The blogosphere and traditional media are salivating over the news that Detroit, Michigan, a city known for giving the United States the car industry, Motown and an incredible sense of style has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy to protect itself from over 1,000 creditors. This latest black eye to a brilliant city which has been under siege by poor city management and leadership for decades (Kwame Kilpatrick anyone?) has been met with sadness, despair, anger and hate (cue native son and benefactor Mitt Romney championing letting Detroit die) and interestingly enough, relief. It is often said that the closing of one door leads to the opening of another. This is true in the case of a city that is too black, too proud and dare say it, too strong to just “die.”
Ted X Detroit: A Video Poem (Homage to Detroit) from Stephen McGee Films on Vimeo.
While many flee Detroit, some return like poet and performer extraordinaire Jessica Care Moore, whose ode to “The D” is the canvas against which filmmaker Stephen McGee’s captivating images of a city poised to rise from the ashes and to greatness once again means to those who, live, breathe and die for the Motor City. Instead of following the path most taken by media, The Burton Wire is following the path least taken and cheering for the reemergence of the diamond city that has been languishing in the rough known affectionately as Motown, Motor City, Rock City, Detroit Rock City, the 313, D-town, Hockey Town, The D and of course the City of Champions. Once the dust settles and the ink dries on this bankruptcy, many things will change but one thing will remain the same – Detroiters have the hearts of champions and the will of steel. Although Detroit is down, do not count it out as this great city and its people will surely rise again.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire.
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