Since May 2010, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been serving an 18-month to five-year sentence for violating the terms of his parole – not paying restitution. He served 99 days in 2008 for lying under oath in a civil trial. Soon to be released, he faces federal charges. His new book, “Surrendered: The Rise, Fall & Revelation,” will be released July 25. The Michigan Citizen spoke with Kilpatrick about the city of Detroit, failing his constituents, and his future.
MC: If you think about the rebellions, first wave of Black mayors, Black power agenda, what does Detroit now represent in the continuum of Black history?
KK: Detroit is the place that was home to The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who began the Nation of Islam. It is where Albert B. Cleage founded the Shrine of the Black Madonna. The place where the young Malcolm X visited Aretha Franklin’s father’s church, the Rev. C.L. Franklin’s New Bethel Baptist. [The city where] Malcolm X went on to deliver “Message to the Grassroots.” The most famous trade unionists of all times came from Detroit: Robert “Buddy” Battle, Robert Millender. The ecumenical, union, social justice movements can all trace something powerful back to Detroit. I believe in rhythm and the pendulum has swung away … now it has to swing back. [Detroit] is the last place in America where there is still a remnant of rebellion and revolution in the African American community. Detroit is fighting for an identity … its identity as a place a young African American child can believe he can be a doctor, surgeon or dentist. Across America, you don’t see that same audacity in young people. That is what is being attacked in Detroit. For the kids on 7 Mile and Dexter, that is what is being diminished. What is developing is a permanent underclass mentality. There will always be individuals who believe they can be [doctors, lawyers] but if you can’t find that amongst a community … that is how pivotal it is for this 80 percent [Black] community. Detroit is a role model not just for America, but the world.
MC: Why do you think we have such a gap in perspective when it comes to deciding what is best for the city and who will be in charge?
KK: The polarity creates the instability. The power of Detroit is in its unity. The siege always happens when you start attacking the blocks – black press, civil rights organizations, unions. Right now there is no common understanding of what we want because there is no leadership. Everyone wants a better school system, everyone wants civil rights and social justice, but we want to make sure our church gets money. Selfish ambition. It is specifically and intelligently designed to keep people from uniting. If you are going to lead the NAACP … step up. If you are going to lead the Baptist Pastors … step up. This is an emergency. [We need] action in unity that is moved in love, not hate. There are specific people, like our prosecutor … she is someone who continuously works to disrupt the flow, the vibe in the city of Detroit. Those who are anti-unification need to not be included. People are still looking for a mayor, a person in political office. Movements start with people. People need to come together not just with their shoe leather, but with their minds.
MC: Many say you represent a setback in Black leadership? How do you respond?
KK: They would be right. I definitely ascended to a place my talents and gifts took me, but I didn’t develop my character in the same way, which gave the devil a foothold. I gave people the right to say everything and anything about me. There have been so many lies and mistruths, I don’t think anyone knows what Kwame Kilpatrick did anymore. I have reconciled with God, my wife and family, now I want to have a conversation with Detroit. It’s time for me to reconcile with Detroit. … The whole characterization – this is how dangerous it is in Detroit – I was called a murderer for nearly seven or eight years. The FBI concluded I had no involvement. The prosecutor’s office investigated, state attorney general, but still the newspapers continued to beat the drum, even though they had all the information. Why? What that allowed is, now, if you are known as a thief, a murderer [that reputation] goes with you. That is why I am here. No one in Michigan’s history has been thrown in for what I have done … They have been using all of these things to say he stole or is corrupt. [People] don’t care because they have you engrossed in this soap opera about another man’s life. That is why I have to have a conversation with Detroit, we are about to lose the whole thing and it is not just about us, but our children. If they can put this black man on TV, what do you think they are going to do about your brother, son? When they were beating Kwame Kilpatrick they were beating you. And it was supposed to be better when I left… I have never stolen a damn dime from anybody in my life. I never embezzled or misappropriated public funds. So, I want to talk to Detroiters about the truth … I want to talk to Detroit about who I am and what I did. I served this community with everything I had … if you want to meet me, it’s going to be just like the campaign in 2005. I will come to your house. The next generation of Detroiters cannot be railroaded in this system that I have seen first-hand.
MC: For many black people, prison has often been a political experience, and some of the most alive parts of your book are when you talk about the number of black men who are locked up. Has prison radicalized you? How?
KK: Absolutely, not radicalized, but given me a more full education – spiritual and mental. It has drawn something inside me out. Something I had to suppress because I was a politician. As mayor, I had to be a manager, but we are called on to be producers … There are no titles here [in prison] so you have to have a lot of respect for your fellow man. Not respecting people will get you hurt. You have a wide spread of ages and have an opportunity to see what our country has done, what the crisis of massive incarceration has done to America. It has also given me some powerful ideas for the city. [Things] that I can do outside of job as mayor. I am free. I have never been this free in my life. This experience has sparked a new light in me and I am ready to help serve somebody. I think until we start to understand our men are here … I am locked in this unit with 100 fathers and fathers are serving time with their sons. Grandfathers are meeting grandsons. Until we start doing something about this cycle, we won’t do anything for our community … we need to start engaging with young people now.
MC: You are facing federal charges. Can you really write a book that you say tells the whole story?
KK: When all this stuff started to hit I was terrified and then I was trying to hold my family together. So, I shut up and I haven’t done any interviews, really, since 2008. I was the leader of the city and I should have been speaking and facing some of the criminal charges and the federal charges … I need to tell the truth. I need to speak.
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