Politics

David 'Eastside Kid' Bonior Revisits Roots in Hamtramck and East Detroit

November 13, 2014, 8:29 PM by  Alan Stamm

David Bonior goes back, back, way back in his new memoir, recollecting his local childhood before serving in the Michigan House and spending 26 years in Congress.

"Eastside Kid," published this week, explores how his Detroit-area upbringing and Catholic education shaped the values of a future  Democratic congressional leader.

The 352-page hardback is described as "a book of early memories" in promotional materials, which cast Bonior as "a working-class kid with big dreams." A synopsis at davidbonior.com adds:

This book is about the lessons of his youth and how he used them to navigate life on Detroit's Eastside. How he became a leader in his community on and off the sports field and then used those skills to become not only a member of Congress, but the House Whip, the number two person in his party in the United States House of Representatives. 

Bonior, now 69, represented a Macomb County district for 13 terms in Washington from 1977-2003.

His book, illustrated with family photos, has memories of growing up in Hamtramck and attending St. Florian School until age 9 and then living in East Detroit (now Eastpointe), where he went to St. Veronica School. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods in 1963.

"I've written this book as a kind of family reminiscence," says the father of three and grandfather of eight. "It's written as if I'm telling my kids and grandkids about what I've seen and experienced in life."  

He traces his ancestors' roots, describing how his paternal grandfather came to Hamtramck from Poland and didn't speak English. His maternal grandfather immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine. later settled in northern Michigan and eventually wound up in Hamtramck as well.

Macomb Daily columnist Chad Selweski writes:

There's not a lot of politics in this book, though the former Mount Clemens Democrat talks about helping his father, Ed, campaign for East Detroit City Council and mayor. The story also touches on his four years in the state Legislature.

Public event: Bonior will read and sign books Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Barnes & Noble store in ShelbyTownship (14165 Hall Rd). Details here.



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