[Music] what’s happening TEDx Detroit y’all look
what’s happening TEDx Detroit y’all look
what’s happening TEDx Detroit y’all look great
great
great how you doing I’m Carrie I’m Carrie
how you doing I’m Carrie I’m Carrie
how you doing I’m Carrie I’m Carrie Turner I’m executive director of Coleman
Turner I’m executive director of Coleman
Turner I’m executive director of Coleman a young foundation our office is located
a young foundation our office is located
a young foundation our office is located right next door where the film or
right next door where the film or
right next door where the film or theater is very glad to be with you this
theater is very glad to be with you this
theater is very glad to be with you this morning but I have to stop and tell you
morning but I have to stop and tell you
morning but I have to stop and tell you I have a very tough and unfair job this
I have a very tough and unfair job this
I have a very tough and unfair job this morning because my job is not only to be
morning because my job is not only to be
morning because my job is not only to be your calibration speaker so to speak
your calibration speaker so to speak
your calibration speaker so to speak your sacrificial guy but I have a
your sacrificial guy but I have a
your sacrificial guy but I have a responsibility of taking this man and
responsibility of taking this man and
responsibility of taking this man and putting him in context in eight minutes
putting him in context in eight minutes
putting him in context in eight minutes you guys know who this is
you guys know who this is
you guys know who this is yeah this is Coleman Alexander Young
yeah this is Coleman Alexander Young
yeah this is Coleman Alexander Young first african-american mayor of the city
first african-american mayor of the city
first african-american mayor of the city of Detroit served five terms 20 years
of Detroit served five terms 20 years
of Detroit served five terms 20 years and if you know anything about this man
and if you know anything about this man
and if you know anything about this man you know that putting his life and his
you know that putting his life and his
you know that putting his life and his career in context in eight minutes is
career in context in eight minutes is
career in context in eight minutes is pretty much like feeding a tic-tac to a
pretty much like feeding a tic-tac to a
pretty much like feeding a tic-tac to a gnat
gnat
gnat but I think I’ve got a way to do it see
but I think I’ve got a way to do it see
but I think I’ve got a way to do it see I get I get it you either like Coleman
I get I get it you either like Coleman
I get I get it you either like Coleman young or you don’t like Coleman young
young or you don’t like Coleman young
young or you don’t like Coleman young you either turned off as soon as he had
you either turned off as soon as he had
you either turned off as soon as he had that inaugural address where he told the
that inaugural address where he told the
that inaugural address where he told the pimps and criminals and pushers to hit 8
pimps and criminals and pushers to hit 8
pimps and criminals and pushers to hit 8 Mile Road because you thought he was
Mile Road because you thought he was
Mile Road because you thought he was pushing his problems on the Oakland
pushing his problems on the Oakland
pushing his problems on the Oakland County or you love him because he came
County or you love him because he came
County or you love him because he came in and changed everything that was
in and changed everything that was
in and changed everything that was negative about your community but I’m
negative about your community but I’m
negative about your community but I’m not here to ask you to love or like him
not here to ask you to love or like him
not here to ask you to love or like him I’m asking us all to get on the same
I’m asking us all to get on the same
I’m asking us all to get on the same page and recognize that if anything
page and recognize that if anything
page and recognize that if anything Coleman Young was an icon now let me
Coleman Young was an icon now let me
Coleman Young was an icon now let me push this ideas step further and suggest
push this ideas step further and suggest
push this ideas step further and suggest that Coleman Young was an idea but he
that Coleman Young was an idea but he
that Coleman Young was an idea but he was specifically an idea of what it
was specifically an idea of what it
was specifically an idea of what it takes to love a city as toughest Detroit
takes to love a city as toughest Detroit
takes to love a city as toughest Detroit in a way that moves it forward sometimes
in a way that moves it forward sometimes
in a way that moves it forward sometimes in spite of itself what was he he was
in spite of itself what was he he was
in spite of itself what was he he was bold brave boisterous black badass but
bold brave boisterous black badass but
bold brave boisterous black badass but he was also scholarly and he was also
he was also scholarly and he was also
he was also scholarly and he was also incredibly funny as a matter of fact I
incredibly funny as a matter of fact I
incredibly funny as a matter of fact I can think of a couple of exam
can think of a couple of exam
can think of a couple of exam that illustrate how he demonstrated his
that illustrate how he demonstrated his
that illustrate how he demonstrated his love to Detroit because I’m clear when
love to Detroit because I’m clear when
love to Detroit because I’m clear when most of us think of love we think of
most of us think of love we think of
most of us think of love we think of romantic love I’m feeding you ice cream
romantic love I’m feeding you ice cream
romantic love I’m feeding you ice cream out of a cup and that or not when the
out of a cup and that or not when the
out of a cup and that or not when the truth is the kind of love this man had
truth is the kind of love this man had
truth is the kind of love this man had for the city of Detroit his people was
for the city of Detroit his people was
for the city of Detroit his people was more like what you get from your daddy
more like what you get from your daddy
more like what you get from your daddy or your mama take this very room for
or your mama take this very room for
or your mama take this very room for example isn’t this a beautiful theater I
example isn’t this a beautiful theater I
example isn’t this a beautiful theater I remember when it was on its way to being
remember when it was on its way to being
remember when it was on its way to being demolished but Mayor Young felt that
demolished but Mayor Young felt that
demolished but Mayor Young felt that this very place could become the
this very place could become the
this very place could become the cornerstone of a new theater district in
cornerstone of a new theater district in
cornerstone of a new theater district in Detroit so he contacted Mike Ilitch who
Detroit so he contacted Mike Ilitch who
Detroit so he contacted Mike Ilitch who at the time was busy building his own
at the time was busy building his own
at the time was busy building his own headquarters in Oakland County and he
headquarters in Oakland County and he
headquarters in Oakland County and he convinced him to renovate it and what
convinced him to renovate it and what
convinced him to renovate it and what sprung up around the Fox is what we now
sprung up around the Fox is what we now
sprung up around the Fox is what we now know as the biggest theater district
know as the biggest theater district
know as the biggest theater district east of the Mississippi River with the
east of the Mississippi River with the
east of the Mississippi River with the exception of New York City that takes
exception of New York City that takes
exception of New York City that takes vision and sometimes love takes vision
vision and sometimes love takes vision
vision and sometimes love takes vision it also takes a whole bunch of
it also takes a whole bunch of
it also takes a whole bunch of creativity if I think about the Joe
creativity if I think about the Joe
creativity if I think about the Joe Louis Arena how many of you have been to
Louis Arena how many of you have been to
Louis Arena how many of you have been to a hockey game or concert of to Joe just
a hockey game or concert of to Joe just
a hockey game or concert of to Joe just most of the people in this room as I
most of the people in this room as I
most of the people in this room as I expected well if you know history you
expected well if you know history you
expected well if you know history you may remember when the Red Wings had one
may remember when the Red Wings had one
may remember when the Red Wings had one foot out the door they were going to
foot out the door they were going to
foot out the door they were going to leave town and set up digs in Oakland
leave town and set up digs in Oakland
leave town and set up digs in Oakland County nothing wrong with that it’s a
County nothing wrong with that it’s a
County nothing wrong with that it’s a business decision but mayor young felt
business decision but mayor young felt
business decision but mayor young felt that a viable downtown had to have its
that a viable downtown had to have its
that a viable downtown had to have its sports franchise located right here so
sports franchise located right here so
sports franchise located right here so he asked and pleaded for one more
he asked and pleaded for one more
he asked and pleaded for one more opportunity to pitch a plan and then get
opportunity to pitch a plan and then get
opportunity to pitch a plan and then get this with no plan no construction design
this with no plan no construction design
this with no plan no construction design no blueprint he took five million
no blueprint he took five million
no blueprint he took five million dollars that he found in the city’s
dollars that he found in the city’s
dollars that he found in the city’s budget and simply dug a hole and that
budget and simply dug a hole and that
budget and simply dug a hole and that hole ended up getting filled by the joke
hole ended up getting filled by the joke
hole ended up getting filled by the joke as a result you’ve gotten a chance to
as a result you’ve gotten a chance to
as a result you’ve gotten a chance to celebrate multiple championships right
celebrate multiple championships right
celebrate multiple championships right here in the city of Detroit and now the
here in the city of Detroit and now the
here in the city of Detroit and now the Red Wings are getting ready to become
Red Wings are getting ready to become
Red Wings are getting ready to become the newest residents to that big old
the newest residents to that big old
the newest residents to that big old theater district that has developed but
theater district that has developed but
theater district that has developed but again my friends that is what love does
again my friends that is what love does
again my friends that is what love does sometimes it gets creative beyond itself
sometimes it gets creative beyond itself
sometimes it gets creative beyond itself I’ll tell you another thing love also is
I’ll tell you another thing love also is
I’ll tell you another thing love also is damn tenacious when it has to be what do
damn tenacious when it has to be what do
damn tenacious when it has to be what do I mean by that
I mean by that
I mean by that sometimes the mayor’s initiatives and
sometimes the mayor’s initiatives and
sometimes the mayor’s initiatives and the young administration’s initial
the young administration’s initial
the young administration’s initial had to be pushed when the city itself
had to be pushed when the city itself
had to be pushed when the city itself rallied against it the old Chrysler
rallied against it the old Chrysler
rallied against it the old Chrysler Jefferson plant that’s over on on
Jefferson plant that’s over on on
Jefferson plant that’s over on on Jefferson on the deep east side that
Jefferson on the deep east side that
Jefferson on the deep east side that thing had to be built but before he
thing had to be built but before he
thing had to be built but before he built it before Chrysler built they
built it before Chrysler built they
built it before Chrysler built they built it the young administration had to
built it the young administration had to
built it the young administration had to clear an entire neighborhood you know
clear an entire neighborhood you know
clear an entire neighborhood you know what that looks like I’ll break it down
what that looks like I’ll break it down
what that looks like I’ll break it down for you it’s 4,000 residents it’s 2,000
for you it’s 4,000 residents it’s 2,000
for you it’s 4,000 residents it’s 2,000 pieces of property 1,300 houses
pieces of property 1,300 houses
pieces of property 1,300 houses 116 churches because we do Church in
116 churches because we do Church in
116 churches because we do Church in Detroit two schools and the old Dodge
Detroit two schools and the old Dodge
Detroit two schools and the old Dodge Bain plant and on top of that residents
Bain plant and on top of that residents
Bain plant and on top of that residents in the community cried that the city was
in the community cried that the city was
in the community cried that the city was practicing eminent domain taken their
practicing eminent domain taken their
practicing eminent domain taken their land and the mayor had to push through
land and the mayor had to push through
land and the mayor had to push through all that in less than 12 months but as a
all that in less than 12 months but as a
all that in less than 12 months but as a result what exists there now employs
result what exists there now employs
result what exists there now employs 3,000 people over two shifts they build
3,000 people over two shifts they build
3,000 people over two shifts they build the Chevy Volt there and they avoided an
the Chevy Volt there and they avoided an
the Chevy Volt there and they avoided an additional 30 years of decay that would
additional 30 years of decay that would
additional 30 years of decay that would have been on set so while the people
have been on set so while the people
have been on set so while the people cried let me keep what I have now the
cried let me keep what I have now the
cried let me keep what I have now the mayor actually saw that there was a way
mayor actually saw that there was a way
mayor actually saw that there was a way to keep that neighborhood and community
to keep that neighborhood and community
to keep that neighborhood and community from dying along three decades slow
from dying along three decades slow
from dying along three decades slow death that is tenacity but beyond that
death that is tenacity but beyond that
death that is tenacity but beyond that it’s justice for the people there and
it’s justice for the people there and
it’s justice for the people there and there was no other person better suited
there was no other person better suited
there was no other person better suited to talk about justice you’re talking
to talk about justice you’re talking
to talk about justice you’re talking about a man who was accepted and offered
about a man who was accepted and offered
about a man who was accepted and offered an academic scholarship to the
an academic scholarship to the
an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan only to have room
University of Michigan only to have room
University of Michigan only to have room and board denied because they found out
and board denied because they found out
and board denied because they found out he was a black man go blue you’re
he was a black man go blue you’re
he was a black man go blue you’re talking about a man who was thrown in an
talking about a man who was thrown in an
talking about a man who was thrown in an army stockade as a Tuskegee Airmen
army stockade as a Tuskegee Airmen
army stockade as a Tuskegee Airmen because he simply tried to integrate an
because he simply tried to integrate an
because he simply tried to integrate an all-white officer’s club you’re talking
all-white officer’s club you’re talking
all-white officer’s club you’re talking about a man who in 1952 at the age of 33
about a man who in 1952 at the age of 33
about a man who in 1952 at the age of 33 was accused by the McCarthy regime of
was accused by the McCarthy regime of
was accused by the McCarthy regime of being a communist and pulled and forced
being a communist and pulled and forced
being a communist and pulled and forced to testify in front of the house on
to testify in front of the house on
to testify in front of the house on American Activities Committee stick a
American Activities Committee stick a
American Activities Committee stick a pin in that four minute 1952 33 years
pin in that four minute 1952 33 years
pin in that four minute 1952 33 years old black male you can cancel Christmas
old black male you can cancel Christmas
old black male you can cancel Christmas in most cases but in a testimony that
in most cases but in a testimony that
in most cases but in a testimony that became historic Coleman Young rallied
became historic Coleman Young rallied
became historic Coleman Young rallied fought even scolded the committee and
fought even scolded the committee and
fought even scolded the committee and then when he became
then when he became
then when he became here many thought that he had every
here many thought that he had every
here many thought that he had every right to pick a bone because of his own
right to pick a bone because of his own
right to pick a bone because of his own personal past but the first thing he did
personal past but the first thing he did
personal past but the first thing he did was take the police department in the
was take the police department in the
was take the police department in the city and take it from 85% white to 50/50
city and take it from 85% white to 50/50
city and take it from 85% white to 50/50 then in the first time in history that
then in the first time in history that
then in the first time in history that it had ever been done he did the same
it had ever been done he did the same
it had ever been done he did the same thing with his with his administration
thing with his with his administration
thing with his with his administration listen I get it people call the mayor
listen I get it people call the mayor
listen I get it people call the mayor divisive separatists a bully
divisive separatists a bully
divisive separatists a bully they called him racist I simply suggest
they called him racist I simply suggest
they called him racist I simply suggest that he had a different kind of way of
that he had a different kind of way of
that he had a different kind of way of loving the people of Detroit and loving
loving the people of Detroit and loving
loving the people of Detroit and loving the city you don’t have to love or like
the city you don’t have to love or like
the city you don’t have to love or like somebody to love them I’m here to tell
somebody to love them I’m here to tell
somebody to love them I’m here to tell you if you don’t know or have never
you if you don’t know or have never
you if you don’t know or have never really thought deeply about what love
really thought deeply about what love
really thought deeply about what love does I would suggest to you that love is
does I would suggest to you that love is
does I would suggest to you that love is not about respect love is not about like
not about respect love is not about like
not about respect love is not about like it’s about respect and I don’t like
it’s about respect and I don’t like
it’s about respect and I don’t like talking about love I prefer to take
talking about love I prefer to take
talking about love I prefer to take steps that’s because love hurts like
steps that’s because love hurts like
steps that’s because love hurts like life but life is all love it’s like one
life but life is all love it’s like one
life but life is all love it’s like one day you get a push for your shove the
day you get a push for your shove the
day you get a push for your shove the next day you turn a vulture to add of
next day you turn a vulture to add of
next day you turn a vulture to add of hermetic law said so below so above we
hermetic law said so below so above we
hermetic law said so below so above we spell it L I V l.o.v.e bottom line for
spell it L I V l.o.v.e bottom line for
spell it L I V l.o.v.e bottom line for living says G OD you rearranged life to
living says G OD you rearranged life to
living says G OD you rearranged life to l.o.v.e and we all Li ve Godley my
l.o.v.e and we all Li ve Godley my
l.o.v.e and we all Li ve Godley my friends there is a reason that the
friends there is a reason that the
friends there is a reason that the Detroit Free Press called this man one
Detroit Free Press called this man one
Detroit Free Press called this man one of the top five mayor’s in Detroit’s
of the top five mayor’s in Detroit’s
of the top five mayor’s in Detroit’s history and it’s not because he’s the
history and it’s not because he’s the
history and it’s not because he’s the last guy in 50 years to leave the city
last guy in 50 years to leave the city
last guy in 50 years to leave the city and a budget surplus his final act of
and a budget surplus his final act of
and a budget surplus his final act of love was taking his remaining wealth
love was taking his remaining wealth
love was taking his remaining wealth which was about three million dollars in
which was about three million dollars in
which was about three million dollars in giving half to Wayne State and then half
giving half to Wayne State and then half
giving half to Wayne State and then half to endow the foundation that employs me
to endow the foundation that employs me
to endow the foundation that employs me as a result we’ve helped about 500 kids
as a result we’ve helped about 500 kids
as a result we’ve helped about 500 kids from the city of Detroit get to and
from the city of Detroit get to and
from the city of Detroit get to and through college 90% of them graduated
through college 90% of them graduated
through college 90% of them graduated 60% of them came home to work and live
60% of them came home to work and live
60% of them came home to work and live here that’s not divisive ‘no stop
here that’s not divisive ‘no stop
here that’s not divisive ‘no stop bullying that’s love and one other thing
that’s context tic-tac have a great day
that’s context tic-tac have a great day you all
”
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