issues), the Washington Afro-American, The Challenger (New York), The Final Call (Chicago- Nation), The Michigan Chronicle, The Michigan Citizen, Caribbean Entertainment Guide (Michigan & Canada), The Muskegon Chronicle, the Muslim Journal (Chicago, IL), Power to the People (Ontario, Canada), The Workers’ Advocate (National- Chicago), Peoples Weekly World  (National), Flint Enquirer New, Baragua (a publication about Central America), The IBasta (Hispanic), Workers World News National -NY, NY, and El Central (an Hispanic weekly newspaper in Michigan). 

Additional publications are The People’s Tribune (IL), The Panther Spirit (Milwaukee, WIS),  Muhammad Speaks Continues (H. Park, MI.), Justice Speaks (NC), The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), Call & Post (Cleveland, Ohio) Survival News (W. Roxbury, Ma), Today’s African American Chronicle (Chicago, IL), African-American Re.(Chicago, IL).  He has also contributed to local newsletters such as Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD), Respect Yourself New, and been an NNPA correspondent. 

Mr. Snodgrass has traveled several times to Africa, Central America, South America, Cuba, the West Indies, the British Virgin Islands, and Europe, etc.  His travels have afforded him a great opportunity to experience multiple cultures and life styles.  They have given him a prime opportunity to take photos locally, nationally as well as internationally. 

Mr. Snodgrass has been a photographer for over 45 years and still feels an extreme sense of creativity. He has also been video recording, documenting the movement and his travels. He now has over 250 community videos on his YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/KennySnod. By A No Struggle, No Development! Production By Kenny Snodgrass, Activist, Photographer/Videographer, Author. 

His videos have been shown on Democracy Now!, an Independent Radio & TV News channel. In the last three years Kenny’s You Tube videos have received over 83,000 hits/views, and been seen/viewed in 42 country around the world. 

His works have been displayed in a wide range of areas i.e. Detroit Public Library, Northwest Activity Center, Manufacturer Nation Bank, The McNamara Federal Building, Detroit Repertory Theater, the African World Festival, Museum of African American History, Joe Martines camp in Cuba, and multiple showings at other galleries in Cuba. 

VOD NEEDS OTHER REPORTERS, WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, MARKETERS AND STAFF. At this point, VOD is not able to pay, but we are working on setting up advertising and links with other organizations to eventually produce revenue and hopefully a print edition of an uncompromising newspaper that addresses the struggles in this city’s majority Black community as well as struggles of poor and working people world-wide.

 To submit articles, or to advertise, email VODeditor@hotmail.com.

Comments on this site are allowed, but they will be reviewed periodically and WILL BE DELETED IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING COMMENTS EVIDENCING RACISM AND HOSTILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM VOICE OF DETROIT REPORTERS AND COLUMNISTS MAY BE RE-PUBLISHED, IN WHOLE AND WITHOUT ALTERATION, WITH ATTRIBUTION TO THE REPORTER OR COLUMNIST AND THE VOICE OF DETROIT, AND A LINK TO THIS WEBSITE.

SPECIAL THANKS GO TO KATHY RUSSELL, WHO CONTRIBUTED HER TIME AND SKILLS PRO BONO TO BUILD BOTH BUKOWSKI’S LEGAL DEFENSE SITE, AND THE VOICE OF DETROIT SITE. SHE HAS BEEN A TRUE FRIEND IN THE STRUGGLE.