Detroit T. Flanagan Jr. was raised in the Watts community of Los Angeles, CA. He was actively involved in encouraging and inspiring young people for over 30 years through his involvement in the Watts Summer Games, the Wilshire Rotary Club, the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce, Project Gangs, Loy(ola Marymount Alumni Board (where he became university's first African American Alumni Board President in 1974) and other organizations. He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a major in mathematics and a minor in philosophy. Detroit is a former Air Force Captain and a Vietnam Veteran. He is also progenitor of three popular seminars which grew out of his poetry readings: "Parenting 101", ABC's of Building a Winning Life", and Relationships 101."

Detroit began writing poetry to his high school sweetheart, Trula, who later became his wife. I guess the poetry was pretty good. I'm not saying it was that good, but I'm not saying it wasn't that good. You be the judge!