Have you heard about the ruckus in Detroit? The Detroit City Council wants to declare the dilapidated city “Africa Town” and siphon off more taxpayers’ money for yet more skin color preferences. In other words, they expect the public to pay for their pity party.
Devoid of fresh ideas and innovative approaches, as well as spiritual and moral solutions to Detroit’s many problems, politicians with too little real work to do come up with one hare-brained scheme after another. There’s nothing new under the sun.
In the opinion of the very opinionated Laura Berman, the plan is illegal and racist. She doesn’t like us “right-wing ideologues” much, but she’s on target in this op-ed. Berman writes:
It’s wacky, irresponsible, arguably racist, almost surely illegal. Mostly, though, the Detroit City Council’s $30 million-a-year plan for Africa Town is a painful wail of the city’s abject failure to help black Detroiters move forward.On Monday, the council authorized the city to earmark $30 million a year for a race-based entrepreneurial zone that would be called Africa Town.
They based this action on the report of creative thinker Carl Anderson and his PowerNomics Corp. — a $112,000 report that argues the city’s black majority is acting like a minority, despite political power, spending power, and the power of sheer numbers.
And — try to follow this — because the majority isn’t starting businesses or owning the means of production or even spending its own $11 billion within the city limits, city government needs to re-invent segregation.
I’ve heard of wacky schemes like this before. Frankly, if blacks want to self-segregate, that is fine by me, as long as they don’t use taxpayers’ money to do it. If and when they decide to go through with this inane scheme, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves when it inevitably fails.
Kay Everett, a member of the Detroit City Council, practically pleads with her colleagues not to go through with it. She writes:
The African Town proposal is racist in that it excludes other races to the perceived benefit of Detroit African Americans. The proposal is detrimental to the interests of Detroit and southeast Michigan. The rationale for this ill-conceived plan is rooted in a form of victimhood justifications that scapegoats those of other ethnicities that we should be coalescing with, not separating ourselves from, such as our Hispanic, Arab, Asian, Chaldean and white neighbors.We fought too hard, were beaten and jailed too much and died too often fighting the ugliness of segregation to now embrace the same ugliness of neo-segregation as we wallow in victimhood. I will not wallow in victimhood. I will not marginalize the people I represent with neo-segregationist policies that only satisfy hooded nightriders.
Some of us cry because we know our history. We know that our people have been the victims of racism and suffer today from manifestations of institutional racism that would deny us business and job opportunities. But we need not wallow in the crippling morass of victimhood — angst lashing out at generations of immigrants that have snatched a share of the American dream with a strong work ethic and belief in America. We need to stop whining. We need to get busy working instead of looking for an exclusive handout.
Ms. Everett, don’t answer fools according to their folly. Instead, plead with your daughter and son-in-law to pack up and leave Detroit and watch from a distance as it is consumed by its own ineptly conceived and laughably ludrious “Africa Town.”
Update (10/1): Discriminations weighs in on Detroit’s plan.
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“Hyphen-Nation” (Haiku)
I reject the term
African-American
Hyphens un-equate
You might be an idiot if….
You can name all of the songs on the Usher CD and price of the ice and platinum necklace around Nelly’s neck but can’t name the Vice-President of the US, then you might be an idiot
You can’t pronounce “street”, “shrimp”, “strawberry”, “coach”, “police” or “ambulance” but you call Bush a dummy, then you might be an idiot
You’ve never set foot in Baghdad, worn a military uniform in battle, yet know exactly how many more troops we need on the ground, then you might be an idiot.
It is approx. 30 days out from a major Presidential Election and you still haven’t made up your mind who to vote for, then you might be an idiot.
You go to a movie to get your political information, but can’t give directions to the local library and have never been there, then you might be an idiot.
You think raising the minimum wage increases your purchase power, then you might be an idiot.
You couldn’t pass the FCAT but go around calling President Bush stupid, then you might be an idiot.
You never had a job yet cuss out the lady at the unemployment office, then you might be an idiot.
You are still complaining about the same things you have been complaining about for the last 45 years and keep voting for the same people, then you might be an idiot.
You want to ban all privately owned guns, but wonder aloud why the gun related crime rate is so high, then you might be an idiot.
You complain whine and moan while standing in line at the post office, driver license office, tax collector’s office and wait for months to get your IRS refund, yet want that same government to run your healthcare system, then you might be an idiot.
You think Bush caused the war on terror and not 19 crazy muslims, then you might be an idiot.
You think it is more important to preserve a tree overhanging a power line than to cut it down and prevent a week long power outage, then you might be an idiot.
You have 6 kids from six different daddies and say you made a mistake, then you might be an idiot.
You get your news from Olivia Fox and the Tom Joyner Morning Show, then you might be an idiot.
You are a Dade County or Broward County voter who can’t punch a piece of paper out of a card, then you might be an idiot.
You have to be taught how to vote, then you might be an idiot.
You haven’t been paying attention for 4 years, but you are going to decide who gets your vote based on a TV debate, then you might be an idiot.
You went to FAMU, Tuskeegee Bethune or Tougaloo College and go around telling people your degree is equally as prestigious as a Harvard or Princeton degree, then you might be an idiot.
You go to church at Creflo Dollar’s or “Bishop” Eddie Long’s “church” and are still driving a Yugo while they pull out after services in a Bentley, then you might be an idiot.
You complain about the quality of public education for your child, yet drive an Escalade and a Hummer and live 2 blocks from the best private school in the state, then you might be an idiot.
You blame hurricanes on President Bush and his failure to sign the Kyoto Accords, then you might be an idiot.
You complain about crime in your neighborhood, yet riot and burn down your own hood when a cop beats down a lowlife criminal, then you might be an idiot.
You plan on voting for an avowed pacifist to lead this nation in a time of war, then you might be an idiot.
Ray Coleman
Tampa, FL
Gee, Detroit is having trouble creating entrepreneurial spirit within the city limits. Perhaps instead of doing this crap, they should look at their tax code. Anyone want to bet they have an additional sales tax that explains the lack of spending in the city limits? Similar laws and codes probably hurt development of small businesses as well. The problem is you, city government, not the people.
Jeff – I’d bet my right arm this is the case. They need economists, not race-hustling con artists.
Maybe if the people there stop setting fires to their own buildings things would start to change for the better.
30 years ago Asbury Park went up in flames during the race riots and the city is still trying to get back on its feet.
I am sure there is some way to blame all of this on The White Man. I used to belong to an e-mail list here in Washington called M.O.S.A.I.C. and it was darn near impossible to convince some of the members that maybe (just maybe) the black community was hurting itself by turning its back on the color-blind dream that Dr. King espoused. I eventually left the list after I lauded Bill Cosby’s recent and now-infamous comments regarding the black community’s self-inflicted wounds. The Detroit situation is still more evidence of the same. Methinks the pioneers of Civil Rights would be aghast at this sort of thing.
Shhh…don’t say that too loud or the Dallas City Council might hear.
If this doesn’t further make the case of John McWhorter and his commentary, I’m not sure what will. This has all the earmarks of victimology. The real way to create this entreprenurial spirit is to rewrite their tax code, make it more business friendly, and create benefits for banks to loan MORE capital to those who wish to open a business in Detroit. Detroit and California have entirely too much in common when it comes to business practices, which is why companies are leaving those places in a hurry.
It’s so pathetic here in the capital city of black victimology, formerly known as Motown, I just tune it out and can’t wait to get transferred out.
dunno about any additional sales tax in Detroit, but having worked within the city limits I know there is an additional income tax levied on workers there. Hmmmmm…. think that might be a reason why nobody wants to work in the Detroit?
Sheesh. When will people start taking care of themselves? We don’t need any damn government officials coming up with ’solutions’ that are just part of the problem.
During the bad ole days of the Coleman Young administration, this was the prevailing attitude of city officials. The rhetoric from both sides of 8 Mile, but particularly from the Mayor himself, was quite ugly, and the city and suburbs [proverbially] almost came to blows a few times. Young retired 10 years ago, and relations between the city and suburbs have dramatically improved, but I don’t think it would take much for that animosity to resurface…especially if Detriot goes back to the third world mentality that dominated it back in the 70s and 80s.
If you want a description of what it was like, back then, go pick up a copy of Ze’Ev Chafets “Devil’s Night: And Other True Tales of Detroit”.
As someone who spent his life in western Oakland County, I cringe.
Bah. blockquote doesn’t work here. :/
I’m off topic but the proposal in Detroit is silly and baseless.
Raymond Coleman wrote:
“You have to be taught how to vote, then you might be an idiot.”
This is idiotic of you to even include this statement as all of us should have at some point been taught about the civic process in this country. Sadly, some of us are not.
I am a member of the largest African American sorority in the country and have participated in several voter registration drives and walked people through the process of filling out the voter registration card(because if you fill out WRONG you won’t be allowed to vote) and teaching folks to understand a sample ballot. It’s not a hard process but one that must be taught and I don’t think that people who seek to learn how to participate in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote are idiots. That’s highly irresponsible to say.
And as a graduate of a historically black college I don’t go around thinking my degree is so much more prestigious than one from Harvard or Yale but being a college graduate from ANY university and being a productive citizen is much better than not being a graduate of ANYTHING.
As for your other points, while sarcastic, I do happen to agree with the majority of them.
Sorry for getting off topic, LaShawn..that just rubbed me wrong.
Nate,
Did Chinatown, Greektown etc. rename themselves to get funding or special treatment? I think that is the difference, as well as the fact that if a different admin with different demographics had said the same thing (blacks can’t handle being in the majority or invest their monetary and political currency) and proposed naming part of the city Africa-town, it would be decried as racism. (and it should be!)
I just hope Philadelphia doesn’t go the way of Detroit on this, since it has been on the same trail of overtaxation, bad management and pander politics, but has been a few steps behind.
Having lived here all my life, I can say that this doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Detroit is where most of the black people live, and the suburbs are where most of the white people live. It’s easily one of the most segregated metro areas in the country. This was by design of our infamous mayor, Coleman Young.
In order to gain the political power he had, Coleman Young, using eminent domain (see Poletown) and other political tools, chased 90% of the white people out of the city. He then used that power to put a stranglehold on the city. After that point, he was unbeatable.
He was known to say some pretty outrageous things, like the time he said that the suburbs were filled with hostile KKK members (this was over airport expansion, of all things).
My point is, that same mentality permeates the city to this day. This whole “us vs them” thing. To compound my point: I can say that when I visit other cities, I’m amazed to even see diverse neighborhoods. The whole concept is completely foreign to me.
Until the folks in the city can learn to look in the mirror and take responsibility, it’s never going to change for the better. I don’t see that coming over the pike any time soon, unfortunately.
TV (Harry)
LaShawn, I’ve always been enlightened by your posts, but reading your comments section is a great tribute to you. So many intelligent people have been attracted to your site! Spot on, as they say!
Thanks, Dagney. Most of my commenters are cool, even the ones who disagree with me on a regular basis.
Okay so here I go to skew the stats!
Maybe Detroit should hire Michael Moore. With the help of Mr. Moore, people far and wide are aware of the people of Flint Michigan. He has illuminated the world about how huge corporations and bad government have ruined their lives. He’s even made a few bucks himself sitting at the trough of human suffering. Oh I know!, he could start a film school in Detroit.
Wait as I think about it, Flint hasn’t fared so well after all. Maybe Mr. Moore should just stay away.
Cooper,
I hear he is big in France. granted, he is big everywhere…
I know, slap my wrist, but I couldn’t resist that one
La Shawn,
If it gets approved, I wonder how they plan to disperse the funds. The reason I’m curious is I actually have a solid business plan myself. All I need is a black business partner, and of course 30 million. How do we apply??
Mark,
If you were in Philadelphia, you would seek out the mayor’s younger brother, son or nephew. I am sure there are similar personages in Motown.
Beau,
I won’t be offended if you moved north to front for another cracker. If he can get the 30 mill, he’s a better provider than I. But I don’t know if Detroit allows conceal and carry.
Mark, I think it might be time to feed ourselves at this powernomic trough.
I mean if the good citizens of Detroit, thanks to Carl Anderson, are bound and determined to invest 30 million annually, then why should charlatans & shysters without a solid business plan, other than “African-American” and other buzzwords liberally sprinkled thruout their proposals get to eat all the cake?
Operative word here is solid business plan.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Detroit has met a plan in the last 30 years that they didn’t like as long as it was modelled on “ye olde crony plantation”. Any real plans for economic &, by extension, political empowerment simply don’t get to see light of day.
Does anybody know where “Whitey Town” is? Besides Hollywood.
Hmmm, let’s ask Rev. Jesse. He’s the man what told us that New York, New York is Hymie Town, wasn’t he?
Mr. Coleman, you nailed it.
Ray,
Im feeling you on most of what you say, however:
“You go to church at Creflo Dollar’s or “Bishop” Eddie Long’s “church” and are still driving a Yugo while they pull out after services in a Bentley, then you might be an idiot. ”
If I work for someone else in this free enterprise system and I’m still driving a Yugo and they pull out after work in a Bentley, might I be an idiot? (1 Cor. 7:21)
La Shawn, love your blog!!!
Great! Let’s call half of them Hutus and half Tutsis, give them all machetes, and let them recreate Africa! More power to ‘em.
akitty,
Or you could call them the Axumites, and hope they live up to a name. Once again, we must end the soft bigotry of low expectations.
Granted, Axumites of old would have no part of modern Detroit, unless they could overthrow the current government. But that might be all the more reason to encourage an Abyssian renaisance in Mowton
Well, LaShawn, as a resident of one of the Motor City’s suburbs, I can tell you there are plenty of people with a few bees in their bonnets over this. Sadly, since the City Council is permanently baffled, it may very well go through.
I don’t have a problem with “African Town” – Detroit has Greektown, Corktown, MexicanTown, et cetera, and they’re wonderful little gems, not to mention big draws. But it’s the manner in which the city intends to go about this which most find appalling.
I do love Detroit, but…this is just stupid. As the Detroit News said, the PowerNomics plan belongs on the shelf right next to “Mein Kampf.”
Inspector Callahan:
You forgot to mention ole Coleman talking about how the people of Detroit needed firearms because of the carloads of marauding suburbanites coming into the city and shooting things up.
This Africa Town nonsense- brought to you by the same city council that slagged Dennis Archer for successfully getting GM to move some operations back into the city because he didn’t include them in on the negotiations so they could grab some credit… the same city council that tore down the beautiful old Hudson’s building downtown to construct a….. wait for it…… parking lot, despite offers from two well financed development teams (one involving that Governor guy from California, the one what talks all German like) to turn the building into condos/shopping/revenue producing enterprises- hmmmmm, can you say payoff? Yeah, this Africa town thing is a real shocker in light of the council’s past performance, innit?
What next what do those twits who run detriot want to do when these politicians get a lot of money they feel free to squander it on every little pork project they can think of and thats why the demacrats oppose tax cuts it cuts off their favorite way to raise money for their popular pork projects
I was born and raised in Detroit. Moved on over twenty years ago because my job took me away. Still have many good friends back there. Oh, so sad, so, so, very sad.
Well the question no one is addressing here which was brought up on the BookerRising blog is why is it an offense to carve out an “Africa Town”, but everything is fine when city money is spent on redevelopment projects in GreekTown, Chinatown, Lil’ Mexico etc, etc? Why the double standard?
LaShawn’s blog is a GREAT site. I really wish there will come a day when the race card will not be played. When color won’t matter and we will all be considered the same. It saddened me today when I read on freerepublic.com that Kerry was at a black church telling the people the Republicans were at it again, trying to surpress the black vote. Could it be this is to counter all the voter fraud and break ins of GOP headquarters across the country. The leaders of the Democratic party don’t want us all to trust each other and get along. They are so use to counting on the black vote that when they see it start slipping away they pull out there tricks again. Look at President Bush’s
record. Look at his cabinet and home and business ownership
for minorities under his administration. President Bush is a good, decent, god-fearing man who wants to help ALL Americans and the Dems don’t want any part of it. They would lose the voters they have always counted on but never seem to help get ahead.
DJJ,
The double standard is on the part of the Africa Town project. Greektown, Mexicantown and Chinatown (which no longer exists, BTW)grew organically, without taxpayer’s money, to serve their respective immigrant communities.
J.L – I was on the verge of reposting a similar comment I e-mailed someone in response to that question. Thanks for saving me the effort.
I get criticized heartily for saying things like this, but in general, blacks tend toward government (taxpayer-funded) programs and either don’t know or pretend not to know why people get all up in arms about that. As far as I’m concerned, any group can go anywhere and form a commune or whatever they want to do. You won’t see me trying to stop them. But asking the GOVERNMENT to pay for it? Especially a RACIALLY SEGREGATED plan? Hysterically sad!
It is a shame. In this country when a black person or community attempts to better it self
many times it not whites that are opposed to the idea but blacks. we have failed to use our numbers as a bases in politics to gain the use of government funds as many other groups of americans can even non american groups benefit from the mnay government programs.
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