Explore how Trump’s remarks turned Detroit into a political punchline and examine its significance as a historic hub of Black culture and leadership.
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President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting of the Detroit Economic Club, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
During a recent speech to the Detroit Economic Club, Donald Trump took a cheap shot at the city, claiming, “If Kamala wins, the entire country will be like Detroit.” What an insult. But honestly, is it surprising? This is the same person who would probably go to a baby shower and tell the mother her baby is ugly. But what makes a politician feel comfortable enough to say something like that? Let’s break it down.
Detroit has some of the same issues you’d find in any major American city: crime, homelessness, and a struggling education system. The media loves to paint Detroit as a unique disaster zone, often using phrases like “the highest in the nation” when describing these problems. But that’s not exclusive to Detroit. Cities across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles, face the same struggles. So why is Detroit always the target?
Let’s be clear—Detroit’s not perfect. The blight and vacant lots tell a story that’s hard to ignore. But what’s interesting is who the media and political pundits turn to for opinions on the city. In a city that’s nearly 75% Black, we didn’t hear much from Black leaders in response to Trump’s remarks. Instead, for obvious reasons as the current, Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, a transplant who relocated to run for office, and politicians like Shri Thanedar, who also came here for political gain. Even Governor Gretchen Whitmer had her say. But where were the voices of Black leaders who knew the soul of this city? The absence of those voices speaks volumes.
Now, let’s talk about Trump’s assessment of Detroit. Does it have merit? If you only focus on the decay, you might say yes. But there’s so much more to Detroit’s story. At one time, Detroit was the pride of Black America. This city had the highest Black homeownership rate in the country, thriving Black businesses, and some of the best Black schools. Detroit wasn’t just surviving—it was leading. What happened?
The downfall of Detroit didn’t start with poor leadership or bad decisions from its citizens. It started with a coordinated attack on Black success. Look no further than the destruction of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, two thriving Black communities that were wiped out under the guise of urban renewal. It was a government policy designed to erase Black economic power, much like the Tulsa massacre of 1921. The only difference is that the people of Tulsa were murdered in one violent night, while Detroit’s destruction was slower, but just as calculated.
Today, Detroit faces another wave of gentrification disguised as progress. Take the I-375 project, for example. This plan gives white contractors and wealthy new residents the opportunity to turn what was once a Black cultural hub into a high-rent district, pushing out the very people who built this city. And let’s not forget the Detroit land bank, which has profited from Detroiters losing their homes in the latest housing crisis. Michigan is one of 13 states where it’s perfectly legal for the government to seize your home equity if you fall behind on property taxes, leaving many Detroiters with nothing to show for their years of hard work and homeownership.
The state also took over Detroit’s public schools, which once had a budget surplus, and ran them into the ground, turning a successful system into one of the worst in the country. They even changed the laws so Detroit’s children could be bused to suburban schools, taking public school dollars and athletic talent with them. The result? The state got what it wanted—a weakened Detroit.
So, when Trump claims the country will look like Detroit if Kamala wins, maybe he’s right, but not for the reasons he thinks. The systemic destruction of Detroit wasn’t because of its Black leadership or its people. It was the result of a long history of government intervention that systematically dismantled Black success. And now, politicians like Trump use Detroit’s scars as a punchline to score cheap political points.
The real question is, who’s to blame for Detroit’s current state? Is it the Black leaders who’ve had to fight an uphill battle with little support? Is it the government that has continuously failed this city? Or is it the citizens, left to survive in a city that was intentionally broken?
The truth is, Detroit is more than the challenges it faces. It’s a city that has survived deliberate neglect, destruction, and exploitation. It’s a city of resilience, and no matter how many times politicians like Trump try to use it as a symbol of failure, Detroit’s story is one of survival. The people of Detroit have been fighting for their city for decades, and they’ll continue to do so, regardless of what politicians say on their campaign trails.
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