Mr. DesJardins and Mr. Dearing Interview

Part One

[[00:00:00]] Mr. DesJardins talks about Paradise Valley Businessmen’s Association – he and Mr. Dearing introduced to Black Bottom fellows

Between [[00:05:00]] and [[00:06:00]] Mr. DesJardins talks about ethnic makeup of Black Bottom

Part Two

[[00:00:00]] Mr. DesJardins talks about his family from Suriname and their travels

[[00:03:00]] Mr. DesJardins’s family movement from Hastings to Brewster, Desjardins’ earliest jobs

[[00:06:00]] Mr. DesJardins unfairly treated at Pekin restaurant – building of I-75 was after he lived in Black Bottom

[[00:09:00]] Mr. Dearing brings up redlining under “military man” Eisenhower – Mr. DesJardins talks about importance of knowing history as part of one’s civic duty and making progress

[[00:12:00]] Mr. DesJardins says auto industry built Detroit but it’s falling apart – what will happen next is a “crapshoot” – Mr. Dearing talks about land-bank owning and how Black folks need to “wake up” to realizing how communities are being gobbled up

[[00:15:00]] Mr. Dearing addresses changes and how one needs to own land – DesJardins: “Racism is still prevalent”

[[00:18:00]] Mr. DesJardins on Muslims and Chaldean Christians – talks about getting rid of “inferior markets” like liquor stores and gas stations in neighborhoods

[[00:21:00]] Mr. DesJardins on how Black Detroit had a tight community and councils to form better businesses: “People really have to get involved from that level.  ‘Cause that’s the only way that you can make any kinda change in the first place.  Where you – where you still have control.  While you still – excuse me – while you still have control.  Because you’re losing it rapidly.”