“Educated in Detroit – 2/19/2008″ – Muhi (Abdullateef Muhiuddin)
2010
On the corner of Woodward and Grand Boulevard you see the edge of an institution,
Four blocks east we got polluted streets and confusion,
Four blocks south you see the heart of a solution,
Four blocks on the west souls on the brink of survival,
Yet we only need to go four blocks north to see some strategic revival.
In all directions from the old Labor State Building and Wayne State,
You see broken neighborhoods,
You see the river front and Hart Plaza,
We have the Henry Ford Hospital,
And then there is Ferndale,
This system needs to be connected,
Resurrected and protected.
I am witness to the greatness this city produces,
I am witness to all the ill this city reproduces.
We must be beacons of light,
We need to lead the fight,
Protect ourselves and do what is right.
So, we may be at a disadvantage in the inner city schools,
But I say, let us try harder to make them better,
Let us gather the voices and represent them,
Let us raise the children and show them why an education is important.
We need to believe in the system at hand,
We need to improve the system at hand,
We need to improve the demand,
We need to devise a plan,
Full of motivation,
Filled with compassion,
To produce a reaction,
We must instill hope.
Socio changes and economic deprivations,
Dollars funding the wrong agenda,
We must reach our goals.
We must touch the hearts and explain the arts,
We must volunteer and be sincere,
We need to make a change, for a change,
We need to lift off the hand that is holding us down,
So we can lift up the children and give them crowns.
Detroit has the structure to rise up again,
Knowledge is power,
Tell all your friends,
Knowledge is power,
Seek Knowledge.
