Remembering Movement Leader Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson
The Honorable Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson passed away on July 10th, 2023 at the age of 72. Mother Watson and her West Side Unity Church in Detroit are Midwest Environmental Justice Network partners and close allies with our partner and Leadership Team organization, We the People of Detroit. Below is a reflection on the impact of Mother Watson from our friends at We the People of Detroit:
The Honorable Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson passed away on July 10th, 2023 at the age of 72. Mother Watson and her West Side Unity Church in Detroit are Midwest Environmental Justice Network partners and close allies with our partner and Leadership Team organization, We the People of Detroit. Below is a reflection on the impact of Mother Watson from our friends at We the People of Detroit:
People have flooded the internet and airwaves with their condolences and praises of the social justice advocate. There is no denying former Detroit City Councilmember, Queen Mother Watson’s drive, brilliance, and courage. At We the People of Detroit, we have seen all of those qualities in action, yet we would be remiss if we did not make space to talk about one of her less celebrated, albeit just as important, qualities- her belovedness.
We the People of Detroit (WPD) is honored to have maintained a close relationship with the honorable councilwoman. Two of our Founders, Monica Lewis-Patrick and Debra Taylor, worked in the office of Rev. Dr. Watson, where she served on the Detroit City Council for 10 years. Not only did we look up to her as a fierce freedom fighter in our community, we also owe her credit as the “Architect of Water Affordability”. Mother Watson wrote the first water affordability legislation in the nation which has since been used as a guide to pass affordability programs across the country, including in Philadelphia and Baltimore. WPD CEO, Monica Lewis-Patrick says of the legislation, “The policy was done by centering the universal principle that human beings must have access to clean, safe, and affordable water... She was always concerned about what would be best for the residents and the community.”
She has been an integral mentor and guide at our organization as we have navigated the fight for the human right to clean, safe, and affordable water over the past 15 years. She constantly encouraged us that we can and must be the solutions to the hardships that we see in our community.
Mother Watson fought fiercely for meaningful change and equity for her community, that she loved, and the community loved her back. She was known to go above and beyond for her people. In a conversation with WPD CEO, Monica Lewis-Patrick, one instance related to Mother Watson’s love for her community particularly stood out. She recalls an elderly woman coming into the Honorable Councilwoman’s office with a $20,000 water bill. The elder had tried contesting the bill and telling the water department that the bill does not belong to her, without success. The resident came to Mother Watson as a last resort for help. Lewis-Patrick recounts, “She got up and physically walked down to the water department to help this elder. They found that not only did she not owe the $20,000, but the water department in fact owed her money.”
She was supported and mentored by many social justice giants, including the legendary Dr. Dorothy Height, Mother Rosa Parks, Hon. Erma L. Henderson, and Rev. Dr. C.T Vivian. She was also close friends with the late music legend and advocate, Aretha Franklin.
Watson was a major force in the Black Liberation Movement. Her advocacy led her to becoming the first female to head the Detroit branch of the NAACP, which has remained the largest branch of the organization since its inception.
Additionally, the former councilwoman of the City of Detroit authored over 4,000 pieces of legislation. The legislation encompassed many different issues, including some of the first distracted driving laws and reparations policy. A fierce advocate for environmental justice, Mother Watson also established the first green task force in Detroit. Her work did not stop when her service on the Detroit City Council ended in 2014. She continued to raise her voice for Detroiters and created several platforms for community and community advocates to ensure their issues were raised, such as her TV show, Wake Up Detroit. She also maintained leadership roles on many boards and coalitions, including the Detroit Reparations Task Force, the Fund for Equal Justice, the Detroit Council of Elders, and the C.T. Vivian Leadership Development Institute.
“I see her as the embodiment of the black matriarch,” says WPD CEO Monica Lewis-Patrick.
While it is impossible to measure the loss that we feel from the passing of Rev. Dr. Watson, the reverence for her legacy and love we have for her far exceeds the grief we feel in this moment. We are honored beyond measure to push forward Mother Watson’s dream for clean, safe, and affordable water for all.
It is imperative that social justice advocates keep her legacy alive. The best way to honor the memory of the Reverend Doctor Watson is to continue her fight for equity. If you would like to advance her lifelong fight for water affordability, we encourage you to support the Water Equals Life Coalition, which aims to promote affordable water for all Michiganders. You can support WEL’s mission by signing the water affordability pledge and/or submitting an action alert at welcoalition.org.