S7E15 -Protect Your Crown, James Tate on Healing, Policy, and Mental Health for Black Men

"People don’t care about policy—they want to know if you care about them." Detroit is Different is back in studio with District 1 Detroit City Councilmember James Tate, and we’re getting deep. Tate returns to the mic not just as a policymaker but as a Black man opening up about what it truly means to protect your crown—mentally, spiritually, and politically. In one of the most personal Detroit is Different interviews ever, Tate unpacks his own mental health journey, revealing how heartbreak and betrayal spiraled into alcohol dependency, and how that pain sparked a long road toward healing. “I was a functioning alcoholic, self-medicating while trying to keep a public face,” he admits, sharing the raw truth of how anxiety manifests in his life and why he's no longer hiding from it. From behind the wheel of his car, sweating through moments of panic, to behind the podium of city council meetings, Tate discusses how mental health impacts leadership, legacy, and being a Black man in a society that expects stoic strength.

Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.

Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.

Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [e-mail]