CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – “Somebody’s” is a bit of a hidden gem out there on 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township.
It’s a combination retail and community space that places a big emphasis on Black History.
“We wanted to build a place where people can come and see the culture, be accessible to it, you know, be able to be inspired, create, and feel good about themselves”, Darryl Young, the shop’s owner, said. “So that’s what inspires somebody. You know, ‘I am somebody’, so that’s what inspired it.”
The name is a play on “I Am-Somebody,” the legendary spoken word poem by the late Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The poem, complete with Jackson’s voice, can be heard as you come through the door.
Young, who has created similar spaces in Detroit, says the message is undeniable.
He came to Clinton Township back in October with the goal of making it a cultural space.
There are images and notes about the lives and achievements of historic Black Detroit figures such as Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, Isiah Thomas, and J Dilla.
There are also creative nods to Detroit, including posters, newspaper articles, and other artifacts.
It’s an archive of culture for real. It’s a creative space.
“We do a lot of things, from recording artists to podcasts to interviews,” Young said. “So, it’s an archive of like this culture for real.”
His business partner, FC Benji, runs production in the studio.
He’s been a local performer for 20 years and said that getting the studio together came naturally to him.
“I don’t need the big mixing boards; It’s all about the plug-ins,” Benji said. “Everything you need to learn is having a good mic and a good song. I can record outside in the middle of Gratiot.”
The plan is to also integrate local artists into the collection in time for the official opening in April.
Young has already gotten art from around the country and will add more over time.
When it opens in a couple of months, Young wants it to be a reminder that when you walk in here, you will always feel like you are definitely somebody.
“I don’t want this to be represented in just February; It has to live forever,” Young said. “We honor our history all throughout, not just the year, our lifetime, from what we eat and like how we feel. That’s Black History.”
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