'He provoked you to think': Detroit leaders reflect on Stevie Wonder's 'Innervisions' turning 50

Michigan native and Motown Records legend Stevie Wonder’s seminal album, “Innervisions,” turns 50 years old this week.

Wonder released the recording at a time when he commanded artistic autonomy to pursue issues such as race discrimination and social injustice. The artist who was born in Saginaw and raised in Detroit was 23 years old at the time of “Innervisions” release on Aug. 3, 1973. Tracks in the collection also address the problem of drug abuse in “Too High” and systemic racism in “Living for the City.”

The Advance interviewed Michigan political officials who have been impacted by the collection.

Jonathan Kinloch, a Wayne County commissioner, grew up in Detroit as a Stevie Wonder fan. Kinloch remembers Wonder’s activism and described it as a source of inspiration. ................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/blog/he-provoked-you-to-think-detroit-leaders-reflect-on-stevie-wonders-innervisions-turning-50/