I got to this entry by following several links on Suburban Bliss. I grew up in Detroit, going to public schools all through high school, I graduated from Renaissance in 1984. I LOVE Detroit and I loved living there. After college I moved to midtown, a couple blocks from the old GM world head quarters, and I thought I'd never leave. After a couple of years, I ended up moving to Chicago for financial and transportation reasons. My plan was to move back to Detroit after a couple of years, but that didn't happen. I still LOVE Detroit and get very defensive about it. I am a total product of growing up and being educated in that city. My mom grew up in the same house I did, and my parents never considered fleeing the city when all the other whites did. They sold that house only a couple of years ago when they retired. I'm glad to see smart people can still respect Detroit and see the beauty that is there if you just open your eyes. Good Luck! I'm going to start reading your blog to see all the great things you'll be doing. My favorite memories of Detroit as an adult are drinking at the Old Shilleagleh (no idea how to spell that) on the edge of Greektown. Too much fun!
Hallelujah and thank you. My husband and I recently made a much-less controversial (which sounds melodramatic yet I believe is what you found to be the case) decision to build a house for ourselves and our 18 month old daughter in a "not great" area of Kalamazoo (sprawling Metropolis that it is). It's close to downtown and edges the dreaded "north side" (insert gang signs here) and abuts a little former hippie enclave (the hippies being former-ish, not the enclave). I've found that most people, when told, smile politely and say, "Oh! You're building! How nice!", but choose to avoid any comment on the area itself.
Still, it wasn't an easy decision. I've perhaps been as worried, though, about the former hippies and their sweet but semi-communal ways than about the racial and socio-economic mixing going on. True, on a recent visit to the nearby park, I felt a little saddened by the loud swearing of the boys playing basketball (just am not wanting to explain "motherfucker" just yet) but am also heartened to see them enjoying themselves outdoors, otherwise minding their own business and getting some exercise. I don't want my daughter to grow up too quickly but I also don't want her growing up in a suburban bubble of (supposed) homogeneity. I was the only white girl on my bus growing up and, while this wasn't always easy for different reasons, I think it has had a small role in shaping some of my more positive traits. I can cornrow like a mug, for example.
So, in closing, I want to thank you again for writing so honestly and with great wit and intelligence and for making me feel like we're not alone. May I also add your daughter (and wife) are absolutely beautiful and you have what appears to be great taste (house pics).
I spent several of my formative years in the metro Detroit area... went to high school in Farmington hills (wasn't a fan) and spent my last year in Detroit in Chandler Park. I miss Detroit a lot. I moved to Chicago shortly there after and have now been living in San Francisco for 7 years.
I found your pictures labeled "Detroit is beautiful" and sent the link to a group of friends here. I've had a hard time explaining to people the beauty that Detroit holds. I guess it's one of those places you have to not only see to believe, but open yourself up to the certain kind of beauty it holds. San Francisco is certainly a beautiful place. The difference is that Frisco (i said it and i live in the mission) is a much easier and more obvious beauty....
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