A New Day In The D (or Your City)

I woke up this morning on campus and the air just felt different: lighter, clearer, and finally, like it belongs to us.

Last night, we didn’t just witness a win; we witnessed a revolution. For the first time in history, Detroit has elected a woman to lead this city as Mayor. Mary Sheffield is officially our Mayor-elect, and I need us to sit with the weight of that for a second. In a city as storied and soulful as ours, it has taken until now to have a woman’s vision at the helm.

Honestly, I feel a deep sense of vindication today. After the heartbreak of seeing former VP Kamala Harris denied the presidency last year, there was this lingering question of whether the world was truly ready for Black women to lead at the highest levels. Watching Mary Sheffield shatter this glass ceiling right here in our backyard is the answer to that question. It’s a reminder that while the national stage may stumble, our local power is absolute. We aren’t just participating in history anymore; we are the ones writing the chapters. And we’re going to continue to!

The Standard of the Future & The Chapter Soon To Come!

Mary Sheffield has been consistent, polished, and unshakeable in her commitment to this city. She didn’t win because she was a woman; she won because she was the best candidate, period. But seeing her take that stage makes me think about the larger pinkprint. If she can transform the energy of a city like Detroit, imagine what she, or someone with the same fire like Jasmine Crockett, could do for this entire country. Jasmine Crockett has been showing us what it looks like to be unapologetic, brilliant, and completely grounded in truth on the national floor. Seeing Mary’s victory makes the idea of a Sheffield or Crockett presidency feel less like a dream and more like an inevitability. We are cultivating a bench of leadership that is so refined and so powerful that the world won’t be able to ignore it much longer.

Looking Toward January 1st

I am already counting down the days to January 1st. There is something so symbolic about the beginning of a quality-minded kind of leadership. I’m ready to see how she prioritizes our neighborhoods, our small businesses, and the safety of our sisters. When a Black woman leads, the whole community, including other races and sex, breathes easier because she knows how to nurture while she builds. To my sisters in Detroit, take a moment to celebrate this win. We showed up, we used our voices, and we protected our future. Sistahs outside of Detroit, take a moment to celebrate this win with us, too! This is good for all of us because it inspires other areas to be intentional with their vote. This is what happens when we refuse to settle for the status quo. We are the architects, and the city is finally looking like the home we deserve.

Stay feminine, stay focused, and remember: Your collective power is the most dangerous thing to a broken system. You are a Goddess who knows that when one of us rises, the entire staircase gets stronger, and your victory is a sacred milestone. You’re just a woman, but the world is reshaped by the height of the glass you choose to break.

With love,