The phone rings. Hesitant to answer, due to the unrecognizable number, I pick the phone up anyway following a prompting from that gnawing voice from within. It was my friend, well actually good friend, whose voice carried on a wave of frustration, fear, and fatigue. He informed me that he was coming home. He was returning to Detroit after moving to Atlanta, Georgia almost seven years ago. I am a loyal Detroiter but I found myself asking why? Why leave a thriving city like Atlanta to come to a place draped in depression?  Is what you’re going through that bad? I continued to bombard him with questions looking for some revelations to why he made this, probably abrupt, decision. Well, not to put my friends business in the streets, but his situation was pretty crucial. Here was a grown man who worked in the Broadcast and entertainment industry after doing a short stint in the army. He recently divorced and was trying to provide for a child from the marriage. He lost his job, place to live, and was dealing with issues from his past that were recently resurrected. It was too much for me to hear so I know it was a lot for him to handle. I sat ear glued to the phone in disbelief and unable to find any words I thought were remotely comforting. I understood; I got it. I just wanted to warn him to what he was possibly coming home to.

He saw Detroit as a comfort zone, a place where family, friends, and a support system was. I saw Detroit, for him, as a place where familiarity could become a crutch rather than a boost of ambition. In no way or shape am I downing my city, discouraging migration to Detroit, or anything like that. For one, I work for this site; a site all about the positive aspects Detroit has to offer. For 2, I have had a few great opportunities to leave the city for my own career advancement but stayed out of obligation to my city and the people that I would leave behind. To tell the truth I know plenty of successful people from Detroit but how many have returned to make an effective change. I was boggled but curious, so I asked my friend if I could interview him on how his perspective on how it was to return home. It was a very interesting conversation and it helped me to get some perspective on the overall mental and physical journey it took for my friend. Simultaneously, I realized that there were 2 journeys being told. This was a intimate look at a man and a city hoping for a renaissance.

This is what he had to say,

Me: So did you fly or drive? And how long did it take?

Friend: Well I took the Grey Hound from Atlanta to North Carolina. Then we drove a car from NC to Detroit.

Me: Whose we?

Friend: Oh, I’m sorry; my brother and I. Total, it was over a 12 hour ride. It did give me a lot of time to think though.

Me: About what?

Friend: Contemplating on rather this was the right move or not because all that I heard from my friends and family and the stuff in the media.

Me: Like what?

The lack of police presence, schools closing, Detroit being broke, the job situation, etc.

Me: Not every major city is doing as bad as Detroit but there are problems in every city. So, what’s the difference with Detroit?

Friend: Yeah but its bad here. There’s a new wave of violence coming over this “mutha*$!@a”. On top of that look at the state of Detroit’s politics, the Kwame situation, the city council, schools and parks closing; it’s sad to say but it seems like every aspect of this city is tainted.

Me: So your mind was mostly on the things that you heard or were expecting to encounter?

Friend: Kind of, I thought about the state of the city, how I was going to handle the change, would the change be overwhelming for me since I’ve been gone so long. Like I said; while I was away I was always receiving phone calls and emails chronicling all the bad news from Detroit. Now, Detroit has always been “Detroit “if you get my drift. It’s been pretty well know that we breed a different type of folk here. However what hurts me most are the scowls you get from people in different places when you travel and tell them you’re from Detroit.

Me: What’s so hurtful?

Friend: The fact that the information that the majority of them are getting is from a news source and not because they’ve actually visited the city. They think you can’t walk down the street without getting robbed or killed. They look at you like you came from a hell whole, they judge you, they have a sense of fear, and they put a guard up with you. It seems that a lot of people are happy to see the city in the state that it’s and that’s why it hurts when you hear a Detroiter in the national news. It kind of makes what they were saying or assuming right.

Me: It hurts when they talk about your home town!

Mike: Yeah, but there were some things that it hurt me to hear but I had agree with.

Me: Like what?

Mike: Like…, Kwame stories.  The country know s about the “Hip-Hop” Mayor taking bribes. So, when someone who hears or knows you’re from Detroit and they come up to you ask, “What’s going on with your mayor?” or makes a negative comment; you kind of have to agree, facts are facts.

Me: So how long have you officially been back?

Friend: A couple of months.

Me: What changes, if any, have you noticed ?

Friend: I sense a heap of depression and downhill vibes vaporizing off the city. It seems like every other house or block is abandoned. Every other school is closed. It seems that no employers are really hiring. It seems that everyone is struggling.

Me: Besides the weather, this must be a major change from Atlanta?

Friend: Yes, major changes. I miss the country, and parts outside the city but anytime you’ve been gone as long as I have there’s always an adjustment period. But, I do feel like I have to walk on glass around here, like someone can blow up at any minute. It’s sad! Before I left the city had a spirit. I don’t feel any positive spirit here like I used to.

Me: Is there any hope for Detroit?

Friend: Yeah, if the 40 and under crowd gets involved, they have to get into the politics. There aren’t a lot of venues for creativity around here but I do see a lot of boom in the Mid-town area. People have to get into the neighborhoods from the churches and pastors to local business owners. Hate to say it but, it really does take a village. For some of our citizens, there’s no hope. You would have to do an “in-home” makeover. We would have to makeover the kids and the parents’ mentalities about themselves and the city. It’s sad seeing the state of Detroiters from before the 70’s to now.

Me: So where do we begin?

Friend: It begins with individual change. We can’t help others unless we are where we need to be. It begins with changing our attitudes not only about or selves but our city. We should use the negativity from others as a motivation to rebuild the city. We have people who made it but don’t come back to help those left behind. The ones left behind have little to no hope. Let’s walk this road to redemption strongly and positively

Me: What drives you to stay in the City of Detroit?

Friend: Overcoming a challenge, trying to prove that not everyone from our city is a failure. There are great success stories from Detroit.

Me: And you love the city too?

Friend: Yeah of course, or I wouldn’t be here.

Me: Do you think that you can successfully raise a happy and healthy family in Detroit?

Friend: Not unless you have had a good job so you can afford to live the way you and your family see fit. I know someone who lives on the eastside but they take their kids to warren to go to school. The school system is bad here. It’s frustrating that I have to go outside the city to give my kids a good education. Parks are closing and filled with trash and over grown grass so where can my kids run freely and play besides the streets and my backyard. Besides the eastern market, how many fresh fruit and veggie markets are in the city?

Me: What would you day to try can convince someone to come back

Friend: Honestly, right now, I’m going to have to dig deep for that answer. I think if you come in with a real solid business idea and money you can come in to Detroit and really take over.  So, from a business stand point, you can buy cheap. It’s a good time now because the city’s definitely going to make a comeback and you want to get in while you can.

Me: Dan Gilbert just bought 16 buildings in the downtown area!

Friend: Yeah, he knows something we don’t know! You know what? Let’s talk again in two months.

Me: You’re right, that should be interesting, I mean the rather your opinion of the city will change at all? Also, a lot can happen to the state of the city by then.

Friend: I doubt it but you never know!

A little over a month ago I had this conversation with my friend. A month before an Emergency Manager was appointed over the city and before the guilty verdict was handed down in the Kwame Kilpatrick corruption case. A lot can happen in a month but what is next to come for our city?

At one point in this city’s history; there was a great migration to the north from the south with people looking for good jobs and a better way of life. Well, in the past 10 years there has been a reverse migration with those leaving to the southern states with the same hopes our predecessors. However, for who are still here; I pray those who do want better for the city will come together with “Realistic” and probable solutions. We don’t need dreamers but doers and when the dreamers get to doing, there’s no telling what this city will be.

I pray that within the next few years; the excitement, hope and promise that is taking over the mid-town and Downtown Detroit areas will trickle to the West-side, North, South and all over Metropolitan Detroit. Honestly, it’s going to take us all; White, Black, Arabic, Hispanic and people of all backgrounds to come together to restore this city to its former glory. So let us Live, Work, and Play in Detroit because if we don’t, then who?! A renaisance is in the works for Detroit and its’ people cause we’re strong and resilliant and nothing can stop Detroit!

Links Below:

*Modeldmedia.com article:

Link: http://modeldmedia.com/features/soundconserve412.aspx

*The Detroit Sound Conservancy

Link: http://detroitsoundconservancy.wordpress.com/

For more information on Detroit Restaurant Week, click on link below:

http://detroitrestaurantweek.com/

Or,

After5detroit.com

Link: http://www.after5detroit.com/1353

– N. Warren

Huffingpost.com Article:

Michigan State Fairgrounds Could Be Sold, Redeveloped, According To Law Signed By Governor Snyder

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/michigan-state-fairgrounds-detroit_n_1412418.html

February honors Black history month and March women’s month but what month honors a black women. There isn’t one technically but if there was one, Toni Stone would definitely be one of the honorees for all she’s done in the world of sports. A feat that would be difficult for any woman of any race especially during an era in which racial tensions in America where at a boil. Being first, a women, and dealing with racism could break many but in this case a tomboy from Minnesota would endure it while making history.

In 1953,the Negro’s League baseball team, the Indiananapolis Clowns, signed Toni Stone. Who’s Toni Stone? Well, the the first woman: black, white, or whatever to play for a Professional Baseball team. Marcenia Stone was born On July 17, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and received the nickname Toni at an early age due to her tomboyish ways. I’m sure many noticed that she was different from early on but none expected her to make the waves at she would. By the age of ten, Toni stone was sliding into home with the neighborhood boys on her local church league. By 15 yrs, Mrs. Stone was playing for a Semi-professional Men’s team. From 1949 to 1951, Stone would get her chance to show her worth to other semi-pro Negro Leagues like the New Orleans Creolos And the San Francisco Sea Lions. It wasn’t until 1952, that she would get her chance at the majors. The majors, you ask? Well in 1952, blacks couldn’t play in the all white National or American Leagues until Jackie Robinson broke the barriers in 1947. Therefore, our Professional League was the Negro Leagues. While there was an All American Girls league, stone was denied from playing because she was black. Stone decided that she would rather play with the men of the Negro League than to not play at all. In 1953, stone would a get the same second base position and on the same team as Hark Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns but not necessarily for her talent but because attraction of the novelty. A woman playing professionally with men was unheard of and financially struggling negro league could use all the media they could get. Stone, would prove that she was more than an anomaly, she was a great player who happened to be a woman. Stone would gone playing professionally until 1954 when she retired with the Kansas City Monarchs due to numerous reasons. In 1993, Stone was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and was honored by her hometown when they declared March 6th as “Toni Stone” Day.

So we honor Ms. stone and all that she has done for all woman in history and in sports!

For more info on Marcenia Stone, click on the links below:

Link: Stone Bio

Link: Marcenia Stone Bio

This year, The Emperor takes a seat as it is the Empress who struts in her new wardrobe of fabrics that you can see right through. Hemlines that seem to have come right from Grace Kelly’s closet in sheer nude, sea foam, pastel tones and black are the must have.  This added layer gives glamor, volume and added femininity to your leggings, hot pants, or if you dare to be risque, leotards.  The sheer blouse that you picked up last fall will easily allow you to stay current in this trend.  Check out how to find the Perfect Blouse for your body here.  If you feel that the idea of wearing something completely see through too fast for your lane, bold cut-out stencil detail in dresses and shirts or lace garments will give a subtle, sexy peak at your skin but more importantly your fashion forward style.

Peplum dresses and skirts are also a must have.  Peplum dresses were very popular in the 80’s, as the detail around the waste may not be for everyone as it will surely adds volume to you hips. Depending on where the detail starts, it can be flattering or detrimental to your silhouette so be aware of this when picking one out as they are available in many variations and separates.

Capes reign the red carpet this year for formal events and opulent elegance.  Gwyneth Paltrow wore it well last month in Tom Ford, and set the style barometer sky high. This accessory, in place of a pashmina or shawl will instantly add drama to any look as it commands attention.  On the street, this season’s heroine dresses herself in prints from decades past. Digital, mixed floral and paisley prints add bohemian flare to your spring wardrobe.  This year the color palette of this season’s flowers are from the garden of Pandora; electric and bold. Chevron is making its transitions from walls of modern decor to every garment and accessory this spring.  The bolder the better when it comes to this print, especially with tangerine tones. This zig-zag needs no competition from any other pattern so make a bee-line to solid compliments.

The designers this season have embellished looks with the close knit detail and iridescent colors you’d expect to see on the fins of a mermaid princess.  Colors of the sea, beaded and embellished garments in tones of blues and greens look like a light show in Atlantis.

My favorite show on the TV right now is Fashion Star on NBC.  I noticed that everything that is current right now is considered ‘a winner’ and the companies Macy’s, Saks, and H&M offer you the looks you want to add to your wardrobe.

Washington Post

Calvin Johnson Signed an 8 Year $132M contract with the Detroit Lions

Huffington Post

Detroit Artist featured at SXSW

Detroit Native Debuts Fashion Line on NBC’s Fashion Star

Deforce:  Documentary on Detroit’s role in America’s future.

Good Magazine

Detroit featured as a top 8 city for artistic boom.

Big-Box Stores are a show of pride in Detroit.

Bringing a breath of freshness to the City of Detroit, Jenile Brooks offers Detroiters an outlet to fresh produce delivered directly to your front door.  A long heard  lament among Detroiters over the years is not only are there not enough grocery stores in the city limits, but even fewer that offer healthy food options.  Most Detroiters have had to drive a number of miles just to find fresh produce until now.  This is an exciting time in the city of Detroit as we see more an more great ideas offering a new heartbeat as the city begins its rise out of the ashes.  The Detroit Fly is extremely proud that one of its own is doing its part to keep out city in the forefront for revolutionary changes.  To read more about Jenile Brooks and Harvest Express, check out the articles posted by Black Enterprise and 100 Urban Entrepreneurs.

There seemed to be a battle for attention on the sidelines as musicians and athletes alike brought their A-game in style. There’s an expression of the grass always looking greener on the other side. Regardless of how much one achieves in their craft, there is an admiration for the talents or skills of others. Lil’ Wayne’s ‘diamond’ encrusted Beats by Dre headphones were like a Magellanic cloud, and his patriotic Jeremy Scott Adidas kept him in the spotlight.

Not to be denied, Dwayne Wade was spotted bringing heat to the sidelines in Hot Red Pants and a quilted Gucci leather jacket. He brought this look to a new atmosphere tribal accessories. Lebron James, as always, held it down bringing an alle-oop in high street style with layered denim, leather and futuristic silhouette specs.

Trendsetting in sports is ever evolving. Whether on the field or the court, what was once considered controversial is now the norm or commonly accepted. What is cutting edge now would have been unheard, or at the least way ahead of its time. When the Fab Five introduced ‘oversized’ basketball shorts on the court, it set them apart from other collegiate teams. It was the beginning of a new era in the look of basketball. This new trend started a frenzy among their fans, and soon after, college and professional teams followed suit. The cut of team’s uniforms was forever changed.

Off the court, things were a tad different as athletes were never associated with high-style. Suits with countless buttons, oversized jewelry, excessive visible tattoos, and poor tailoring are just a few examples of what could easily justify the last 20 years as a low point for sports style. There were a few people here and there who’s ‘individual style’ added to the appeal of their persona, but they weren’t considered by the industry as entirely “fashion forward.” Yesterday’s true fashions were reserved for actors, musicians, and socialites who graced red-carpets and A-list events. As with all things there comes a time for change. Athletes are beginning to shed their reputation for misguided fashions and are proving their style off the court is worthy of the same recognition as their game. A blazer and cashmere sweater, paired with tailored trousers is more likely to be seen on today’s athletes; where baggy jeans and an oversized t-shirt were once the norm. A new generation of players is embracing modern menswear more and more making them just as likely to grace the cover of GQ as Sports Illustrated.

What do players like Amare Stoudemire, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Dwight Howard all have in common? An eagle eye for accessorizing their ensembles with flawless tailoring shattering the idea that fashion-forward looks are reserved for the little guys. These players are consistently seen executing the hottest trends in mens fashion without screaming for too much attention or looking uncomfortable in their threads. The difference is in the details. The air of aesthetic they bring to their style resonates as much as the skills that have earned them their stardom as major contenders in the NBA. These players have a knack for taking timeless looks and achieving a style all their own.

The choices in cufflinks, shirt and tie combos, belts, shoes, sunglasses, scarves, and jewelry are one of the easiest ways for these men to set themselves apart from the masses. Towering over the general population would pose a challenge for being a candidate for wearing the latest looks you find on the racks in boutiques, but this doesn’t stop them from being considered some of the most dapper men in the league. Whether in a suit or sneakers, the finishing touches bring a noteworthy presence as athletes continue to become a stronger influence on mens style. The elements of these two industries are merging faster than ever as Spring approaches its long-awaited arrival. Competitive sports are now at the forefront of inspiration for menswear. I invite you to look at the world of mens fashion through the eyes of the new athlete and take note of the elements that will keep you ahead of the game.