Detroit vs. Everyone

I have never seen Detroit as anything other than a dirty, run down city. But I have never been to Detroit, and I have absolutely nothing to base any belief I have of the city on. This article really reeled me in with its introduction. They way all of the authors, and my own, misgivings about Detroit were immediately shown to be true until they were shortly there after negated. It’s so common for people to believe the worst in things, whether it is a person or a city. After reading this article, I have gained a new perspective on a city that previously I’d assume would keep declining until there was nothing left of it.

I am a big fan of the state of Michigan. Every summer of my life I have gone to a summer camp on the western coast on Lake Michigan. I have biked across the state of Michigan more times than most. I would venture to say that it is my favorite place in the entire world and it’s hard for me to believe that there is a more beautiful sunset than the one that falls over the lake. Having these strong feeling about Michigan makes it hard for me to believe that just 250 miles away is America’s dump of a city, Detroit. Compared to the rolling dunes and sparkling lakes of the western Michigan summer, Detroit is somewhat of a joke to all of us at the camp. We all think, why on earth would anyone want to be there, when they could be here?

All this being said, It’s clear my view of Detroit had been skewed. Instead of the grime-covered concrete jungle I had conjured up in my head, Detroit has splashes of greenery, beautiful and colorful art lining unexpected places, and expansive parks. Detroit has been given a label that it doesn’t deserve. With an underlying sense of sadness to everything, maybe from being known as a failing city, Detroit is beautiful for all that can get past the preconceived judgments and take a look.