I hate to take a negative article and write about it, but I can’t stop thinking about the ignorant things people are saying about the shooting on Monday, so here I am…
http://www.wxyz.com/news/police-woman-shot-near-hart-plaza-during-detroit-fireworks
On Monday around 8pm I headed downtown with other DCBRPers to watch the fireworks–it was great. We were there for about an hour before the fireworks even started but everyone was excited to see the show and it felt cool going to an event that has been a tradition in the city for so long. That said, after some time and a bit of cold rain we wanted to leave, so we headed back as the finale was starting. On the walk back I saw an article about the shooting that had apparently just happened, chose not to look too much into it, and continued back to the apartments.
The next day I was at work and my dad called me worried that I had been shot. When I answered the phone and he realized I was not, in fact, shot, he calmed down and all was fine. Luckily, his concern came from being a worried parent and once I assured him I was safe he let it go. That’s not the case for all of the many people who took liberty in commenting on the article. I read the article and continued to the comments on the Facebook page, and they legitimately made me feel sick. Many people suggested moving the fireworks to a “safer location’ so people could “actually enjoy them.” Others were more explicit with their disrespect and said “You can build as many hipster things you want in Detroit, but until you get rid of all the getto vagrants, Detroit is going to be Detroit.” First of all, it’s spelled “ghetto,” and secondly, f*ck that. That comment is so disrespectful and unjust on so many levels: 1. The man who commented is from a suburb of Detroit and claims to know how to “fix” Detroit. 2. How does one determine who is and who isn’t a “getto vagrant” and then proceed to “get rid of” them? 3. What did this comment add to anything besides ignorance and pissing people off?
Let’s throw it back to the tour we went on around Campus Martius the second week of the program. The guide told us all about how there was a policy that made it so the Detroit Free Press had to publish at least one negative headline about Detroit in each issue. The effects of this are clearly still prominent; google “Detroit fireworks 2017” and the first three articles are about the shooting. I’m writing this and I know I’m stating the obvious–the world is messed up, but I want to know what we can do to change it and move forward. How do we stop people from thinking the only way to make Detroit activities safe is to move them out of Detroit? How do we get people to understand that one shooting does not speak for a city and that the way we are handling these events is divisive?
I believe it has to come from the youth. I think that changing a person’s belief only becomes more difficult as they grow older, so getting young people to try new things and meet new people has more potential than trying to change Rick Snyder’s mind, for example. This goes back to Naim’s question from Tuesday–every person has a different answer for what to do, and that comes from lived experiences and personal beliefs. Rather than believing one person has the right answer I think we need to listen. Understand what makes a person believe their solution is the best, and work from there. This all sounds abstract and vague, but when the mess is as big as it is, I’m not sure how to start. Overall, there is change to be made and in order to change public opinion I believe we have to start with individuals with potential to change. Bring people into programs like DCBRP to learn and experience and challenge themselves; prove to our parents that Detroit isn’t innately unsafe; make conversation with people you wouldn’t normally cross paths with. I’ve learned more than I thought I would in half a summer here; how do we give other people that opportunity and incentivize them to take it?
Hi Alona,
I really liked your input on this! I often see too many people put in their input on negative things about Detroit or how they believe how they can fix it without ever actually coming to Detroit and speaking to native Detroiters. Heck, ironically I’ve seen the same people from the suburbs claim to be “Detroiters” when it’s convenient, yet they only really come for events like sports games and never explore beyond downtown/midtown. I also agree that taking the time to listen to what actually needs to be done is important; but to actually get people to listen will take more effort than this program. I think it would have to start from the outside-in; taking what we’ve learned back to our own communities.
Hey Alona,
I agree with your sentiments that change can come about from the youth. Growing up in the city, I’ve seen both the bad and good. I see how its so easy for outsiders to criticize Detroit and blame its issues on a few bad eggs. It’s infuriating having to ride the Qline and hear people (who don’t live in the city) say how the citizens need to “clean up their act”, “suck it up”, or offer ways to ‘fix’ a city that they initially know nothing of. It won’t be easy to change the opinions of outsiders. However, we can better our youth’s education and opportunities in Detroit. They can grow, be successful, and bring that success back to their hometown or become future leaders of the city. There could be generational progress made by born and raised Detroiters, but it would take a lot of time. Also, crime is everywhere, and those who commit them don’t represent a city, race, gender, etc. That’s just a concept people need to grasp, not something society can correct them on.
– Zoe