A People and Their City

My first few weeks in Detroit have been quite eye-opening. Prior to orientation, Detroit was in the news due to filing for bankruptcy and the reality of having an Emergency Manager in Kevyn Orr. I have read so much about the decline of Detroit stemming from the inability of local automobile manufacturers to deal with a greater global market beginning after World War II. Most people also mentioned the high crime rates in the city. Suffice it to say, Detroit was as bleak a city as there is in the United States. But, what I've come to realize is that this caricature of Detroit, although having some truth, is ultimately misleading, uninformative, and self-defeating.

All that people hear about is the ugliness of Detroit. This is naturally easy because of our proclivity towards negativity. We, as media consumers, are fascinated by tragedy and failure and dysfunction. This fascination blinds us to the complexity of human experiences. Detroit is filled with broken systems and structural violence, but it is also filled with proud people and vibrant communities.

The first week in Detroit, our community was lucky enough to be welcomed by former JVs, local support staff, and Detroit natives. People are excited for and to serve Detroit. People recounted stories of coming to Detroit for their partner or as JVs and simply falling in love with the city. Their pride is unmistakable and distinct. They stay, not because of economic inability, but because they see the potential and the people of Detroit. They do not shy away from work, but welcome the chance to work for a greater good. But, the city itself is quite amazing.

During our first weekend, I was amazed by Detroit. The Eastern Market shows a local pride for Michigan and Detroit grown produce. Locals see themselves as providers for a healthier Detroit. The Fisher and the Guardian Buildings attest to the potential that Detroit represented in the early 20^th century. Buildings of magnitude reflect the power that once resided in the city. The abandoned buildings littering the city are in stark contrast to the mansions in Palmer Woods and Grosse Pointe. Gross inequality reflects the reality that the entire nation continues to struggle with. The Heidelberg Project reflects a broiling dissatisfaction with urban decay that is channeled into unbound creativity. Refuse is used to produce beauty in what many believe to be an ugly city.

In the end, Detroit is like any other city. Chicago, my adoptive city, struggles with growing murder rates, rampant gang violence, school closings, and food deserts. But, it does not dull my love for its people or its communities. Urban centers will always have their problems. All I'm saying is to never judge them simply based on their faults or what we see in popular media. A city is not defined by its politics or its economy or its failures. It is defined by the people that love it dearly with a vibrancy and a passion that allows them to carry on.