Detroit Youth Organize:
‘We Will Be the Change'
by
Grace Lee Boggs
"The time has come for us to create new infrastructures
from the ground up and that this will require our long-range commitment."
This article originally appeared in the Michigan Citizen.
Several hundred activists, of all ages and from the many ethnic groups which
make Detroit so interesting these days, voiced both their concerns and
solutions at the October 5-6 meetings co-hosted at Youthville by Detroit City of Hope and
Detroit Gathering for Justice.
The meetings began each morning with the DVD of the "Gatherings for Justice"
which Harry Belafonte has been convening around the country to build an
intergenerational movement against the incarceration of inner city youth.
On Friday more than 200 young people from City Year and a number of schools
(including Finney, Cass Tech, Detroit International Academy for Young Women,
Fredrick Douglass Preparatory, University Prep High and Middle School)
participated with about 40 adults in a lively program led by the Detroit Summer Collective. Following
Invincible's rap ("If we want to see the change, we must be the change"),
teenage DSC members used LAMP (Live
Arts Media Project) skills to encourage their peers to come up with
positive solutions to the school dropout and youth criminalization crises.
"I felt that I was witnessing the birth of a new kind of
education and a new kind of movement."
Observing their leadership in one workshop of about 40 young people, I felt
that I was witnessing the birth of a new kind of education and a new kind of
movement. Instead of just complaining or protesting, instead of depending on
charismatic leaders or the goodwill and favors of politicians, these young
people are educating one another and developing their own leadership skills by
coming together to imagine individual, community and city-wide solutions to
real but seemingly insurmountable problems.
Some participants were so inspired by the process that they volunteered to
organize similar workshops in their schools.
On Saturday about 100 people, mainly adults, came together. In the morning we
formed a large circle to share stories of ongoing activities. Ron Scott, from
the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, explained how his organization
will be focusing on creating neighborhood peace zones by encouraging community
residents to develop ways to resolve their own conflicts. Elena Herrada
described the raids that are creating a reign of terror in the Latino
community. Jackie Victor, co-owner of Avalon Bakery, pointed out how the
absence of big box stores in Detroit provides exceptional opportunities for
entrepreneurship.
After lunch we met in workshops to discuss particular issues: Peace Zones and
Safe Spaces; Restorative Justice and Youth Incarceration; Media, Arts, and
Activism; Immigration and Deportation Issues; Spatial Segregation, Racism, and
Stereotypes; Education and Communities; Jobs, Entrepreneurs and Local Economic
Empowerment.
"Raids are creating a reign of terror in the Latino
community."
The Entrepreneurial group talked about urban gardens, the end of jobs, small
businesses. They envisage producing a community business plan and want to learn
more about what's taking place in other cities, e.g. the Green Collar Movement
in Oakland, California, the Green Workers Coop in the Sustainable South Bronx.
The Media and Arts group decided that Detroit needs more community murals and
fewer commercial and casino billboards. We also need access to community radio.
The immigration and deportation group is planning a party in January so that we
can get to know each other's culture
Each group reported that it had set a time and place for its next meeting.
My impression from the October 5-6 meetings is that a significant number of
Detroiters now recognizes that the time has come for us to create new
infrastructures from the ground up and that this will require our long-range
commitment. The events held earlier this year by Detroit City of Hope to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's "Break the Silence" speech and
of the 1967 Detroit Rebellion have helped to bring about this consciousness.
Grace Hale-Boggs is a long time activist. She
can be contacted at glbg@sbcglobal.net.
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