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Lt. Governor Gilchrist on Black History Month and needed changes in America

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist
Posted at 6:39 PM, Feb 01, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-01 19:45:57-05

(WXYZ) — In tonight's 7 UpFront reporter we're celebrating Black History Month and the changes that still need to be made in our country.

Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have released a video on YouTube to honor the contributions Black Americans have made to our economy, culture, and history.

We're being joined for the UpFront segment but Gilchrist, who says it's a reminder to keep an eye towards the future of progress.

You can see the full interview in the video player above.

"Our progress, just like our progress with the pandemic, is progress that we have to be vigilant about and take care of because it is fragile," Gilchrist says. "We've seen over the last four years an increase in hate groups and crimes really coming out of the shadows and feeling like they've been empowered and I hope with our new national leadership that a new tone is set, there's less space for that hatred. Instead, there's space for people to recognize that they have a role to play in the future of our communities and our country and that Black folks have a role to play too, and that's okay."