The National Business League Detroit Chapter (NBL), the Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC), and the Booker T. Washington Trade Association (BTWTA) will announced new leadership and their coming together as the Detroit United Front at the 12th annual State of Black Business Summit on March 7.

These three top Black business organizations have joined forces to speak out against the ongoing benign neglect of Black businesses by the philanthropic, public, and private sectors. The Detroit United Front will provide real and independent representation to serve as a true economic advocate for Black businesses in the city for those who may not have a voice while simultaneously holding the systems, institutions and structures perpetuating lack of equity and exclusion, accountable.

By a delectable twist of happenstance, the steadfast backbone of NBL’s Detroit chapter is a nationally renowned chiropractor who treats back disorders. Beloved and trusted by a burgeoning throng of patients, Dr. Cecil I. Forbes, JR is founder, owner and operator of iCare Spine and Rehabilitation Centers PLLC, the Motor City’s premier facilities for the natural treatment of back pain, headaches, nerve impingements, whiplash, sciatica, and other chronic pain issues. With its longstanding 5-star Yelp© rating, iCare Spine and Rehabilitation Centers loom as the top-ranked chiropractic clinics in Detroit. In 2021, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Dr. Forbes to the state’s Board of Chiropractors, making him the second-only African American doctor appointed to the agency, and its first in over 30 years.

A graduate of Detroit’s Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Dr. Forbes earned his B.S. in Biology and Physical Therapy from Jackson State University, while earning his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic. He is a 2014 recipient of the Michigan Chronicle’s prestigious “40 under 40” award, and recipient of the Chronicle’s Men of Excellence Award (2018). He was named Top Chiropractor by the Hour Magazine. Dr. Forbes served as the augural Chapter Director of New Leaders Council Detroit, and Medical Director of the Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy, as well as a member the Michigan Association of Chiropractors. An alumni of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Dr. Forbes is a participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, and an alum of Dartmouth University’s Tuck Executive Training Program.

Brittany March has always found Detroit fascinating. Her story of basketball, Allen Iverson, and being the daughter of a Mumford HS teacher is classic. Brittany tells how Allen Iverson, hip-hop, fashion, and Hartford Memorial Baptist impacted her life. Learn how attending ‘Walled Lake Central HS’ and ‘Southfield High HS’ made an impression on her life, how her parent’s desire to have her in a ‘good school’ was not the right fit for her. Discover how her time after school with her mother playing basketball at Mumford HS was a needed signature on her attitude, style, and love of Detroit. After pouring over, Brittany’s passion for Detroit city to create a documentary as a tapestry of stories of all types of Detroiters featuring Shushana Shakur led to her introduction to Khary Frazier (Detroit is Different). Hear Brittany’s impression of Detroit is Different in 2017. Learn how March’s passion for pizza is a grand vision for the community. Her lifestyle and understanding of Dr. Sebi’s work connect Brittany to want to make a pizza for children in the community to grow up loving. Find out how to make vegan pizza a pizza that tastes good and how Brittany’s research and work are paying off. Every Sunday and first Saturday, you can visit Alkebu-lan Village (7701 Harper Detroit MI) and try the fantastic menu of vegan pizza, snacks, and food. This was an almost tearful interview for me (Khary Frazier) as Brittany shares how Detroit is Different inspired her.

Every Sunday and first Saturday, you can visit Alkebu-lan Village (7701 Harper Detroit MI) and try the fantastic menu of vegan pizza, snacks, and food. This was an almost tearful interview for me (Khary Frazier) as Brittany shares how Detroit is Different inspired her.

Elephants travel in packs and as a family. The story of the Tusk liquor brand connects deeply to that concept on many levels. Maurice ‘Mo’ Morton shares the story of how land originally purchased after his ancestors’ enslavement created Tusk spirits. After enslavement, Mo’s great 5x grandparents purchased over 50 acres of land stolen through racial discrimination and later returned to the family in 1906. The disconnect from the farm in Halifax, VA, only recently brought the family back to tend the land. Upon wishes of Mo’s grandfather to his living decedent daughter, retired from the federal government and committed to not sale, lease, or lease her family’s land. Today collectively, the family built a hemp farming business that now produces Tusk spirits of vodka and rum. In this interview, hear the dynamic story of ingenuity, family, and entrepreneurship. At the Garden Theater, Tusk was another favorite at the inaugural Taste of Black Spirits event on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Tusk Spirits Rum & Vodka produced from Hemp seed | www.tuskspirits.com | Halifax, VA | Instagram: @tusk_the_brand |

For Kings Not Gods is the brand launched by Greg Martinez Jr. The Southwest Detroit native spent his first career building a growing automotive business and now is into the business of liquor. FKNG will undoubtedly lead to what you think, but it’s a perfect brand for the Whiskey & Vodka that carries the name. Listen to how the brand and business began and is expanding daily. FKNG Vodka & Whiskey took the stage at the inaugural Taste of Black Spirits Saturday, February 19, 2022, at the Garden Theater.

FKNG – For Kings Not Gods Vodka & Bourbon | www.resistspirits.com | Detroit, MI | Instagram: @fkngvodka  @fkngbourbon

Dr. Kenfense Chike joins Detroit is DIfferent for a fruitful interview about African Centered Education. His personal experience teaching at Aisha Shule and NSOROMA Institute only drove his Ph.D. on the topic. Currently, he is one of the eight instructors leading the Black Education Workshop Series hosted by Alkebu-lan Village every Saturday through March 26, 2022, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm (at Alkebu-lan Village & Online virtually). We discuss the call to action for African Centered Education and the spiritual values, confidence, and knowledge. Dr. Chike also shares what it took for these institutions to start. He provides how his Academia journey began from the Wayne State University protest for Black Studies on campus. How the Aisha Shule’s Pyramid Performing Theater African Drum and Dance supported the students protesting and locking themselves in at WSU sparked his interest. Kenfense explains how African Centered Education is a movement from revolution and the fight for independent schools (Freedom Schools). The Black and Brown people in this land want to build their children up with self-knowledge. Dr. Chike shares the naming brand of Aisha Shule; being a home for ‘the Gifted Child’ was a foundation of value. The spiritual sustenance African Centered Education provides a whole family.

Based on a True Story (BOATS) is the ep debut album effort from vocalist Tamara Jewel. Jewel’s vocals lace the soundtrack of many of Detroit’s most known hip-hop anthems (Payroll Giovanni, MJ the Don, and many others) and at the start of 2022 she released her first solo work. In this Detroit is Different interview we explore her start from Dayton OH (another D) to come to Detroit. The choir, church, poetry beginnings that led to her embracing the stage today are what sparked her journey connecting her creativity to the world. Jewel talks about the collective work of writing songs in unions with other artists and how to ensure the business is taken care of. BOATS is Jewel’s personal effort mixing personal experience and artistry to give songs like ‘Mr. Rebound’ and ‘If it Aint Love.’ Jewel’s approach to the studio and work ethic of recording for self and production is her love and science. Finally, learn about Tamara’s love for acting on stage and film as well.