South African President Jacob Zuma unveiled a 23-foot statue Dec. 13 of former S.A. president and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, affectionately called “Madiba,” for his African Xhosa tribe name. The erection of the statue, which stands above the landscape overlooking Mangaung, forms part of government’s programs to honor the country’s heroes and heroines in the struggle for liberation. ...

Though Detroiters said no, and despite a plan hammered out by a coalition of the city’s unions that would have saved $120 million in the budget, Council members Ken Cockrel, Jr. and James Tate, along with Council President Charles Pugh, worked behind closed doors with state officials and State Treasurer Andy Dillon on a consent agreement that cost the city additional millions of dollars, limited the power o ...

Frankie Darcell is off the air. Fired by Clear Channel in December, Darcell’s popular and well-liked voice will no longer be heard on WMXD 92.3. Listener comments range from “Why did they fire her? I listened to her everyday,” to calls for a boycott of Clear Channel. ...

The principles of Kwanzaa require that we pledge to solve problems together for the good of community (Ujima), recommit ourselves to supporting and building our own shops, stores and businesses (Ujamaa) and rededicate ourselves to preserving and appreciating our heritage and passing that same dedication to future generations (Nia). ...

Detroit, meet Jorge Andrade. Jorge is an autoworker from Colombia. When he came to Detroit last August he was in the middle of his second hunger strike. When you read this he will be in the fourth week of his third. His lips are sewn shut. ...

What is your New Year’s resolution? ...

The coming of the New Year is a time for reflection. We assess the past and project our hopes for the future. For many of us in Michigan, this past year has been one that has sharpened the two different visions for our future. ...

Local prep teams from Detroit’s public and charter schools took part in the second annual Battle of the Best Holiday Showcase held Dec. 15 at Southfield High School. Sponsored by Prep Spotlight Magazine, the weekend hoops invitational featured five games, three of them involving schools from Detroit PSL and two local charter schools: Southfield against. East English Village, Cass Tech versus Community High ...

As the climate crisis worsens and more people and places in the world are devastated by hurricanes, droughts and other weather catastrophes, we need more discussion on the role that disaster can play in bringing about social transformation. ...

For some, Detroit is becoming an urban oasis for a healthy lifestyle shift, creating a change in the neighborhoods of Detroit. This change comes slowly for some, more rapidly for others and many are not sure what to think of it. As a lifelong Detroiter, I’ve witnessed a lot of changes, some I hope to never see repeated, such as the disrespect of citizens by city leadership, abuse of power, and economic ineq ...