Changing Places: Detroit Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is the Detroit
Detroit is the state capital of Michigan, a northern state of the USA
What does Detroit border
Detroit borders the Great Lakes and provides a key entry point from the USA to Canada
Tell me about the general infrastructure
Detroit contains both an international and regional airport as well as being the meeting point of many interstate roads.
Because of the infrastructure, what did Detroit historically develop as
A transport hub. Initially because of its shipping connections
When was Detroit founded
Detroit was founded by French colonialists in 1701 who found it useful for trade.
Why and when did Detroit start to boom as we know it
Boomed at the start of the 20th century due to the steel and automotive industries.
Tell me about migrants leaving racial oppression
The growth of the steel and automotive industry led to the need for workers and millions of African American migrants took the opportunity to leave the rural southern states and the racial oppression seen there by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and make the most of these new opportunities.
Tell me about the city growth following WWII
The city grew immensely in size. Helped by the widespread use of the car and therefore the ability of people to adopt a suburban lifestyle. However, this also led to increased levels of segregation which have been an issue ever since.
Why has Detroit seen a prolonged period of decline
Following the collapse and outsourcing of manufacturing in Detroit the city has seen a prolonged period of decline. Even declaring itself officially bankrupt in 2013. The largest city to ever do such a thing!
What’s the greatest social divide in Detroit
The ethnic one. The white population have a very different life and opportunities to their black neighbours.
Tell me about Motown and segregation
Despite the arrival of Motown (black band) during the 60s and 70s, which did increase the amount of racial integration the black and white populations of Detroit remain resolutely segregated.
A series of race riots (the worst of which was 1967) shows this unrest
Tell me about white flight in Detroit
The white middle classes moved out of Detroit’s city centre from the 1950s and moved to the suburbs in a phenomenon known as white flight. This left central regions such as downtown and west side as primarily black and poor neighbourhoods whilst high quality schools and medical facilities were in places like warren with their primarily white populations.
The white population has been declining since 1944 consistently
Black population has been increasing since 1935
Why is Alter road In suburban Detroit more obviously segregated
The white residents have built fences; dumped Christmas trees and placed bollards to separate their end of the street from that of the black community.
Tell me about the ethnic divide in earnings
The ethnicity divide is also reflected in earnings. Detroit’s average is $26,000, compared to the primarily white neighbourhoods £102,000
Yeah idk why they switched from £ to $ on the sheet ?
In the early 20th century how was Detroit represented
It was shown in the mass media (newspapers and radio) as a city of opportunity. This in turn led to part of the great migration.
Tell me about Detroit’s representation in the 2017 film ‘Detroit’
It was represented as a place of racial segregation. It demonstrates the institutionalised racism which existed in the 1960s Detroit police force.
Tell me about Eminem creating a negative representation
In his song ‘lose yourself’ he outlines how music was his one shot at success and that without it he would end up in a life of drugs and crime.
Tell me what recent news reports have focussed on
Many recent news reports have focussed on Detroit’s decline, homelessness, violence and drug issues. Presented a very negative view of the city.
How was Detroit presented during its manufacturing peak
During its manufacturing peak Detroit was known as ‘motor city’. Presenting itself to the world as the home of the automotive industry and a world leader. This representation has now largely disappeared, through General Motors have kept their HQ in the city, showing some connection to place.
How did the Motown genre of music represent Detroit in a positive light
The Motown genre of music which emerged in the 1970s also represented Detroit In a positive light. It was performed by the black population of the city and brought some members of this community wealth and success. It also helped to put Detroit on the world map for something beyond cars. However, once famous many Motown stars left Detroit, so the overall impact and representation was reduced.
Is it easy for Detroit to reduce its inequality
Without a strong local economy it is now very difficult for Detroit to do a lot to reduce its inequality
How did successful Motown acts help reduce inequality
Historically successful Motown acts such as the supremes and Jackson 5 helped to bridge the divide but this is no longer occurring and the spatial segregation appears set.
Tell me about ‘Detroit soup’ as an initiative to reduce inequality
Focus is now on providing those with little opportunities to better themselves. One such initiative is ‘Detroit soup’
Detroit soup is a scheme whereby people pay a small fee ($5) for soup at a designated meeting place. Whilst there entrepreneurs pitch ideas in the hope of getting a share of $5 investments. This has led to success with coffee shop ‘always brewing Detroit’ providing a meeting place for communities and ‘food field’ enabling local residents to grow their own food on previously derelict land in part of the city.
Tell me about the general efforts at reducing inequality
All of these efforts are fairly small scale though and more must be done.
