As I went back home for the fourth of July, many things became apparent to me. First, it was very obvious just how different Detroit is compared to many other cities, such as Chicago, which is located just 40 minutes from my parent’s home. It took me to go back home just to realize how many more things that people in Detroit have to worry about that many other communities have the luxury to ignore. Things such as security, good roads, grocery stores, and working power/water are somethings that many of Detroit residents have to worry about every day.
When going back home I discovered that one of the biggest problem in fixing the problems that many people in Detroit face come from the outside as well as inside the city. The intense stigmatization of Detroit really does leave people with a hopeless mindset when talking about and dealing with the city. When talking to people, I noticed that many describe Detroit as a wasteland, unable to be saved. This leaves many people to want to stay away from Detroit, not recognizing all the wonderful stuff it does offer, and kills a lot of prospective help that could be given to the city.
I guess all I can do at this point is try to use my experience to change people’s minds about the city. Looking at the city as an engaging place with lots of potential can go a long way in improving it!
