While driving through one of the neighborhoods in Detroit this past week I was reminded of the time I spent in Africa last year. In Africa the thing that amazed me most was looking around and seeing my people in the majority. I saw streets filled only with people who looked like me, whose golden to ebony skin hues glistened in the sun as they worked, as they fellowshipped, as they scurried from one destination to the next. I had never seen a more beautiful sight.
Detroit, with its Black population making up about 83% of the total population in the city reminds me of that. For better or for worse. When I drive through certain areas of Detroit I see communities, many abandoned, many neglected, many broken by gentrification or disinvestment. Often I only see Black faces for miles and miles. I see my people working, doing things like selling water on the sides of roads to diligently washing and detailing cars at local shops. I see my people coming together, interacting with one another on the streets. I see that what is left of these communities has been sustained in large part by Black labor, Black sacrifice, and Black persistence.
As many talk of Detroit’s revitalization, I can’t help but to think about why people are even taking the time to reinvest in the city. Why does Detroit matter to the people who are tearing apart neighborhoods, to the people building up fancy new stores in midtown and downtown areas? Where they see dollar signs I see my people. I see Black culture. I see Black power. I see Black strength. I see Black resilience. I see Black excellence. Detroit matters, because Black lives matter and for that simple fact I see my time here as a worthwhile contribution to my people to help reclaim cities, communities, neighborhoods, schools, jobs, and most importantly lives that are ours.
My internship specifically focuses on early childhood interventions to get more children in these communities ready for school. I see this as an opportunity to get children ready to be among the ranks of their white peers. I see this as an opportunity to equip them with the resources and power to be leaders and demand back what years of neglect and disinvestment in the city and its people has taken from them.
I love this post! “Detroit Matters because Black Lives Matter”. I like that a lot. It is such positive and relevant perspective when considering the demographics of this city.
I’d love to hear more about what you did in Africa and what you learned! I’m so glad that it was a great experience and that its relevance still carries on here today in America. Great post!