Career politician Brenda Lawrence never sat in an Ivy League classroom.

She never had any legacy networks to tap into.

Her rise came instead in the form of her time spent in crowded soup kitchens, union halls, and within the church pews of Detroit and Southfield. 

She was the kind of fearless leader who could balance a city budget and fold church programs, a soft-spoken politician who could talk about upgrading infrastructure one minute and social policy the next – all without ever missing a beat or losing the crowd’s attention.

Where so much political power feels distant and self-serving, Brenda Lawrence made leadership feel like a homecooked meal – practical, generous, and good for the soul.

Brenda was born on Detroit’s east side in 1954, and was raised by her working-class grandparents after her mother passed away when she was just three years old. 

Her grandfather worked as a line worker at the Ford Rouge Plant, and her grandmother led the household with the fortitude of so many mid-century Detroit Black matriarchs before her, bringing young Lawrence up in a time when the city was deeply entrenched in the civil rights movement.

Lawrence would then go on to attend Pershing High School and later graduate in public administration from Central Michigan University.

However, long before she was giving speeches or signing bills, she had another role entirely: clocking in at the United States Postal Service.

It was a job that would go on to lay the groundwork of her politics: service, structure, and always showing up on time.

The 1980s saw Lawrence move to Southfield, a predominantly white suburban neighborhood northwest of Detroit.

It was a time when the city was undergoing a slow demographic shift, with more Black families seeking out safe middle-class communities to settle down in.

Lawrence later got involved in politics through the Southfield Public School Board, on which she served as President, her straight-talking style, collaborative spirit, and operations background making her a powerful leader.

Then, in 2001, she ran for mayor and won, becoming Southfield’s first Black mayor and its first female mayor.

Lawrence would go on to serve four terms, making her the city’s longest-running mayor. 

Her legacy in Southfield includes:

• Economic Development – bringing in new businesses while revitalizing aging office parks and malls.
• Infrastructure – Streamlining water systems, improving public transit options, and preserving Southfield’s leafy, livable appeal.
• Public Safety – Providing support for community policing and having one of the lowest crime rates in the region.
• Civic Unity – Connecting Southfield’s growing multicultural population through town hall meetings, cultural events, and youth programs.

In short, Lawrence redefined suburban leadership – a Black woman with deep roots to the city who was leading a diverse suburb in a post-industrial state.

Lawrence was noticed in Southfield, especially after she ran for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 2010 against gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero – a race that put her on the radar as a statewide figure with crossover appeal.

Lawrence then ran for Michigan’s 14th Congressional District in 2014 after longtime Rep Gary Peters retired.

She won, becoming the third Black woman elected to Congress from Michigan after Barbra-Rose Collins and Rashida Tlaib.

During her time in Congress, Lawrence quickly became known as a workhorse rather than a show pony. 

She didn’t chase headlines, and she never missed a vote.

Her committees included:

The House Appropriations Committee

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

The Congressional Black Caucus

And The Congressional Progressive Caucus

Her priorities were clear.

Economic justice.

Women’s health.

Racial equity.

And last but not least, supporting working families.

Lawrence’s key accomplishments and stances included:

Postal Service Protection: a former postal worker herself, she fought for USPS jobs and services in underserved communities.

Workplace Equity: including paid parental leave, equal pay legislation, and increased benefits for federal workers.

Mental Health Access: more mental health funding for veterans and communities of color.

Black Maternal Health: promotion of policies targeted at reducing the disproportionate mortality rate of Black mothers.

Gun Reform: Universal background checks and red flag laws, including calling gun violence a public health crisis.

She was also not afraid to call out injustice within her own party, demanding more diversity in leadership.

That said, Lawrence never needed to express rage in order to get her point across. 

She let her record speak for itself, all while remaining firmly rooted in Detroit throughout her entire congressional career. 

She held regular town halls. 

She walked in parades.

She did surprise pop-ins at schools and small businesses. 

In fact, Lawrence’s presence in her district was so constant that some constituents even joked that she not only never left – she brought D.C. home with her, going on to mentor thousands of young Black women in support of her belief that “representation isn’t enough until it creates opportunity.”

Lawrence did not try for reelection in 2022, stating that she wanted to spend more time with family and make room for the next generation. 

Her departure earned bipartisan praise from colleagues, constituents, and community members alike.

She left Congress as one of Michigan’s most respected, consistent, and community-driven leaders, ending a public life that began in a postal sorting room in the halls of national power.

That said, one should never confuse her retirement with retreat.

Brenda Lawrence continues to speak, mentor, and support local and national causes – especially those that advance Black women in leadership and defend public service as a calling.

In short, her legacy is about so much more than just what bills she helped pass: it lives on in all the young black activists she’s passed the torch on to.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: June 26, 2025