The Evolution of Black Political Power and Representation in Macomb County

(Photo: Members of the African American Coalition celebrate Juneteenth in Sterling Heights) The Black political footprints and fingerprints are expanding exponentially for African Americans elected to public offices in Macomb County. A major reason for the escalation of Black representation is directly attributed to the growing population of African Americans moving to Macomb over the last six decades. In 1970, Macomb County’s population was approximately 625,309, with one percent identifying as African American (roughly 6,253). In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Michigan’s third-largest county had a population of 875,101 people, with 14.1 percent identifying as African American (approximately 123,389). With such a substantial population increase, African Americans have won a growing number of elected offices across the broad sectors of Macomb’s political landscape. Today, of the 13-member Macomb County Board of Commissions, the legislative body has two Black commissioners:& Antoinette Wallace (District 8) and Michelle Nard (District 12). In the Michigan House of Representatives, Rep. Donavan McKinney (14th House District) and Kimberly Edwards (12th House District), in 2022, became the first African Americans ever to represent Macomb County in Lansing.& In Warren, Macomb County’s largest municipality, Melody Magee in 2023, was elected as the first Black City Council...