by Howard Starks
King Solomon said, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
Again, Detroit is divided.
Over a half-century, Detroit has been sliced, diced and cut to the side by social-economic paradigms. There has been population flight and economic segregation. This city has suffered riots, tornados, snowstorms and summer droughts. Since 1950, we have lived through several political shifts and industry changes. Through it all, Detroit stills stand.
Today, in the midst of the legal and moral concerns, the mayor of Detroit must address his love for this resilient city. Is he able to shun the amounting indictments to withstand “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” and govern this great city? Should the mayor wash and hang his dirty laundry out for all to see? Should he stand on self-fulfilling principles no matter the cost to the city?
The people of Detroit need and deserve more. At a time when employment, housing, health care, education and political unrest, are being overshadowed by an individual’s actions, the city is spiraling into an abyss of uncertainty for its future.
Please let me not lead you astray to think there is no love for the mayor. It’s not that I love the office less, I love the city more.
My city needs to keep pace with the country and the world. My city needs to focus and implement actions that will increase the quality of living for all of its citizens. Mama says, “One monkey don’t stop no show.” Alas, it appears Detroit is at a standstill until one person gets their act together: Detroit or the mayor?
It has been said on occasion that the mayor loves Detroit. As it states in the biblical story of two women claiming ownership of one child, they both proclaimed their love for the child. To continue, they brought their issue before the king to be resolved.
In the wisdom of the king, he said, “Cut the living child (Detroit) in two and give half to one and half to the other.” At this time the real mother immediately cried to the king not to destroy the city—oops!—the child, to let it live and give it to the other woman. That’s real love.
When you love someone or something, you want what is best. You want it to shine for all to see. You want it to endure, to prosper, for all to see its brilliance. If there were a flaw in what you love, you would correct it (if it is in your power) in private so no one could be disillusioned with what you treasure.
Now is not the time to posture in political arrogance. Now is not the time to display to the world the things that should be dealt with in private. Now is not the time to divide our city, if you love it.
If King Solomon were here today, I would ask for his wisdom because Detroit needs it right now. We need to look beyond the one for the welfare of many. Detroit is not one person. It’s all of us and we have weathered much. Now is the time for the mayor to take the laundry off the line and wash it in private. Some things should be discussed behind closed doors, out of public view. If you love Detroit: you will allow this city—your city—to move on. I do not love the mayor less—I love Detroit more.
(Howard Starks, a former Wayne State University lecturer in Africana Studies, is an educational consultant. who offers training in curriculum development, scholarship acquisition and cultural awareness. He can be reached at howard@wayne.edu.)
