Cleveland has a black heart. The Cuyahoga is its aorta and the industrial valley forms the atria and ventricles. If you wonder why Clevelanders have a reputation for fatalism, you need look no further.

This malaise has persisted for generations, and manifests in several symptoms. Many of the powerful, who claim to serve this city and county and work for its betterment are merely interested in serving themselves and their cohorts. The results of this neglect are most visible in the increasing decrepitude of the city’s business, population, infrastructure and housing.

Most of the powerless bewail the status quo and scoff at any hope for change. This abject pessimism provides perfect security that change will not come. The powerful and powerless are both supported by a dying media system whose sole purpose has dwindled to simply telling people what they want to hear, so much pre-chewed, well-spun, spoon-fed pablum.

And there are those who “wring their hands about ‘civic participation’ while not actually doing anything about it themselves [QFT].” These are people whose own agendas are so important that they cannot and will not put them aside to work with each other. And so Cleveland also has a broken heart.

Face it. The physical, spiritual and emotional needs of this city we call home are not being met.

BLACKHEART Cleveland is the light in the darkness. If you want to know about the hidden gems, the intrepid entrepreneurs, and the beauty of Cleveland, this is the place to be.

If you want to know about hidden drama or details about news where the news has failed you, this is the place to be.

If you want to know what’s cooking in the Clevelandsphere, want more local music, want more local arts coverage, want more local community building information, this is the place to be.

If you want some Cleveland nostalgia, some Cleveland humor and some Cleveland straight-talk, this is the place to be.

If you want to know who is being stupid about Cleveland on the internet, this is definitely the place to be.

BLACKHEART Clevelanders love Cleveland. We respect and respond to what it was, what it is, and what it can be. If you don’t, we’ll change your mind. That’s why we’re here. And that’s why we’re already the best blog in Cleveland.