If you have had any access to social media within the past week, then you have obviously heard about the poaching of Cecil the Lion. If you haven't, then I am extremely jealous of you, but am happy to elaborate.
Cecil the Lion was just that: a lion. He lived in Zimbabwe in the Hwange National Park and was a subject of research by Oxford University. Most importantly, he was protected by law from hunting; however, Cecil the Lion was poached by an American hunter named Walter Palmer on July 1st. The entire ordeal became international news after being reported on by major British newspapers on July 29th.
The backlash by the Internet community, as well as the mainstream media, has been immense. Cecil the Lion dominates local news programs and tabloid programs, such as TMZ. Celebrities Sharon Osbourne, Cara Delevingne, and Ricky Gervais all voiced their discontent with Cecil's death on Twitter. Even Jimmy Kimmel took time to say something about it on his late-night talk show. "The big question is, why are you shooting a lion in the first place?" Kimmel wondered. "How is that fun?"
But Mr. Kimmel, I think the real big question is, why do you care? How is this relevant?
I am an out-of-state student at Ohio State, raised in St. Clair County, Michigan, a part of Metro Detroit. Detroit is the most violent city in the United States of America. According to statistics from 2013, there is approximately one murder and two rapes every day in the city of Detroit. Over 16 percent of the population of Metro Detroit live in poverty. 6 percent are unemployed. Less than 30 percent have a college degree. In 2009, almost 24 percent of people in Wayne County - where Detroit is actually located - were food insecure and did not know where their next meal would come from.
But no celebrity has ever voiced their discontent about Detroit's problems. No one gives the violence and poverty of southeast Michigan a second glance. Our culture has grown accustomed to it. It's the status quo. It would take too much work to affect an actual change in Detroit.
In 2004, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was pulled off the air for a night after he made an off-the-cuff remark about Detroit. "They're going to burn the city of Detroit down if the Pistons win, and it's not worth it," Kimmel joked.
Not worth it? Detroit and the auto industry made the United States an economic powerhouse in the 1950's. Detroit shaped the music industry with Motown in the 1960's. Detroit continues to be a source of inspiration for local musicians and artists. Detroit is a beautiful city with amazing attractions that has the potential to be great once more, but only if people are willing to work and invest in it.
So, Mr. Kimmel, don't tell me Detroit is not worth it. Because Detroit is worth it. And the fact that you use your celebrity status to talk about the death of lion that you didn't even know existed until almost a week ago instead of focusing on domestic, homegrown issues of poverty, violence, and food insecurity offends me.
Sincerely,
Proud of Detroit
