Don’t you ever feel like goin’ insane
When the drummer begins to pound
Ain’t there ever been a time in your lives
You couldn’t believe what the band is puttin’ down?”
Certainly, a non-sequitur introduction for a blog about our talk show experience with Cliff Russell on Superstation 910 am last Friday. First off, it was a talk show, no music and certainly no heavy music involved. In fact, after the show, I mentioned to Cliff that our interview about the book Black and White Like You and Me must have been a relief from the normal “heavy music” discussed hourly and daily on news talk programs.
You see, our movement is a movement of hope that the future will be better one conversation at a time. Cliff brought in one heavy moment when he asked about President Trump and the leadership of the country. I can’t blame Cliff for his “couldn’t believe what the band is puttin’ down” question. He deals with these serious, discouraging issues every day from his listeners.
My response began with pointing to our book and stating that we can use up our energy on things that can’t be controlled – waste of energy and waste of breath. Or, we can stop the ignorance, stereotypes, and mistrust by getting to know one another, a grassroots movement.
I can’t help reflecting on all the rhetoric before and during the commemoration of the 1967 Rebellion. I was, and am, impressed by the resurgence of our downtown area in Detroit. I am sickened and discouraged by the lack of progress in the neighborhoods of Detroit. While I was at the Williams Recreation Center on Rosa Parks Blvd., which was at the heart of the riots, I was disturbed at the lack of improvement in the area. Seems to me that everyone wants to be a spokesperson and not a “doer person.” The parking lot of the rec center was littered on a day when hundreds of people and news coverage would be there. Yet, several staff people were standing idly by.
Thomas “Cookie” Marsh and I can’t help but think of the Saint of Calcutta Mother Teresa. When asked if she was discouraged that there were so many in need, her response was simple and direct,
“I am doing the best I can helping one person at a time.”
We must stop looking at the forest and not the trees. Improvement lies with us as individuals. No need to “go insane” listening to the heavy music. Seger endlessly repeats, “There ain’t nothin you can do.” Yes, there is.
Cover photo courtesy Shorpy Historic Picture Archive
