Motown, MotorCity, and Most Anything You Want to Know about Detroit (Detroit)

Member Name: i_heart_elo

Product:	Detroit
Date:	14/02/09 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: History of Detroit, The Racism and Civil Rights Movement, The Sports teams

Disadvantages: Left out the Resturants, Bars, and Clubs.....I'll write about them later

===== The History of Detroit .....In my Own Words....Mostly =====

***Detroit, The Beginning***

When I lived in France for a brief period of time last year, the French thought it *humourous* how the English pronouce "Detroit". They say it like "Day-Twa" while everyone else in the world says " Dee-troyt".

Of course, this is because, in some skewed typical French-style-esque way, they feel since the name was given to the area by the French 300 yrs ago, it should stay that way. Yet, Bombay changes it's name to Mumbai and no one really cares. The English call "Peugot"- *PURR-JOE* when it really should be prounouced *POO-JOE*....

Sidenote: Ok that does kind of bug me, there is no R in that word. The entire world says POO-JOE, save the British. Who cares if part of the word sounds like POO , in it? We're all adults people....say it properly, or at least how everyone else says it. Stop being non-conformist =)

Where was I? Oh yes, you say DAY-TWA , I say DEE-TROYT.....at the end of the day, it's definately not a French town anymore. For a little insignificant factoid...back in ole Louis the 14th's reign he was giving away free land all around that Day-Twa place and in the late 1700's it became the biggest city inbetween Montreal and New Orleans. Funny how about 250 yrs later, not many people in the entire AREA around Detroit, know about it's French history. Even Detroit's city flag is based off the French flag.

You will notice little "Frenchie" things here and there though. Like French city street names, or French sounding companie names painted on the sides of the extremely old buildings. Other than that though, not much of it's original heritage remains. The British captured the town in the 1760's with the help of several Native American Tribes in the area. A famous chief called "Chief Pontiac" helped the British lay claim to the Fort of Detroit that was under the French at the time. The British then decided "Well it's already named Le Detroit Du Lac Erie, ( The strait of Lake Erie) , let's just shorten it to Detroit....and we will say it like DEE-TROYT, not DAY-TWA". Thank God for the British.

In the early 1800's the enterprising little colonists that everyone underestimated, took over the town and claimed it as part of the United States. It had a BIG part in the American Civil War since it was so close to the border of Canada. The underground railroad, which is an infamous part of American history, was extremely important through Michigan, but especially in Detroit with the river access. Countless slaves were rescued through these underground "resistance" workers.

Many of the settlers in Detroit at the time were a hodge podge of French, British, Native American, and other European families who came originally, for the free land. Yet, as the industrial revolution started, many businesses moved into the city since it was right on a large river and again, close to Canada.

The interesting part about the people who inhabited the city during the mid 1800's is that, they were extremely ANTI-Slavery. Several famous Abolitionists came from Detroit and surrounding areas. Because of this, many native Detroiters and others from Michigan, were the first to "sign up" for the Civil War. It's also another reason, that when the Civil war was over, many African Americans came to live in Detroit. Since, it was becoming a city of innovation with lots of available factory type jobs, many of the slaves from the Southern States, saw Detroit held promise for them and their families.

***Detroit, In the Middle***

It was right before, during , and after the civil war, Detroit hit it's peak. For a while, they actually called it "The Paris of the West" for it's great architecture and new technologies that were implemented. Then around right after WW I things were starting to take a turn for the worse.

Prohibition started (where they outlawed Alcohol), and a huge gang emerged that were sort of the wanna-be Al Capones. In addition to the increased amount of violence during Prohibition (I guess we Americans REALLLLY wanted our Alcohol), racial tensions were beginning.

Throughout my younger school days in February, racial hatred was always talked about during what we called "Black History Month". I was miffed though, because during the Civil war so many were AGAINST slavery and PRO-Equality. Why did the whites suddenly change in the North and become racist? During my last year of High School is when I finally started to find out about why there was so much racial tension in Detroit in the 1920's and on.

Apparently, around the turn of the century when Detroit was on the rise, many African Americans were thriving. They found jobs doing customer service orianted things. They opened their own shops, they shined shoes, they opened cafes and car repairs...they were extremely good enterprenuers. Since, these types of jobs though, didn't interfere with the "middle classes", the "Whites" of the areas, didn't mind. It was almost like there was a truce between them. They treated each other with respect and would frequently interact in a very friendly albeit, STILL not in a social way.

Then WW I started. Of course mostly white men enlisted in the war but there was also a good number of Blacks that did as well, more than what most people realize. The sad part of it is, that when a Black man registered they were given the most low-life of duties imaginable. Cleaning toilets, or peeling potatoes, etc... It was as if they still were branded with a "slave" tag, and the War started to make it more evident.

Back on the home front, since so many men had left the area for the War, there were plenty of male needed jobs available . Many enterprising African American's well well qualified to fill these. Jobs like, Civil Engineers, Architects, Doctors, Lawyers, and Businessmen. Since there were a few colleges in the area (Wilberforce in Ohio was a famous one) , that were "Black" universities, many of those graduates were finally using their degrees. Only, what happened when the "white" men came back from the war?

The African Americans in those middle class jobs, lost them, so the companies could re-hire the white men. To say that disgusts me is an understatement. Yet, this is how rasicm starts. People start thinking they are more entitled because of the color of their skin. There is one very sad story about a Black Doctor who was harrassed constantly by white racists who wanted him "out of they're white neighborhood". They actually fired shots into his house and killed one of his family members. Just because they were upset with him living in what they thought was THEIR neighborhood.

Have you ever wondered why and how the riots in the 1960's happened?Well, what is mentioned above, is just a glimpse of what the African Americans had to put up with. They escape one form of slavery just to be put into another form. The tensions of course increased and increased until it reached a boiling point, and the African Americans had enough.

It was the time where Martin Luther King started to speak up and demand better conditions. One of the most famous and talked about instances of civil rights activism was when Rosa Parks (who lived the later part of her life in Detroit), stood up for herself and African Americans across the country. She was traveling on a bus when the bus driver demanded she give up her seat for a white passanger. She refused and it sparked a bus boycott across the country. They were no longer allowing themselves to be treated as inferiors.

***Detroit, the Now***

From the 70's on Detroit has been going progressively downhill. Instead of the whites accepting the changes in the city, they simply started moving OUT of the city. With this, they took they're money and businesses with them. The automotive industry was still booming though, so that was keeping the town alive.

As early was the late 80's ,for some unknown reason, the city administration decided to start tearing down some of the great architecture that Detroit was known for in the first place. "The Paris of the West" , moniker was no more. In addition, this was when Windsor the city in Canada right across the river, was starting to pick up more of the younger nightlife. Ask any person over the age of 19 (since 19 is the legal drinking age in Canada=), and they'll tell you they'd much rather hang out in Windsor than Detroit. With the Windsor Tunnel and Bridge, it's a mere 5 minute drive (with no traffic) to get to Windsor from Detroit.

As far as the 1990's and today, I'm sure your well aware conditions have not improved. There is literally NO shopping in Detroit. If you could find a store in Detroit, it's not really a store you'd WANT to shop at. The only parts that have survived the self-destruction of the city is Greektown and the small areas around the Football, Hockey, and Baseball stadiums.

***Greektown....or Greekville?...Maybe, just some Greek Food***

Greektown is the name of a specific area in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Right now this little section is barely surviving even though it's a cool *idea*. There was/is a largeish Greek community in the city, and in it, you have tons of....you guessed it....Greek resturants. There were some interesting boutiques and tourist type stores popping up about 10 yrs ago but they have since, died out. The area now can only boast of having a big Casino veryly unoriginally called "Greektown Casino", and several Greek Resturants. Overall, it's a bit of a disapointment nowadays. That is, unless your stuck in Detroit and have an urge to gamble while eating Lamb with Tahini sauce.

***Detroit Who Made you a Sports Town?***

I still ask this question. For the dying city that it is, they have tons of major sports teams, and GOOD ones in fact. If the city could at least clear half of the revenue sold from Detroit Red Wings (hockey) and Detroit Tigers (baseball) or Detroit Pistons (basketball) paraphenalia, you could build a brand new city right on top of it.

HOCKEY TEAM:

The Red Wings are probably one of the most successful teams in their field of play. They're almost like the Manchester United of Hockey. They are continually in the "playoffs" or playing in the Stanley Cup for the Championship title. They are also the hardest tickets to get since there are tons of Hockey fans in and around Detroit. Not to mention that Windsor, Canada has a lot of Detroit Team fans.

Steve Yzerman is one of the more famous modern day Red Wings players who just recently retried. Gordie Howe is the classic icon of the team who played from the 1940's to the 1970's. The Red Wings actually won the Stanley Cup last yr and are number one in their division again this year.

BASEBALL TEAM:

The Tigers historically speaking, are one of the oldest baseball teams still with the same name. They've gone through good times and bad throughout the decades, but still have gone to several World Series.

Some of the famouse Detroit Tigers players are; Ty Cobb, Denny McClain, Mickey Lolich, Alan Trammell , Lou Whitaker, Sparky Anderson, Carlos Guillen, Ivan "Pudge" Rodrigez, Curtis Granderson, and Maglio Ordonez.

About 3 yrs ago, the Tigers were in the World Series and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. =(......It was surprising they were there in the first place since only the year before , they were in the very LAST place in the entire league. This means they were 30th one year and 2nd place the next. Which I have to say completely surprized the city and almost overnight, everyone became Tigers fans.

BASKETBALL TEAM:

The Detroit Pistons aren't really in the "city" part of Detroit. They actually play in Auburn Hills which is a suburb about 45 minutes away from the city. Out of all the teams , I would have to say they probably end up making the most money. They tickets to see a game aren't that expensive, there are over 50 games you could go see during the week or on weekends, and it's fun to watch live.

For me personally, this is my fave "City" team. I'm not what you'd call a HUGE Pistons fan, but I did used to go to at least 3 games a year and would always keep track of how they were playing. In recent years, under the leadership of an ex-Pistons player named Joe Dumars, they've emerged as one of the preimier teams in the league. For at least the last 8 yrs, they have always been in the playoffs, and 4 of those years they were in the championship games.

Some famous Pistons Basketball players are; Bill Lambier, Dennis Rodman (yes he played for the Pistons, he was eventually traded after several years to the Chicago Bulls), Rich Mahorn, Isiah Thomas, Grant Hill, Joe Dumars, Jerry Stackhouse, Ben Wallace, Chauncy Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Richard Hamilton.

FOOTBALL TEAM:

That Detroit still HAS a football team is laughable. The Lions have never amounted to much throughout the last 50 yrs. I don't even think they've been to a playoff game in the last 20 yrs. They usually are the last or in the bottom three of teams in last place. As a matter of fact, last year, they actually went 0 and 16. Which set a record since no NFL team has ever gone 0 and 16 before.

What's a little amazing is that the fans stick by them. I don't understand it. The reason many people blame they're horrible play, is ownership. Oddly enough the owner is Bill Ford, the direct decendent of Henry Ford of Ford Motor Company. I personally am a Cleveland Browns Football fan, so I could care less about this team =) I do have to say though, that they had one of the greatest Running Backs ( the guy that carries the ball) in history named Barry Sanders. I just feel sorry for him that he got stuck playing for the Lions. At least he was the ONE bright spot for them.

IN CONCLUSION:

I'm gonna have to wrap this up since i'm getting close to 3000 words. If you haven't stopped reading already, i'm impressed.

I lived about 30 miles away from Detroit for almost 10 yrs so while i'm not a Detroit native, the city does rub off on you after a few yrs. You start calling it "home" and defending it from all the "outsiders". It's like my friend Liam who lives down in Andover here in the UK.

Everytime Liam visits me up in the Midlands with my friends, everyone is continually berating him about his town, Andover. I see his eyes start to narrow and the right hand grip a pint of Guiness about to break the glass.

He hates when other people take the mick out of his hometown, and why wouldn't he! No one wants to hear "My town *fill-in-the-blank* is better than yours because we have *fill-in-the-blank*" It gets to be a who has the biggest and the best contest, which in reality, is pretty juvinille. Yet we alllllll still do it, don't we.

I've prefaced that little montage, to let you know that;

A.) I already am aware Detroit has the highest muder rate in the country. I think the entire world knows this. Although, what's interesting to note is that they aren't killing tourists or random visitors to the city. The city's murder rate are mostly "family" muders of domestic violence, or drug/ gang related murders. Which means, if you go into the city at dark, you probably are not going to get shot =)

B.) No 8 Mile is NOT that BAD.......seriously Eminem is such a lier. First of all he didn't live in that horrible of an area, and it's a Detroit joke that he really just grew up in a "chav" type area, that was right NEXT TO the part of town that was somewhat "ghetto". Still, I'd feel safer on 8 mile, than I would a looooot of other parts of Detroit. Oh and sidenote, remind me why Eminem is so popular again????

C.) One of my favourite things about the city is it's local "colour". You'll be walking along going to a baseball or hockey game and a local homeless person will be beating on some tin cans playing "Rock the Casbah" or "Brick House".

Then you have a famous street performer who plays the drums outside of Tiger Stadium and just sings about passerbys. Literally, he makes all his songs up as he goes along , but they aren't stupid, they're hilarious. You'll walk by him and he'll play and sing " Oh look at that blonde girl that just walked by me, I wonder if she has a boyfriend, maybe I should ask her out". Haha, I used that one b/c he actually sung that one to me and my friends.

***Ok, I lied, THIS is the Conclusion***

Detroit has it's major problems, that's well established. Yet for all it's bad there, is still some good. I can think of several things that are salvagable about it. So yes, I harbor a secret love for the place. I've never once felt "in danger" when i'm visiting. In most of the city, I would feel perfectly safe walking the streets alone at night (seriously....but, remember I said MOST).

It also has one of the better music scenes in the Midwest with only Chicago as it's music rival. I've seen B.B. King, The Black Crowes, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Travis, Paolo Nutini, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, The White Stripes, Muse, OK GO, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and several others. Most of these were in pretty small venues as well (like the Muse concert I went to in Detroit only had about 200 people there)

If you are ever forced to fly into Detroit (Because for all my love of the City, i'm not sure why people would actually want to "Vacation" there), let me know. I have plenty of must see things around the area including some pretty great resturants, bars, and clubs. There is more to Detroit than meets the eye......but I'm still only giving it three stars =)

Summary: Everything you never knew you always wanted to know about Detroit