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Location:
Map:
Category:
Taken:
2018-12-26
Uploaded:
2019-01-14
Camera:
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Lens:
iPhone 8 Plus back dual camera 3.99mm f/1.8
Focal length:
4 mm
F-Stop:
1.8
Filter:
N/A
Shutter Speed:
1/30 s
Tripod:
No
ISO:
20
Flash:
No
About this photograph:
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This is an image of The Fisher Body Plant built in 1919. It flourished until the 1960s and was closed in 1984.
What does this have to do with black and white?
Detroit was the richest city in the US in 1960. It was beautiful, bustling and full of optimism. Gorgeous, massive, elaborate buildings were going up. Theater, the arts, fine dining, and luxurious night clubs were thriving. Detroit was living proof of the American dream and Detroit's white citizens were living the good life. What happened?
Yes, the fall of the auto industry contributed heavily to the collapse of Detroit, but nothing contributed more than “White Flight.”
As the city’s white residents began leaving the city to avoid the black people, Detroit's income through taxes fell away. Many black residents in the city were unable to find employment, and they couldn't contribute financially to the city.
The city continued to pay for basic public utilities and services, but funds were limited and the city’s overall condition deteriorated. In addition, corruption became rampant in the highest levels of city government, leaving the city’s remaining residents without means. In 2013, the City of Detroit declared bankruptcy.
Poverty, unemployment, drugs and firearms have kept Detroit in the top 5 list of most dangerous US cities for decades.
The things that I've told you are tragic, but like I said in my last post - there is hope and things are slowly looking up.
What does this have to do with black and white?
Detroit was the richest city in the US in 1960. It was beautiful, bustling and full of optimism. Gorgeous, massive, elaborate buildings were going up. Theater, the arts, fine dining, and luxurious night clubs were thriving. Detroit was living proof of the American dream and Detroit's white citizens were living the good life. What happened?
Yes, the fall of the auto industry contributed heavily to the collapse of Detroit, but nothing contributed more than “White Flight.”
As the city’s white residents began leaving the city to avoid the black people, Detroit's income through taxes fell away. Many black residents in the city were unable to find employment, and they couldn't contribute financially to the city.
The city continued to pay for basic public utilities and services, but funds were limited and the city’s overall condition deteriorated. In addition, corruption became rampant in the highest levels of city government, leaving the city’s remaining residents without means. In 2013, the City of Detroit declared bankruptcy.
Poverty, unemployment, drugs and firearms have kept Detroit in the top 5 list of most dangerous US cities for decades.
The things that I've told you are tragic, but like I said in my last post - there is hope and things are slowly looking up.
Critiques for this photo (7):
BabaCam (2019/01/15)
This will take some time to cure. They have ran it down alright for sure. Interesting that nobody stopped it, they must have seen it going down. Interesting also that no other business came. Can't say this is a pretty sight but it has definitely a run-down, rough charme that I like. Great story-telling image. Let's hope that they can find another way to survive and build new businesses.
plimrn (2019/01/15)
....and still they haven't learned....to make money you have to have people that have money to spend! Now we're in another government shutdown, pushing more employed persons into homelessness...and the goal is to say, look, we don't need all those government workers, we can get along perfectly well without food inspections and National Parks. ...and it's fine to require airport arrivals several hours before departure, because we're only willing to pay for a few screeners. It's a lot like corporate help lines that require waits greater than an hour in order to force people onto the websites, even if the website can't answer the question.
Sorry I didn't mean to pour cold water on your hope, I'm having trouble finding hope with everyone cowed by the wicked clown. Your girl on the shiney bike really is a hopeful sight.
Sorry I didn't mean to pour cold water on your hope, I'm having trouble finding hope with everyone cowed by the wicked clown. Your girl on the shiney bike really is a hopeful sight.
Current discussion:
plimrn (2019/01/19 23:22:48): Thank youSistercosmo (2019/01/16 01:24:30): Dear Pat,
I’ve known you a long time and I know that you’re usually an optimist. We’re in very difficult times.
Keep holding on. HLJ
Everlasting (2019/01/18)
just as with your earlier photo depicting hope, this really conjures up decay and deprivation. I haven't heard the phrase "white flight" before b ut I could use it for areas close to my heart in London.
guillaumejm (2019/01/19)
Hello Linda
This is really a nice & imaginative twisted link to the tom and I like that too :)
Sad history, and then hoping we're learning from our history ....
A+
JMarc
This is really a nice & imaginative twisted link to the tom and I like that too :)
Sad history, and then hoping we're learning from our history ....
A+
JMarc
PB-Photography (2019/01/19)
My very first impression seeing the thumbnail was: This has to be Detroit!
The image captures exactly this mental image that everyone in the US carries around when we hear and talk about Detroit. SAD!
Yes, financially things are looking a little bit better. There was some cleaning up, BUT I am equally pessimistic as Pat is. There is only one single thing that counts in this country! How do I make money out of something! It took me a while to understand that there is a capital difference between Europeans and Americans. CAPITALISM in the US and anything different is cursed with a word: SOCIALISM. People in the US do not know what socialism is about and as long as there is no understanding of it we will see Detroits happening all the time again and again.
The image captures exactly this mental image that everyone in the US carries around when we hear and talk about Detroit. SAD!
Yes, financially things are looking a little bit better. There was some cleaning up, BUT I am equally pessimistic as Pat is. There is only one single thing that counts in this country! How do I make money out of something! It took me a while to understand that there is a capital difference between Europeans and Americans. CAPITALISM in the US and anything different is cursed with a word: SOCIALISM. People in the US do not know what socialism is about and as long as there is no understanding of it we will see Detroits happening all the time again and again.
borrazopolitan (2019/01/20)
linda
wow!!
looks like a scenery in syria!
is a clinical abandon, a terrible decay. decay is a very sad thing, I feel it in my town and in the villages where my parents were raised in portugal, anyway this is really worst. amazing note and image.
take care
jorge
wow!!
looks like a scenery in syria!
is a clinical abandon, a terrible decay. decay is a very sad thing, I feel it in my town and in the villages where my parents were raised in portugal, anyway this is really worst. amazing note and image.
take care
jorge
FotoShipshuck (2019/01/24)
Hello Linda,
I like photos of abandoned places, you provide a nice one here. I don't think I have ever been to Detroit, I have only flown through its airport.
Regards,
Murat
I like photos of abandoned places, you provide a nice one here. I don't think I have ever been to Detroit, I have only flown through its airport.
Regards,
Murat