A new story
There are a lot of things that annoy us, but this narrative about Detroit “making a comeback” makes our eyes roll to the back of our heads so hard we’re scared they may get stuck there one day. We’re not saying Detroit is without its problems, but merely investing in trendy downtown areas to attract suburbanites and tourists “back” into the city does not a comeback make. It is grossly offensive to Detroiters who have built their lives here and continued to live here through bankruptcy, emergency management, and corrupt leadership. We don’t necessarily have a problem with trendy restaurants cropping up, either, because we love a bougie brunch, too. But it’s problematic when
TIME magazine names Detroit one of the “World’s Greatest Places” in 2022 for its “newfound glory” and “vibrant economic recovery.” For whom? Because Detroiters — the artists, visionaries, hard workers, hustlers, creatives, and families who fuel this city — have always been here. Detroit never left. We’re gonna say it louder for the people in the back.
—Randiah Camille Green