Detroit's Declaration of Independence

As the International Freedom Festival comes again to Detroit this June, it is at the end of a long year of both pain and progress for the city. And surprisingly, we find within the city today a new and quiet sense of growing freedom.

When we think of freedom, we usually think of the Declaration of Independence or the fight against slavery or freedom from tyranny.  But what about the freedom of a once-great city to become a great city once again – and in fact maybe even greater! In the past 30 years we’ve gotten in the routine of thinking of our city as damaged, or a victim of years of decline and mismanagement.

But as we prepare to rejoice in our nations declaration of independence and we approach the one-year anniversary of Detroit’s declaration of bankruptcy, it is time to throw off those tired descriptions of Detroit that would chain the city to past mistakes and problems. It is time to envision Detroit’s freedom to progress and grow and build and discover rebirth- a beautiful, vibrant, safe, city everyone can be proud of. Throwing off the old ailments and welcoming in a new-born sense of freedom and vibrancy – this is called healing and right now we are in the process of experiencing it!

I was speaking recently with Virginia Harris who gives inspirational talks around the United States on the topic of Spirituality and Healing, and is originally from Detroit. She issued this challenge to those of us who desire to support Detroit and its rebirth. “Rather than declare failure, metro Detroiters should declare freedom, the spiritual freedom that guarantees ongoing creativity, harmony, productivity, vitality and life…Every prayer that affirms this spiritual fact has immediate access to the Source of unlimited creative ideas. Imagine whole communities praying from this starting point!”

In fact, creativity and productivity have been the hallmark of Detroit since the turn of the 20th century as we led the world into the industrial age with a product that would revolutionize both manufacturing processes and transportation. From where Detroit stands today, there is no doubt that there is work to be done to provide for its citizens an improved quality of life and to resolve the numerous financial obligations.

But as it is often said, “you can’t hold back progress”.  It could also be said that you cannot contain freedom.  It is time for us all to turn our backs on failure and no longer be enslaved by the imagery of chronic decline. Instead lets join together in declaring our independence from the past and our inherent freedom to safely and steadily grow and prosper into a bright, new future.

Susan Tish CS is a former lay minister from the Church of Christ, Scientist, Plymouth. International Speaker and Healer, Virginia Harris, CSB, will be speaking about “Foundations of Freedom: Healing for Detroit” on Saturday afternoon, June 21st at 2:00 pm at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit’s Cultural Center.