Detroit Place Study

Question 1

Where is Detroit?

Answer 1

Detroit is in the Southeast of Michigan in the North of the USA. The Detroit River separates in and Canada, Detroit is in a good position trade wise as it can access the Atlantic due to the great lakes (Lake Erie)

Question 2

What’s the timeline / history of Detroit?

Answer 2

• During WW2 Detroit became the ‘Arsenal of democracy’, post victory it continued to prosper so it was nicknamed ‘Motor City’
• Immigration from Afro-Americans coming from southern states escaping persecution gave Detroit’s assembly lines a workforce
• 1967 Race Riots caused by police brutality, lack of economic opportunities and prejudice led to 7,000 arrests
• White flight / brain drains in 1968 when factory owners and educated people moved to suburbs causing mass unemployment and increase in crime, in 1974 it was Murder capital of USA
• Motor Industry began to collapse in 1970s due to foreign production competition which caused more people to leave Detroit
• 2013 the city filed for Bankruptcy

Question 3

What Qualitative sources represent Detroit?

Answer 3

• Tourist Reviews – shows the new sports and culture in Detroit but doesn’t compare to previous scene, Mostly biased, just landmarks.
• Films – 8 mile + Ford v Ferrari show different sides to Detroit, crime in one and motor industry in another. Represent the social inequalities with owners and workers, glamourised so not accurate.
• Music – Eminem lose yourself – lived experience, lack of opportunity. Not explicitly about Detroit.

Question 4

What Quantitative sources represent Detroit?

Answer 4

Population Diversity 2023 – majority are Afro American, foreign-born population is decreasing, less migration and diversity impacting on culture. Unbiased factual data but no lived experience.
- House prices – average in 70s $16,000, now 350,000. Gentrification.