Earlier this week I was tagged in a video that I had seen multiple times on my timeline. Since I was tagged in the video by one of my closest friends I decided to check it out. The video was entitled “I’m from Motor City”. As I first began to watch the video, I was thinking to myself “why did she tag me in this video?” However, as soon as I began to listen to the words I knew exactly why.
Majority of the words from the song were the street names of the city. EVERY SINGLE STREET name was represented. Being born and raised in Detroit, I waited in anticipation to hear the different streets and neighborhoods that I resided in. Once I heard my street names, a big smile crossed my face and I began to dance and cheer.
After the song was over I began to think of the real meaning behind the song. This song was not just a symbol of pride from one Detroiter but this song was a showing of unity. Too many times when I watch the news I hear of the violence in the streets. I hear of people from one street or neighborhood killing another person, just because they reside on a different street or are from a different neighborhood. This song showed me just how crazy this was.
We as a city have adopted the phase Detroit vs. Everybody but we still fight over who is better Eastside or Westside, 6 mile or 7 mile, etc. We cannot continue to say Detroit vs. Everybody when we are still divided inside. Every person, that resides in every neighborhood, make-up Detroit. We as a city have all seen hard times. We have all known what is like to be laughed at, mocked, ridiculed, embarrassed and counted out. When people from the outside look at Detroit, they don’t see the street you are from, they see the city. No matter what neighborhood or street you come from, you are still a Detroiter. Detroiters have been through more trials and tribulations than most. We have had to show strength and resilience when many would have given up. In order to get Detroit to be the city that I know it can be is if we unite altogether. That is why this song means so much to me. Although the singer of the song listed every street name, he continued to specify that he is from the MOTOR CITY. It is time that we all start to act that way. No matter what block you come from at the end of the day you are from “the D”. Together we will make up Detroit and together we will be the ones to change it.
To watch the video go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY7AJepJfJo