Cincinnati Has A Black Music Walk Of Fame. Why Doesnt Detroit?
Bootsie Collins, Charles Fould, the Isley Brothers and Otis Williams are famous funk, soul and gospel icons in black culture. Plus, they're all from Cincinnati, Ohio, and made history as members of the city's first class inducted into the Black Music Walk of Fame in 2021.
The class of 2022 included legends Benny Ford, the band Midnight Star, mega-producer Hi-Tek and jazz musician Wilbert Longmire, who was inducted posthumously. Now, a year later, Cincinnati is preparing for the official public unveiling of its Black Music Celebrity Trail, a class of 2023 that includes Dale, James Brown, Philip Wynne and Louise Shropshire.
Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reese spearheaded the $20 million project in early 2021, ahead of the annual Cincinnati Music Festival, one of the nation's largest African-American music festivals. The festival is a major economic driver for Cincinnati and Hamilton County, averaging $107 million annually.
A similar concept is emerging in Atlanta in 2021 with the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. In the two years since Atlanta's inception, winners have included Beyoncé, Outkast, Quincy Jones and Usher. With national and international appeal, BMEWOF honors outstanding individuals and organizations that have made an impact on Black culture and society, as well as those that continue to pave the way for the future.
While Atlanta's music history is nationally and internationally known, it's fair to say that Cincinnati isn't as well known as a music mecca to people around the world. And it's fair to say that while both cities are musically rich, neither has ever been as famous as Detroit.
Yet each of them has dedicated time, space and money to celebrate black music, entertainment and the people who have dedicated their lives to making it happen.
So the question is, if cities around the world that are less known for their musical contributions have invested so much resources in honoring their black musical heritage, why hasn't Detroit done the same?
Detroit is the birthplace of techno music. He revolutionized music with the Motown Sound. Berry Gordy, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, The Supremes, The Temptations, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Anita Baker, Smokey Robinson, Winans, Sheards, Clarks. And the list goes on. Detroit's influence on blues, funk, gospel and soul manifests itself in many ways that deserve to be a part of how the city is known beyond its name.
And while the Motown Museum is a great way to celebrate the legacy of an influential generation, Detroit's music extends beyond Motown. J is Dilla, Royce is 5'9", Big Sean is, Trick is, Esham is, Illa is J, Rance Allen is, Clark sisters is, Vanessa Bell is Armstrong. Again, the list could go on.
There are certainly questions about the logistics of running Detroit's Black Music Walk of Fame. (Who chooses the recruits? Where will they go? Who will finance the project? How will it be supported?) But it will be a tourist attraction for local residents and people from around the world, and will undoubtedly generate a lot of income for local businesses, as people from near and far come to experience the city in a unique way.
Of his efforts to make the Black Walk of Fame a reality, Reese said, "I want to make sure people not only know these artists are from Cincinnati and Hamilton County, but know their stories and their great contributions to the world."
Don't we want the same for Detroit? Let's find a way to make it happen.
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