Flint Expatriates: 2025

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Put a Water Bottle on It

A cutesy sticker profiting off a human catastrophe? Or am I misinterpreting?

The Art of Deception

Flint, as you've never seen it before, perhaps as imagined in a drug-induced haze, on Etsy.

Consider Donating to Flint Expatriates

This little experiment in writing about Flint has been unexpectedly fun. I no longer annoy non-Flint people with stories about The Vehicle City because I funnel all my lame recollections about the Dupont Street bus or Sam Isaac's motivational techniques into Flint Expatriates; I've connected with hundreds of Flintoids; and I've discovered the identity of a shadowy figure from my past known as Gypsy Jack.

Even better, a surprising number of readers have discovered the site. I'd like to write and report more, but in order to do that I need to free myself from my less enjoyable — but marginally more profitable — freelance work.

I'm taking the bold step of asking for donations from readers. (I resisted using the term "begging" because I have my pride.) I'm obviously not in this for the money. I just happen to love the town where I grew up, despite all its flaws, and I really enjoy attacking GM executives. But I would welcome the chance to spend more time on Flint Expatriates and do more actual reporting — like my recent story on the death of the student newspaper at UM-Flint — instead of simply aggregating material on Flint and making occasionally witty/stupid/annoying comments. After all, I am a journalist, even if many of my editors don't always think so.

So if you'd like to help out, just click on the "Donation" tab in the top right corner of the blog. You can donate via credit card or your Paypal account, if you have one. It's all safe and secure. Any amount is welcome, however small. Consider it a voluntary subscription to a free online publication dedicated to keeping the memory of Flint alive.

And if you choose not to donate, don't worry! It's okay. I'll survive. Just keep reading and sending your ideas.

If you'd like to help offset the operating costs of Flint Expatriates, feel free to donate any amount, however small. (We're talking $1-$5 here.) The goal is extremely modest — more profits than AutoWorld!
If Paypal isn't an option for you, simply email me at the Flint Expatriates World Headquarters, also known as my living room, and I'll provide a mailing address: gyoung(at)flintexpats(dot)com.

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

R.I.P. Michael Rawley

Artist, musician, poet, performer, Renaissance man Michael Rawley died peacefully at his home in Swartz Creek, Michigan on July 2, 2025. Born on December 23, 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, Michael was 83 years old.

Michael occupied his last few weeks with a representative display of his amazing oil paintings at the Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery in downtown Flint. It was his last exhibit and he put his heart and soul into it. Examples of his work can be seen on his Instagram profile showcasing various styles including portraiture, abstract and fantasy. Or do an Internet search for "Michael Rawley Flint paintings" and click on "Images" to see some of his paintings. His art is inspiring and visually stunning. One of his performances involved creating a painting inspired by live jazz music at the Flint Institute of Music (FIM). That painting, titled "Painted Music," is now on permanent display at the FIM.

Michael published his book of poetry titled "Book" in 1982. It was a collaboration with friend and illustrator Gerry Papineau. "Book" was published by Michael s own "Please Press."

But Michael was much more than the sum of his arts. He was a private person and lived a simple and modest life. At the same time he was well-known throughout the community and respected for his talent and intellect. As an activist, he was instrumental in forming a small food co-op in Holly, Michigan. As an ordained minister with a certificate from the Universal Life church, he performed weddings for people whose marriages have stood the test of time.

With his keen sense of curiosity he studied the sciences, religious traditions, visual arts and music. His calm presence and clarity would draw you into deep conversations on various topics. His counsel was sincere, kind and helpful. His vision was profound and he had a deep love of life. Though he s no longer physically present, his art and talent lives on and reminds us of a remarkable man.

Michael was predeceased by his mother Georgia Herrlich, a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint and stepfather Jack Herrlich. Together they owned and operated Herrlich s Drugstores in Flint.

Michael is survived by a sister Gael, daughters Natasha, Nova, Maria, a granddaughter Nadia and two grandsons Ty and Bentley.

There will be a celebration of Michael s life at 1 pm, Sunday, August 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint, 2474 S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint, Michigan.

Please consider making a donation in memory of Michael to organizations supporting the arts such as the Flint Institute of Music.