Eight powerful bullet points that address improving the quality of life for all Detroiters were the takeaway from a July 29 news conference where the “Detroiters’ Bill of Rights” was presented. Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield and Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López held the news conference, but the moment belonged to all segments of Detroit’s community, as Sheffield and Castañeda-López were joined by representatives from a host of grass roots, non-profit, social justice and community organizations.
The Detroiters’ Bill of Rights seeks to embed certain unalienable rights into Detroit’s Charter to ensure all residents have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. A summary of those eight rights include:
- Right to Clean and Affordable Water and Sanitation
- Right to Environmental Health
- Right to Safety
- Right to Live Free from Discrimination:
- Right to Recreation
- Right to Mobility
- Right to Housing
- Right to Fulfillment of Basic Needs
“This Bill of Rights effort is reminiscent of the community-led movement that helped to bring about a civilian police commission, which became a part of the 1974 Charter,” said Ken Coleman, author and Detroit historian who served on the 2009-11 Detroit Charter Revision Commission.
Coleman’s mention of 1974 also is a reference to the beginning of the Coleman Young mayoral administration, a period when many African American Detroit residents from all walks of life felt represented by city government for the first time. And as word of the Bill of Rights effort continues to spread across the city, Detroiters with years of service to their city are expressing optimism and hope that positive change is coming for more city residents.
“I feel the rights are worded beautifully and each one speaks to our need to have equality in our city—right here, right now,” said Malaika Pryor, a native Detroiter and elementary school teacher for Detroit Public Schools Community District. “During this pandemic I have actually had a chance to see that I am able to do things for my son that a lot of my parents have difficulty doing for their children, who are also my students. My son was able to go in his room and close his door while doing his school work while a lot of my students—who I also regard as my kids—had to find a quiet place to go in order to be able to concentrate. My son also had his own technology while a lot of my kids in my distance-learning classroom were struggling to get work done on a cell phone.
“Every child should have been able to access technology to do their work so they wouldn’t get behind. Also, a lot of kids I’ve taught have had to move in the middle of the school year. Rent got to be too expensive so parents would have to move someplace far away and start all over at a different school. It’s heartbreaking. They shouldn’t have to do that. A lot of my parents work 12-16 hour days and for them not to be able to afford rent is terrible. My son has been in the same house for the past five years and even when he wasn’t here he had a solid support system, but a lot of parents don’t have that. So, at the very least, we should have language like the “Right to Housing” and the “Right to Fulfillment of Basic Needs” in our city charter and hopefully that language will inspire everyone to make those rights a reality, particularly for our children.”
Alison Vaughn also is deeply concerned about Detroit children and moms. In fact, the nonprofit she founded, “Jackets For Jobs,” has helped roughly 30,000 job seekers—mostly single moms—by providing professional clothing (free of charge) and other resources and services to help deserving people obtain and retain employment. She regards the call for the inclusion of the Detroiters’ Bill of Rights in the City’s Charter as an ally to her daily work.
“To hear the rights as they are outlined, I don’t see how there could be any possible push-back, and those rights address what we have been all about at Jackets For Jobs since we started—empowerment,” said Vaughn whose organization has been celebrating “20 years of giving back and giving up” during 2020. “I wish we could have had a Detroiters’ Bill of Rights many years ago, but to have it presented now, during these challenging times, sends a strong, positive message that empowering all Detroiters is a real, stated goal for our city.”
Winston O’Neal takes pride in serving his city, and as a 28-year Federal Government employee, he also has served his country. In serving his city and country, O’Neal says doing what is necessary is always his guiding principle.
“It’s sad that in this day and age we need a Bill of Rights for those things—why can’t we just have them for being human—but it’s good that this Bill of Rights effort is happening,”said O’Neal, who will continue his service to Detroit tomorrow when he will be joined by his fellow Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity members, along with members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for a day of safe shopping on Saturday (Aug. 1) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. along Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion on Livernois to support local businesses that have been significantly hurt by COVID-19.
O’Neal added: “Our safe shopping event on the Avenue of Fashion tomorrow is important and the Detroiters’ Bill of Rights is important and necessary. This defines the character of every single individual in Detroit. It’s about the right to be human just like everyone else.”