What Killed Detroit (Woodland: public schools, gated, living)

[poohbear1961]

what can I say but thanks! I come back every now and again to this thread... I'm a 47 year old woman... but I was born in Detroit in 1961 and lived their till 1970. My grandparents on one side polish the other slovac. 100% working class. Still am.
I don't want to be racist. I don't think I am... I believe in truth and responsibility -not excuses. but also not denying the suffering of people... and the unfairness/racism etc
My own background is not ideal...
What I think is... that if you choose to become a parent then it is extremely important that you pass on positive/loving/wise/accepting/challenging/intelligent values to your kids... despite the circumstances.... a parent must be a beacon! A believer!
If this is missing children... society... suffer.
I am white but I don't love white culture. Even in Australia, the British more or less invaded this country and disinfranchised the original people, the Aboriginals. They continue to fight for justice.
thankyou for reading...
Wynne

[upandrunning]

Over building in the auto industry, not looking to the future that had to come about and focusing on profit now, instead of what will be the long haul. This is a classic failure of capitalism. If you believe in capitalism, and the free market, then this is just as normal as the sun coming up. The market is reacting to bad performance and over pricing that had to come to an end. I said for the last 12 years, that when trucks hit 25k it was outrageous, when they hit 35k it was astounding people would pay for junk this kind of $. When they hit 50k it was just plain stupid people that would shell out this kind of $ for something that lost 10% of its value the second you put your name in ink to the note. I can build a nice 1000 sf home for 50k and its value is worth 25% more the second I hit in the last nail. Instead of looking to less expensive, and fuel efficient cars, the big three thought they would give us the Ram tough more HP Hemi. You may as well try to sell sun tan oil to a sun burned person. Just the sight of it makes you sick when you are burned. I now go by the lots and want to loose my lunch when I see the big ford quad cab 12 mpg POS for 45k. Then I get angry that they want our tax dollars to keep their bad ideas alive.

[ocean2026]

LOL Forced busing - Race relations except for haters like you have improved all over the US since the 1955. Imagine a Black being elected for president in those days.

The decline of the Auto Industry and its related manufacturing is probably the biggest factor. Loss of jobs always means loss of people. Retiring auto and related workers left in part because of a general exodus to warmer climates.

Massive unemployment- took its toll on the city and its financies.

The riots of 1967 hurt the city's image.

High taxes discouraged investment.

Its probably going to get worse - not better.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by malamute

Maybe not city but there are parts of Dallas where you are driving from the slum and suddenly you see McDonalds, and boats in nicely maintained yards and you assume you're in a white neighborhood but you're not.

Atlanta has good middle class black areas of town also.

Tony Brown wrote a book and there's a part that discusses what integration did to black neighborhoods. As the middle class leaves, it creates a vacuum. The good examples are no longer there and so as good as integration might be, it did harm to the underclass which is left on it's own.

I wouldn't say integration, but more, disinvestment in particular places. When money isn't invested in a certain area, other things go to the toilet as well.

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Detroit's reliance on the automobile industry, racial issues, and the fact that it was a large city with not a huge "draw" to it for new residents are starters. Plus, the weather doesn't help. I'd say the city will "stabilize" in population in about 20-25 years. It still has a couple hundred thousand people to drop. A "bottoming out" may be around 650-675k in the city by 2025-2030. Then, hopefully it will be able to stabilize itself.

i agree

[Blue water lake]

You are correct! let's all move to the moon. That's what I want.

[PhilaPenn]

I though Philly was in tough shape, but not like Detroit. Detroit is a special situation. Its a very racially charged area to begin with, take that and mix it with unemployment, and slim prospects for a better life and what you end up with is people who feel they have no options and thus don't care about anything. I think the fact that Det. is predom black speaks to the fact that black have and have always had fewer options open to them in America. The country claims to have gotten beyond its racist past, but in some respects its citizens still harbor some bigotry. Whites have a fear blacks that dates back to the slave uprisings of the 19th century, and beliefs instilled through media esp early 20th century films, portraying blacks as violent, irrational beasts. Some of those paradaigms have survived today, it much more subtle forms. The media would lead you to believe that more blacks commit crimes each year than whites, or other groups which actually not the case. It would also have you believe the majority of people on public assistance are black, which is also not the case, when in fact white women make up the largest group on public assistance. Blacks stereotype white as well. Many distrust whites today because of the practices of their forefathers. Many blacks still believe that white people conspire against them. As long as blacks are viewed as something to fear, and whites are viewed as oppressors, it will be hard for Detroit or anywhere else to make progress.

[Maxine3]

"The media would lead you to believe that more blacks commit crimes each year than whites, or other groups which actually not the case. It would also have you believe the majority of people on public assistance are black, which is also not the case, when in fact white women make up the largest group on public assistance."

Do you have stats to back up these statements?

[PhilaPenn]

yes. infact i was taught this in a race relations class in college, by a white teacher. the stat that gets the most attention is the percentage of blacks who are in prison in relation to the total black population. its true, there is a much higher percentage of black males in prison than any other group, respective to their population. however when you consider the raw numbers, whites make up 76% of the U.S. population and blacks only 13%. The raw numbers will bear out my point. there are tons of papers and books written on this subject, google it and stuff will pop up all over the place.

i think that you are missing the point of my argument. what i'm trying to say is that there are no simple answers for whats happening in cities such as and similar to detroit. its a combination of factors. some very old and deep rooted. people have to stop thinking in simple terms, and try to understand where the other person is coming from.

[Maxine3]

"the stat that gets the most attention is the percentage of blacks who are in prison in relation to the total black population. its true, there is a much higher percentage of black males in prison than any other group, respective to their population. "
I know this to be fact, however, I think it has more to do with poverty than race. Inner cities are where the poverty is, and also where many black people are stuck.
That being said, Detroit is a unique place, and really can't be compared to any other.