Tattle-tales And Gossips

Tattle-tales and gossips are two of a kind,
No matter where you go, one or the other you'll find
Gossip is more contagious, than measles or the flu
Must be very careful, not to get infected too
Two people talking, tattle-tale walks in
First thing you notice, is that fake-ass grin
It 's a private conversation, but tattle-tale doesn't care
Sniffing out gossip, like a dog sniffing air
Gossip is more contagious, than measles or the flu
Must be very careful, not to get infected too.
Quick to spread gossip even if it ain't true
Talk to you about me, then tell me about you.
Tattle-tales gossip, to keep from being alone.
Fact of the matter is, they have no life of their own
Must be very careful, who you tell your business to
They just may be the one, who's telling on you
T.L.H.

My Detroit pt4

Detroit during the sixties was a great place to be  from a kids point of view.There was the Pistons Booster club, the Tiger Dugout club, the Red Wings at the Olympia, Parks and Recreations organized sports, Boy Scout meetings at the Second Baptist Church in Greek town. Roller skating at the Arcadia Roller skating rink and Brewster center.   Activities at the Y.M.&Y.W.C.A.'s, movie theaters downtown and all along Woodward Ave. (note) "I'm speaking primarily about that segment of Detroit in close proximity to the Brewster Douglass Housing projects."                                                                                                                                                                                                           Barry Gordy, Motown Records founder sometimes held rehersals in bldg. 641 Winder, the bldg. where his brother George lived.  Mary Wilson of the Supremes lived in bldg 2600 St Antoine. Her sister Kathlene and I were in the same homeroom class in Bishop elementary school. Diana Ross lived in the row houses across the street from Mary's bldg. Jackie Wilson ate dinner with my family just before he won the talent contest at the Fox theatre which led to his recording contract and his appearence on the Ed Sullivan Show. Just about everybody with Motown in the early days were familiar faces in and around the Brewster Projects.Aretha Franklin lived in the area between the Chrysler service Dr.( which was Hastings) and the Eastern Market, with her father Rev. C. L. Franklin and her 2 sisters. Willie Tyler, a  vintriloquist and actor appearedon numerous TV shows with his dummy Lester. But he delivered papers for the Detroit Times in the projects before he became famous. One time when Stevie Wonder was visiting in the projects he rode my first two-wheel bike. The Brewsters was like a training ground for soon to be famous.   to be con't.                        

My Detroit pt3

Brewster center was also the home gym of pro boxers Alvin"Blue"Lewis and Hedgemon Lewis and many others.                                                                                                                                                                         Globetrotters like Marcus Haynes, Ernie Wagner and Mose Montgomery were famioliar faces in the projects and at the center. To be more specific Mose Montgomery's sister ,Barbara lived a couple doors down from us in bldg 2601. Ernie" Wags"Wagner, Coached the team I played for in the P.A.L.(Police Athletic League) And all three at one time or another played in the Sunday League, which was like triple "A" ball or the CBA .Ex-Piston stars like Jimmie Walker,George Trapp and Reggie Harding played ball in the sunday league at Brewster center. Spencer Hayward George Gervin, Smokey Gaines also spent time at the center. There was so much talent hanging in the area that in the summer Globetrotters' scout Bobby Hall would come to Brewster center to hold tryouts for future Trotters.

My Detroit pt2

The Brewster Projects at present is an eye sore, a part of the city a lot of people can't wait to be rid of. Always known as a rough neighborhood with a bad reputation, the Brewsters is typical o f most economically poor communities in most major cities throughout our country, with a few differences a lot of people may not be  aware of or have forgotten.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             To my understanding Elenanor Roosevelt was instrumental in the building and establishment of the Brewsters as a place to live for the poor because of the contribution made by black servicemen during the war. Men like former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, a black pilot, one of the Tuskeegee Airmen                                                                                                                                              Mention the name "Joe Louis", and just about everyone with any knowledge of Professional Boxing knows who he is. Joe Louis Arena is named after him. But did you know that Joe trained at the Brewster Recreation Center? Or that Muhammed Ali( Cassius Clay), made a special trip to Detroit in 1964 after winning the Olympic Gold, just to visit Brewster Center ,Joe Louis' home gym.?            

MY Detroit

Detroit, The Motor-City,home of the Red Wings, Pistons,Tigers,Lions and two time W.N.B.A World Champions, The Detroit Shock. Birthplace of the world renound Motown sound. And the Brewster  Projects. "Brewster Projects?"   When was the last time you saw 50 or more kids, all playing the same game with no adult supervision and no fights?   In the late 50's early 60's,  I was one of many kids who played a game we called "Paw Paw Peedaway", peedaway tackle. A project version of "red light, green light." The object of the game was to get from one end of the field to the other with out getting tackled. We'd all line up on one end of the field with one kid(the caller) in the middle. He or she would call out instructions. When he said,"paw paw peedaway get your horse and run away, everyone wouold make a mad dash to the other side of the field. The caller would try to tackle as many kids as he could. Whoever got tackled had to help tackle when the caller gave out instructions again. The game would end whenthe last kid was tackled,who would become the caller and we'd start over again. The game would last for hours.                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Brewster Projects is where I grew up. Located in down town Detroit, north of Comerica Park and Ford Field, west of the Eastern Market and south ofthe Detroit  Medical Center.                                                                                     (   to be con't  )

What If
What if trees grew no leaves?
What if the ground grew no trees?
What if there was no rain or snow?
No fruit or plants or flowers that grow?
No oceans or lakes or mountain streams
No sun or moon or stars that gleam?
What if there was no reason to hate?
No reason to lie, no reason to cry
No envy, or anger, or jealousy
No prying eyes or enemies
No watching the clock or doors to lock.
No too much work for too little pay
No thieving leaders to take it away.
No being accused of things untrue
No self-righteous people looking down at you.
No mail boxes filled with useless junk mail
No phone calls from strangers with something to sale
Now days there's a price tag on all you see
Everything costs nothing is free!

Grown Ups


As a child I had No clue
Grown Ups had so much to do
They had money, they drove cars
They partied at Night Clubs and Bars

All I did was go to school
Do home work , and obey their rules
Everyday eat sleep and play
Do just what the grown ups say
Hang up your clothes, Take a nap
I told you not to mess with that
Clean your room, put away your toys
Stop! You're making to much noise

I shot marbles, Dad shot pool
I had toys, Dad had tools
I went to bed early
He stayed up late
I couldn't believe how much he ate.

Wash the dishes sweep the floor
Go out side, play some more
When I found out what they really did
I wish that I had stayed a kid

Nope! I really had no clue
Grown ups had so much to do.

By Thomas Hunter