Film, Motion Picture

This Is My Home, This Is Detroit

16mm color print of the 1986 Sue Marx production, "This Is My Home, This Is Detroit." The film highlights residents of various neighborhoods throughout the city, including Anna and John McDonald of Elmwood Three, Gertrude Powe of Pingree Street in Virginia Park, Officer Tom Benson and volunteer Susan Hatfield of Detroit Police Department mini station 16 M 3 on Seven Mile Road, Charles H. Smith, Jr. of a beautification project of Oakman Boulevard's greenway, Bronson Gentry of a neighborhood beautification project for young people in Jefferson-Chalmers, Peter and Carol Rich of Rosedale Park. Bill and Carol Harris of New Center Commons, Preston Burke and Anne Wilkinson-Burke of the Riverfront Apartments, and Michael Farrell of the Art House in Brush Park. Mayor Coleman A. Young is also interviewed in the Manoogian Mansion. The film also includes footage of the various neighborhoods and several renditions of the theme song "Detroit, My Home." The song is performed in the introduction by blues singer Alford "Chicago Pete" Harrell and guitarist Clarence Walton as Harrell is fishing at Chene Park. A group of children, including those of Chicago Pete perform part of the song on the sidewalk during an early montage. Later jazz musicians Larry Lamb and Herbie Williams perform an instrumental version amid the new construction of the Clement Kern Gardens housing development and the historic homes along Bagley Street in Corktown. The film closes with the Blue Pigs' performance of the song at Detroit Edison and GranDetroit's 1985 Bright and Beautiful block club contest award ceremony.