If you're like me and have lived in Troy for all (or almost all) your life, you're pretty familiar with our surrounding cities. There's Rochester, Birmingham, Bloomfield, and... what's it called? The scary, run-down one just a few miles south? Of course, Detroit. No one could forget it!
But have you ever introduced yourself to a non-Michigander and realized the pure shock on his face as you tell him that you're from the Detroit area? But how can such an educated and financially well off person come from Detroit? he would ask. And even after you explain that you're not actually from Detroit, but a suburb of the city, he would still be stunned.
But if you think about it, we should too. The commute to the second most dangerous city in the United States is only 30 minutes! And you know the movies Detroit and 8 Mile! But something just as obvious yet unnoticed is the extent of segregation that exists in our area.
All our lives, we have been surrounded by Caucasians and, now, Asians--something we've become accustomed to. Meanwhile, we knew Detroit as a city full of African Americans. But did you recognize this as segregation?... as being the "third-most segregated metropolitan area in the United States" ("Report Finds")?
Our subconscious ignorance of the cause of this phenomenon has perpetuated segregation, making us blind to the flaws of society. Our daily routines are filled with the comfort of beautiful homes, spending, and, most important, safety--components that we take for granted, yet are rarely experienced 10 miles south.
But have you ever introduced yourself to a non-Michigander and realized the pure shock on his face as you tell him that you're from the Detroit area? But how can such an educated and financially well off person come from Detroit? he would ask. And even after you explain that you're not actually from Detroit, but a suburb of the city, he would still be stunned.
But if you think about it, we should too. The commute to the second most dangerous city in the United States is only 30 minutes! And you know the movies Detroit and 8 Mile! But something just as obvious yet unnoticed is the extent of segregation that exists in our area.
All our lives, we have been surrounded by Caucasians and, now, Asians--something we've become accustomed to. Meanwhile, we knew Detroit as a city full of African Americans. But did you recognize this as segregation?... as being the "third-most segregated metropolitan area in the United States" ("Report Finds")?
Our subconscious ignorance of the cause of this phenomenon has perpetuated segregation, making us blind to the flaws of society. Our daily routines are filled with the comfort of beautiful homes, spending, and, most important, safety--components that we take for granted, yet are rarely experienced 10 miles south.
I truly never knew that we were the third most segregated area in the US. It's very eye-opening! I love how you repeat the phrase "10 miles south" because it does show how "blind" we are to something so bad happening so close to us.
ReplyDeleteYea it's crazy like i feel like everyone in troy kinda ignores Detroit lol I only go there to go through the Windsor tunnel. I never really thought about how Michigan is segregated, I kinda thought discrimination wasn't as prominent as it was in the past but it's sadly clear that discrimination is just as dominant as it was in the past.
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