Is Detroit dead? This is a common perception held by many because of the economic instability and problems faced by Detroit (Tabb). The journey since 1701 has not been an easy one. Detroit has gone from nothing to reaching the zenith and being called the “Motor City” to being the epitome of urban decay. Having gone through all this has robbed Detroit of its original essence because it is human nature to focus on the negatives and mistakes committed. After reaching the peak, Detroit had to fall but there is always hope for revitalization. These experiences are unique to Detroit, and its capability to survive these terrible phases to create history makes the city unique. The current state of Detroit is getting better because of the active participation from businesses, non-profit organizations, and institutions. There is also active attention given to commercials and other forms of art. Instead of calling Detroit a survivor and accolading its endurance, society treats it as the metaphor for urban decline and compares it to impoverished, failed states in underdeveloped and developing countries.
There is a lot common between people and cities because it is the people that make a city. It is important to treat a city like a person too. It would not be humane to call a hard-working person something derogatory because every person deserves respect. Similarly, the city of Detroit is home to proud residents who would not want to leave the city for any other experience. This city has given them everything from experiences, relations, to a place they call theirs- their home. But we see outsiders just glancing Detroit and making assumptions without thinking of the consequences. A CBS veteran, Bob Simon, compared Detroit to Mogadishu after visiting “the impoverished and strife-torn capital of Somalia, a so-called failed state” (Apel 140). This remark was not appropriate and should have more context because the comment was from an outsider who does not even know how the city functions. It is also hard to substantiate this point because there is no evidence behind this claim other than the fact that he had visited both the places personally. On the other hand, there are commercials made in the city of Detroit reminding people of their pride and identity, that it is not dead and no less than it used to be. A Chrysler commercial presented at the Super Bowl indicates that the journey of Detroit has given it strength, and that hard work and conviction is embodied in the people of Detroit. This ad was successful in creating an exceptional comeback story for Detroit and Chrysler because it shows that “the resurrection of one is merged with the other in a way that evokes a raw emotional impact” (Apel 115). There was a part which also emphasized the point to ‘Keep Detroit Beautiful’ which is a very bold assumption that Detroit is still beautiful. Supporting that assumption, it is said that there is beauty in everything, one just has to change their perspective to see it. An event called the ‘Noel Night’ has been taking place since 1973 and is “Detroit’s longest running holiday celebration” (Rahal). It helps bring the city and its residents together; promotes the local retails and restaurants, “advertises housing options, … [and] connects people to Midtown museums, theatres, [and] galleries” (“Organization History”) by creating a platform to showcase the culture of Detroit. Having such a long, impactful history has made this event close to the people’s heart. The involvement of so many organizations and institutions makes this event a success and truly inspirational. Noel Night keeps up with the spirit of beautifying the city.
Detroit is recognized as a post-apocalyptic state and compared to Chernobyl by chef Anthony Bourdain (“Detroit Called ‘Post-apocalyptic’ by City Outsiders”). Chernobyl has faced a catastrophic nuclear accident and comparing it to Detroit is equivalent to calling the city dead. But unlike humans, cities cannot die. They do not just disappear into thin air. Instead, they keep changing, and there is always hope for growth. Especially since Detroit hit rock bottom after declaring itself bankrupt, it is appropriate to call this the ‘rebirth’. The bankruptcy signifies the need for more action and involvement to bring the city back on its feet, not an indication to give up on the city. Even though the condition of Detroit may not be as urgent as a hurricane rescue because it took years of decline to reach a state of bankruptcy, there are “seven hundred thousand people [who] still live there” (Tabb) with the possibility of “selective revitalization … over time” (Tabb). It is important to give credit and recognition to the process of change and progress. It is also important to keep in mind that the very essence of getting back on one’s feet requires courage and takes time because after all even Rome was not built in a day. Efforts have been taken by Dan Gilbert- a real estate investor and the founder of Quicken Loans- to help with the revitalization of the city. He wanted to solve the problem of bringing Detroit back- bringing the people and the neighborhoods back- and has “invested more than a billion dollars here, buying and renovating buildings in the city’s central core” (Simon). Gilbert believes that it is important to improve the downtown because “’there is no big city in the world … that has strong neighborhood and a weak downtown’” (Simon). This has led him to own more than half of downtown buildings. In addition, he has put in efforts towards the neighborhoods by collaborating with the United Community Housing Coalition, which helped thousands of Detroiters when they were facing foreclosures. But this is challenged by his lawsuit which states that Quicken Loans would “estimate property values to appraisers that ultimately puts buyers underwater” (Perkins) which clearly makes him the villain for the people he serves. Moreover, according to Angela Branch, the people in Detroit are skeptical of Gilbert’s motives, especially because he is “sparking renovation downtown … [while] majority of Detroiters are living in neighborhoods” (Feloni) that are not fully equipped with basic services and showcase blighted areas. He owns so much property and even has ‘Gilbert Bills’ which allows him to use taxpayer’s money for constructions, that the residents could be harmed and seem robbed from. If Gilbert does not demonstrate and prove to the people that he wishes to help them, they will never be able to trust or believe in him and his goals of revitalization. And without the support of the residents, changes may not have a long-term impact on Detroit. Gilbert has spent so much time trying to revitalize downtown Detroit because he “sees the neighborhoods and downtown as inextricably linked” (Feloni), that it seems unsettling because he may be waiting for his contributions downtown to better the conditions of the neighborhoods and bring more people in. However, he should be striving to make big changes in the neighborhoods to show consistent progress in the city. Gaining the support of the community will help him achieve a lot more and thinking in terms of helping rather than gaining will allow for Detroit’s fullest potential to show.
There is a stigma around Detroit as the “third world country within US borders” (Casper) with more attention given to the dangerous environment for those most vulnerable. Bob Simon even went on to say that it looks like it has lost a war and compares it to “Dresden after the Allied bombing” (Casper). Dresden is actually a place in Germany and this comparison seems very cold because even though World War II did not take place entirely in the United States of America, it did affect the states, including Detroit. The impact of the war can still be seen today, but that does not make it acceptable to mock Detroit’s condition especially after it had filed for bankruptcy. It was a long downhill journey after the decentralization of the automobile industry. In addition, racial segregation played a role. As Bob Simon said, it was “all linked: the decline of the auto industry, race riots, a mass exodus, corruption, bad management and bad luck” (Simon). The perception of the state and local government was negative because businesses would be treated poorly. Except the Big Three, the manufactures were controlled using high tax rates and oppressive worker’s compensation law. According to Mendell, even the Big Three did not survive the stimulated demand for fuel-efficient cars caused because of increasing gasoline prices. Their slow response and unions during the presence of “competitive pressures … hastened the decline of manufacturing employment in the area” (Mendel). Along with manufacturing failures, the politicians lacked vision and the motivation to help manufacturers retain the industries. The issues in Detroit arise after World War II and have been amplified due to violence, racial conflicts, and decentralization. Journalist Ze-ev Chafets describes “‘Detroit’s shift from a prosperous white city to a poor black one as extraordinarily fast’” (Boyle). It was the economic base which holds a city together that was destroyed. It also widened the racial discrimination and impoverishment. These issues of decreased population size and increased violence rates are still prevalent in present-day Detroit. However, active attempts are being made to bring more people to the city and make them feel safe. Many new projects are organized for the sole purpose of bringing new residents. They will take time and is done by promoting the welcoming nature of the city. Detroit Demo Day is one such initiative which is helping local businesses and has made a progress with “more investments in minority-led startups” (Feloni). This showcases the involvement of the community to help the community rise and grow. Unlike a post-war zone, Detroit is actively trying to survive and eventually thrive.
Even though it may seem impossible to bring changes because not everyone is a billionaire, one person can make a difference. As making a big impact goes, eventually everything falls together and builds up. A typical contrary example about Detroit is the white flight which started after World War II. It would not have made a significant difference in the city of Detroit if a few families moved, but with more than half of the population gone, it created a very big, negative impact, one that Detroit is still facing today. This has allowed a part of the society to consider the city as dead. It should be understood that “dramatically losing industry and population and the local government its ability to meet basic needs” (Tabb) does not ensure the ‘death’ of a city. It is the fight and the how the city copes that actually tells a story. According to Henderson, it is necessary to “hold a ‘burial ceremony’ for the 1967 riots” (Neill et al. 121) instead of calling the city dead. His plan is centered to create a “more positive self-image to attract more business and jobs” (Neill et al. 121). This would allow for the eradication of the social and economic concerns the city had as time progressed. Small projects in the city of Detroit are making progress and trying to cope with the lack of services and poor conditions in the neighborhoods. Along with new businesses and plans for cost reduction, students from high schools and universities nearby have taken many initiatives to overcome the problems facing Detroit. They help out by partnering with organizations and volunteering together. It helps drive a sense of unity within the group of students, portraying that there is power in doing the least one can do. ‘Revive Detroit’ is one such project taken up by the students of ¬¬the Dewey Center of Urban Education in Detroit under the guidance of their teacher Kevin La Plante. His class focused on the problem of abandoned housings because they have a negative connotation. And being so close to Detroit, they decided to use their service-learning philosophy class to build a “three-dimensional model of [their] future city, complete with all the components necessary to run any city” (Plante). Their goal was to present this model to “Mayor Archer and other leaders with [their] written recommendation” (Plante). Similarly, there are service learning classes in universities like Wayne State University which is situated right in Detroit. These classes require the students to go out into the city, observe, and make an impact. It is training them to be better citizens. University organizations also play a huge role with helping the community and neighborhoods of Detroit. They offer service project opportunities with most of them being directed the city of Detroit. ‘Be the Change’ is one such project where many sororities, fraternities, and organizations like Indian Student Association (ISA) come together and plan an event which attacks problems in the city like blight, dumping grounds, and abandoned houses. One of the projects was a collaboration with Life Remodeled where the students would pick up trash and clean out the area in a Detroit neighborhood. The WSU Anthropology has also received grants for research to help restore Detroit. They have a variety of programs in the health field, restoration process, and volunteering projects. Their “‘WSU Math Corps’ program has provided mathematical enrichment … for students from the Detroit Public Schools” (Briller and Sankar). These are attempts to help with the revitalization of the city. It is critical to understand that these positive initiatives taken by institutions and organizations are critical to bring a positive change in the way society looks at Detroit and also improve the life of those living in Detroit.
Detroit will take its time and it may take years for it to start thriving. The approaches taken by organizations are bringing a change, but it is a slow process. This means that there is not enough evidence just yet to show the results and the growth, but we must truly trust the process, resources, and efforts and wait for the outcome. It did not take long to change the city’s punchline “Motor City” into an example of urban decay, almost as if “Detroit’s positive image was punctured” (Neill et al. 121). But that does not give a reason to compare Detroit, more specifically the state of Detroit, to underpoverished failed states in developing countries. It may sound catchy, but it is not very pleasing because this city is the identity of so many people and naming it actually serves as a negative connotation for the rest of the society. There should be enough credibility given to those trying to revive the city.