We Detroiters didn't have much to be proud of in the 1960s. Our once-beautiful city was being torn apart by violence. We were proud of Motown music, even though it was kind of a packaged deal that Berry Gordy cooked up. Still, it was fun music; and it made us feel good about Detroit again.

But Aretha Franklin was the real thing. She grew up singing gospel in her father's church on Linwood Boulevard, and she became a world-renowned singer. She sang things her own way - she wasn't packaged and mass-produced. And she kept singing gospel all her life.

Our family moved from Detroit to Wisconsin when my dad lost his job in the recession of 1957, but we kept going back to Detroit every summer. And I think we're all still proud we came from Detroit.

And we were proud of Aretha Franklin. May she rest in peace.

-Joe-