I want to admit something to you: everybody shares stuff on Facebook. Whether it’s old pictures, videos on youtube-everybody shares stuff on Facebook. So, it’s interesting when I come across something that makes me stop and really notice. Such is the case for Eminem’s spoken video “Love Letter To Detroit.”

One thing that I’ve never doubted of him is his deep, deep love for Detroit. It’s not some cliche where he wears the logo when he’s on camera or casually throws in some references during interviews. Detroit is something that has shaped him and, no doubt, has also brought him to where he is. If there’s one thing that I can say about the Detroit area is that we’re very hardworking and often get knocked around. However, the thing is that we always get back up. Unfortunately, I think that with our current times, we’ve forgotten about the tenacity and toughness that once brought our city to great heights. Yes, I’m even including suburbanites and people from the area in Detroit. Let’s be honest-for most out-of-towners, Detroit is the only city that they often know Miin Michigan anyway.

So whether you’re a Detroit resident, work there or live outside of it, we’re all hurting. The difference is that some people make more money than others. However, everybody’s scaling back-whether it’s because you have to or because it almost seems like poor taste nowadays to flaunt what you have. Anybody that says that they’re not is either a fool or a liar. During these times, it’s when we need to stick together the most. We need to share what we have. Where we might have extra, we should share it with the less fortunate. If you’re out somewhere, tip a little generously. Instead of retreating, we need to go outside of ourselves and help each other out. I firmly believe that united we stand, divided we fall. If we’ve ever believed that we’re a region, then we must prove it by banding together.

Eminem didn’t teach me anything or help me to remember something that I’d forgotten. What he did was reinvigorate my hope that we are the key to coming out of this darkness. Times are tough and I’m as scared as the next person. However, I’m not letting fear get in my way. If I did, then Mi Estilo wouldn’t have happened. I know that we will make it. I know that we will help each other. If not, then we are responsible for sealing our own fates. As much as we have some control over our futures, the least we can do is to remain united.