Detroit - Changing Places

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

• state capital of Michigan
• Borders the great lakes - entry into Canada
• international and regional airports
• developed as a transport hub

Question 2

History

Answer 2

• found by french colonialists in 1701
• boomed at the start of the 20th century
• millions of African American migrants - racial oppression by KKK
• declared bankruptcy in 2013

Question 3

Representation of place

Answer 3

• shown as a city of opportunity in the 20th century
• 2017 film ‘Detroit’ place of racial segregation
• Eminem “lose yourself’ - his one shot of success
• was a motor city - General motors, Ford, Chrysler
• Mowtown - performed by the black community

Question 4

Reducing inequality in Detroit

Answer 4

• no strong local economy to reduce economy
• Supremes and Jackson 5 helped to bridge the divide but this isn’t occurring and the spatial segregation appears set
• Detroit Soup - people pay $5 for food ad entrepreneurs pitch ideas eg ‘food field’ can grow food on perviously derelict land

Question 5

Economic change

Answer 5

• initial home of steel and became hub of car industry
• Ford’s head quarters and ‘conveyer belt’ work, Ford could pay $5 more a day than competitors
• the motor industry struggled from competition abroad so plants shut
• ‘rust belt’ began to form - due to decline of steel
• no other economic niches have been found
  (Automation, energy crisis, economic crisis, foreign competition, increased labour costs)

Question 6

Media (Meggs)

Answer 6

(Artist)

• Life is growth
• outsider perspective
• hands of labour and community
• pays homage to the eastern markets fundamental role in Detroits history and the impact that it has had

Question 7

Media (Diego)

Answer 7

(Mural artist)

• outsider perspective
• workforce of Detroit and the car manufacturing industry
• shows the importance

Question 8

Media (Heidelburg)

Answer 8

(Project)

• racial tension
• shows cultural aspects
• inequality

Question 9

Media (African bead museum)

Answer 9

• insider
• 4 museums in Detroit with similar external features
• used art to stimulate emotional and cultural healing

Question 10

Endogenous factors that add to character of place

Answer 10

• the great lakes
• manufacturing
• 8 mile road
• poor public transport

Question 11

Changes to built environment

Answer 11

• destroying urban blight
• regeneration in the CBD
• Detroit soup
• heavy investment in entertainment

Question 12

Man made features in the built environment

Answer 12

• lack of tourism because ‘no one wants to visit it’

- barricade between the rich and the poor

Question 13

Detroit past connections

Answer 13

• big three (Chrysler, General Motors, Ford)
• connected via the great lakes
• highway system
• connected to Canada
• Motown (Jackson 5)
• Eminem

Question 14

Unemployment + poverty

Answer 14

• 23.1% unemployment rate
• 36% poverty rate (Michigan = 15%)
• 73% black population below poverty line

Question 15

Median age

Answer 15

35

Question 16

Education

Answer 16

• 18% have a degree
• 67% decrease in school enrolment
• 81% graduated high school/ dropout rate 13%
• 15% have a bachelors degree or higher

Question 17

Median household income

Answer 17

$33,900

Question 18

property value

Answer 18

• median value of $51,600
• 5 properties of $1
• over half home owners paid no tax 2012

Question 19

COVID

Answer 19

42% have a full dose of the COVID vaccine
vs 60% of Michigan as a whole
vs 67% whole of USA

Question 20

Migrants

Answer 20

6% of Detroit residents are born outside of the USA

Question 21

Social inequality

Answer 21

• race riots in 1967
• white flight, middle class moved to suburbs in the 50s
• 8 mile road splits rich and poor

Question 22

Crime rates

Answer 22

70% of murders are unsloved

Question 23

Population

Answer 23

Was 1.8 million, now 630k

Question 24

Economic stability

Answer 24

$300 million short of municipal stability