If you were to turn on a television in Detroit in the early 1960s, you would have seen something unprecedented in American broadcast history: a black woman delivering the weather.

That woman was Trudy Haynes, and her presence was revolutionary.

She wasn’t merely reading temperatures and forecasts – she was rewriting the rules of who belonged on television – and doing so with professionalism, poise, and undeniable charisma.

Haynes started off her career modeling and on the radio before transitioning over to television.

Her first TV weathercaster job was with WXYZ-TV Channel 7 in Detroit in 1963.

In a time when Detroit – and most of America – was racially divided, her appearance on air was more than a novelty – it was a challenge to the status quo.

The role gave her credibility, style, and confidence – and she won viewers with ease while quietly breaking down barriers.

That post lasted two years and provided a strong entryway for other journalists of color to follow in Haynes’ footsteps.

Haynes moved to Philadelphia in 1965 for a job at KYW-TV (later CBS3). There, she built a career covering presidents, celebrities, activists, and everyday citizens with the cadence and grace that made her famous in Detroit.

She covered civil rights marches, urban unrest, political changes, and cultural moments, earning an Emmy Award and numerous community honors as well as colleagues nationwide who revered her.

That said, Haynes was always most proud of the trail she left behind with her Detroit chapter.

It was there that she first took on a role no one else that looked like her had been allowed to fill and showed the city – and the entire country – what local news could be in the hands of a Black American.

With that in mind, Haynes continued to uplift others even after her retirement, teaching young broadcasters and speaking at schools and community events.

For her successors, journalism was about more than just being on camera – it was about responsibility, representation, and truth.

Her legacy was heavy, yet she carried it humbly, always crediting those before her and challenging the next generation to go further.

Trudy Haynes’ career included many firsts: the first Black woman weathercaster, the first African American reporter in a major TV market, and one of the first to show American diversity on air – not as a risk, but a necessity.

The brief time she spent in Detroit was memorable, setting the stage for the entire trajectory of her career.

In short: Trudy Haynes was more than a broadcaster.

She was a pioneer who turned barriers into gateways, forever changing the way Detroit and the nation viewed diversity on air.

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: October 8, 2025