By Starex Smith | Detroit isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling. It’s the heartbeat of a people who refuse to be erased, a city where history simmers in cast-iron skillets and resilience is plated alongside every meal. I’ve spent years traveling, tasting, and telling stories of Black food and culture across this country, but nowhere has drawn me in quite like Detroit. The love I have for this city is as deep as the char on a perfectly grilled ribeye, as rich as a slow-simmered pot of greens. I have poured more than $200,000 over 10 years in the hands of the city’s Black restaurant owners, charitable causes, and even direct grants to entrepreneurs. I have committed myself to the mobility of the city’s Black population, because when the city wins, Black America wins. I hope after reading my love letter to the city, you will see why and join me in making this beautiful city your second home.
I am Starex Smith, founder of The Hungry Black Man platform and a proud Miamian, but Detroit has my heart. I fell in love with this city over a decade ago—long before it was trendy, long before Instagram influencers used it as a backdrop, and long before the bandwagoners of the Detroit Lions’ newfound success.
I came here to write about Black people and food, but what I discovered was a story far bigger than what was on the plate. I arrived when national publications were misrepresenting and criticizing the city for its perceived crime issues, political turmoil, and poverty. Instead, I found a place where Black ownership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. Here, the cultural and economic DNA of Black America is preserved in a way that Atlanta, often touted as the Black Mecca, has struggled to maintain…