Residents Tout Detroit As City Of Ideas, Arts
Member station WDET asked listeners to share what they want the world to know about their city. Tell Me More ends its Motown-based broadcast with comments from some of Detroit's biggest fans.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Finally today, as we wrap up this special broadcast from WDET in Detroit, you talk back to us - Detroiters only, please. Just for fun, our host here at member station WDET reached out to listeners through various social media channels to tell us in 25 words or less, what the rest of the country should know about Detroit. We received a ton of responses, and here is a small sample.
SUE MAJEWSKI: Hi, this is Sue Majewski. They call me Sue Ma from the east side of Detroit. The current creative energy in the city of Detroit and its suburbs offers an opportunity of unparalleled excellence. Get involved and see the fabulous ideas that's taking shape. Come and be a part of it. We'd love to have ya.
MARTIN: Thank you, Su Ma. Another listener, Noah Stevens is photographer who shoots portraits of everyday residents of Detroit. He summed up his thoughts in 15 words, saying, quote, "The People of Detroit Portraiture Project proves not everyone in Detroit is an abandoned building," unquote. Noah, we hear you.
And staying with the theme, our final comment suggests that we visit some of the most vibrant buildings in Detroit, the theaters.
JOHN LUTHER: Hi, this is John Luther and I am a director and choreographer and I live in metro Detroit. So here in 25 words or less: Detroit equals theater, the Fisher, the Masonic, the Opera House, the Gem, Detroit Rep, Mosaic, the Baldwin, the Ringwald, the Century, the Fox, the Music Hall. So, Michel, next time you're in Detroit, take advantage of our vibrant theater scene. Thanks.
MARTIN: Well, John, I appreciate that but where are my tickets? If you came to D.C. I would hook you up. So next time I'm in Motown, come correct. And speaking of Motown, what better way to end the program than with a tune straight out of Hicksville USA, Stevie Wonder's jam from 1966, "Uptight."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "UPTIGHT")
STEVIE WONDER: (Singing) Baby, everything is all right. Uptight. Out of sight. Baby...
MARTIN: And that's our program for today. I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Let's talk more tomorrow. We'll be back at our home base in Washington, D.C.
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