Detroit and Flint have made national headlines almost daily for the last several weeks. I am from Detroit and this coverage has especially impacted me.
From celebrities donating funds and grassroots organizations protesting for change, there is no shortage of information to share about these two Michigan cities. Still, Detroit and Flint residents know they’ll be okay. Eventually, as they continue to work hard and find solutions to their issues, things will be better.
When Africans came to America as slaves, they have been finding creative ways to adapt to the unique challenges created when you are not male, White and Protestant. And it’s no different for the residents of Detroit and Flint. Since the issues have occurred in Flint and Detroit, residents have found ways to survive. And they’ve done so because government leaders ignored them leaving them to make the best out of their situations.
Questions remain, where did it go wrong in these cities? And why? Some will argue it’s racial, some will argue it’s socioeconomic status , some will argue it’s political, some will argue it’s just how things are.
And yet others will wonder where the media attention came from? Why didn’t local news affiliates cover the issues? In fact, many local affiliates did cover the issues that people found in Detroit Public Schools and with Flint’s water. But nobody listened to them either. This is leaving some to question: If the news media is supposed to be the “watchdogs” of America, then why aren’t they trusted or listened to when they cover local issues?
The residents of Flint and Detroit should be looked at as a representative sample of urban communities in America. It could easily be Chicago, Baltimore, or Cleveland where the problems in infrastructure could have occurred causing issues within the public school system or the water supply.
Together, as a nation, we need to discover a way to ensure this representative sample, is able to get the assistance they need to improve the quality of life. In doing so, we will discover how to ensure this doesn’t happen again or in any other city.
Still, Flint and Detroit residents want everybody to know, “we’re okay” and will be okay.
[Ooh Child by: The Five Stair Steps]
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
