You Probably Knew This Already...

...but it flew under my radar, somehow.

Shortly after her famous bus ride, Rosa Parks moved to Detroit.  She lived there until she died in 2005.

Sadly, in 1994, the then 81 year old Civil Rights icon was robbed and assaulted.  Less sadly, there was a happy ending to that part of the story.

Enter Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers and founder of Little Caesar's Pizza.

Quietly, he facilitated moving Ms. Parks to a safer building and paid her rent from the time of the move until her death in 2005.

I am one of those that thinks that human kindness is not exceptional.  I believe that it's a natural evolutionary strategy whereby those of means and ability use those assets to assist the welfare of the whole.  There's a definite societal return paid to all when the wealthy and connected use their power and leverage to elevate those less advantaged than themselves, both individually and collectively.

This case illustrates my point better than most.  A man in Ilitch's position could easily and without any negative impact have used this bit of philanthropy to his advantage in the public sphere.  He didn't.  He saw a person in need who had once put her safety and freedom on the line to fight for a simple human right and offered assistance he was able to give.  

From the little I have since read about Mike Ilitch, while this was a notable instance, it was hardly a one off.  

It's the popular notion to paint the wealthy and powerful as simply greedy, selfish and often downright villainous.  Nice to know that there are exceptions.  Sadly, Ilitch died in 2017.  I can only hope that there are more of him out there somewhere...