Paging the Joshua Generation

In November, the New Yorker published a terrific article on race and the presidential campaign, calling President Barack Obama the foremost member of "The Joshua Generation" -- a new wave of black leaders, like Cory Booker in Newark and Patrick Deval in Massachusetts, whose appeal transcends race. The Breakthrough, Gwen Ifill's new book, has a similar argument, pointing to black leaders who "rely more on pragmatic political coalitions than on racial solidarity."

I think it's time the Joshua Generation makes itself heard in Detroit. The last two weeks have proven, yet again, that politicians across the region suffer from 1967 syndrome -- the delusion that nothing has changed in forty years. Detroit's City Council almost seems to take it as a badge of pride.

Exhibit A: The Cobo Veto. Not only did the Monica Conyers-led Council veto the region's best hope for fixing Cobo and saving the Auto Show, they did it singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" to the region's permanent embarrassment.



Exhibit B: The Leno "Snub". Today, Jay Leno announced a free show at the Palace for anyone unemployed in Michigan. I'm not a fan of his, but it's a great gesture, and I'm glad he's doing it. Not Councilmember Martha Reeves. No, no, no. If it's not in the city limits, she doesn't want it at all. Here she is making an ass of herself on WDIV. Note the refrain: "Auburn Hills isn't Detroit." I got news for you: Yes, it is. No one outside of Southeast Michigan gives a damn whether you're from the city or the suburbs. We're just Detroit. Get some pride and let it rest.

Robert Kennedy's speech on MLK

Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed forty years ago today in Memphis, Tennessee. That night, Robert Kennedy gave an impromptu speech on King's passing before a black and white audience in Indianapolis. The speech is brief, beautiful, and moving, and I post it today in King's honor. The transcript may be read here.

Cory Booker interview

This past week Bill Moyers interviewed Cory Booker, Newark's remarkable young mayor. He is both fiercely idealistic and committed to pragmatic change, a combination I would welcome in any Detroit leader.

I discussed Booker before after reading an excellent New Yorker article that examines the mayor in the context of racial politics in America.

Obama on race

An incredible and profoundly honest speech. Please, take a half hour out of your day to watch it:

More so than ever, a nation of immigrants

According to the New York Times, the United States is becoming truly cosmopolitan: In 2020, 1 in 7 People in U.S. May Be Foreign-Born:

[T]he Pew Center projects that in 2050, 19 percent of Americans will be foreign-born; that the share of Hispanic residents will more than double to 29 percent from 14 percent in 2005; and that the proportion of Asians will almost double, from 5 percent to 9 percent.

Grace Lee Boggs on MLK

The Bogg Center will be hosting two discussions this month on "Exploring Martin Luther King’s Challenge to Us in Detroit" at the Club Technology Building at 8200 -30 E. Forest.

Saturday, February 16

10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Movie Screening: Citizen King
12:00 - 2:00 pm
Discussion: Martin’s Words, Our Conversation

Friday, February 29

7:00 - 9:00 pm
Grace Lee Boggs: Catching up to Martin in the “D”
Discussion: From Conversation to Action

A few weeks ago, Grace Lee Boggs discussed Martin Luther King's legacy on Democracy Now. She is truly inspirational. For a notion of her remarkable life, read the brief biography on the Boggs Center website.