I went out to Noel Night in Detroit for the first time this year. I didn't want to go mostly because my wife and I were supposed to meet with her mother and aunt and sister and various uncles and boyfriends of said parties. I am just not a big "walk around in a big group of people" kind of person.

So we left our house to head to midtown at about 5:30pm, and easily found a parking space near Wayne State. As we were meeting people, we had to coordinate a place where we'd all meet. We chose an apartment on Cass but because of the address of the apartment being "inside" of a building, we ended up just meeting at the corner of Cass and Forest.

We began walking down to the "main event" area on Woodward where shops were open and people were gathered around singing, and sipping from cups. The group I was with tried to inconspicuously drink librations hidden in coffee cups and mason jars disguised with pintrest bows and ribbons.

Along one of the streets there was a huge disruption, a moment of fear struck me as I saw a crowd of people approaching us quickly. I realized that they were chanting "Hands up Don't Shoot". In support of Michael Brown and in protest of the systemic killing of black people.

I was in awe of these brave people. I wanted to join them, I wanted to at least give them a piece of myself. Instead I stood there like an idiot and gawked. I read signs talking about how silence is equivalent to complacency, and have stewed a bit in my own hypocrisy.

After they passed an aunt in law asked "What were they saying?" I explained to her it was "Hands up, don't shoot", that these were words that evolved out of the conflict in Ferguson, that they were using the polices own words to turn around what has historically been a way to quickly subdue rebel rousers. That by saying "Hands up don't shoot" the protesters were identifying themselves.

A member of my group then said that they wish they lived during the era of the civil rights marches. My wife and I stood with our mouths gapped open as if by a car jack. She quickly corrected the person mentioning how while historically it might be interesting, the sexism and racism at the time was not something people should strive to live in. We understood what the person was saying, it was just a weird thing to say after seeing a crowd of people trying to dismantle the same type of systems.

We wandered everywhere, which I hate. I would have preferred to just have a path and stick to it. We ended up at the Detroit Historical Museum. Despite living so close for so many years, I have never been. Although we do regularly go to the DIA, the Museum is a hidden gem. Filled with musical instruments, news paper clippings, and sports memorabilia, it's hard not be impressed by Detroit's history.

If you take the stairs down to the basement there is a replica of the streets and shops that would have been in Detroit during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The streets are cobblestone and wood, there were people pressing ink onto paper for Christmas cards, we didn't get one but I wish that we did now.

The old apothecary shop had some interesting medicines:

A Snake who's primary interest is the medical sciences or at least Chaulmoogra:

An office supply company. I particularly like the inscription on the letter holder which advices the reader to "Do it now.":

There is also a large train station setup in the basement:

Outside, we noticed handprints

It's a very neat place and we didn't even really cover a quarter of it.

We ended up in the DIA, It was quite fun watching people look at the Diego Rivera room. If you haven't been here, you can explore for yourself on the DIA website it's quite awe inspiring, and captures the humanity of the industrial personality of Detroit.

We left shortly as crowds were starting to crowd and went outside into the brisk air. I watched people walk around aimlessly. Got complemented for my Doctor Who/Tardis hat. The group I was with ready to wander some place else. As we were leaving, the familiar sound of "Hands up, Don't Shoot" travelled through and invaded the space of a street preacher trying to sell his spiritual wares. They continued on, and I once again was confused as to how to show my solidarity to these people.

Noel Night was a great experience, but if I do it again, it will be just my wife and I.

The DIA:

Here are some photos of the protests taken by motor_city_muckraker and mike_aulden on instagram

Protestors laying down:

Protestors neon signs "I Can't Breathe":

Statue holding the sign "Am I Next?"