Long Blog One- the Border
My town of Grosse Pointe has always been known as the white suburb next to Detroit with some intentions on staying that way. Over the years, there have been physical borders put up to divide Grosse Pointe Park along Alter Road from the boundaries of Detroit. From dead end roads to an “innocent” farmers market blocking the border, there is now a roundabout that allows traffic from all directions. However, there is still a very present cultural divide between the cities that needs to be bridged.
In a piece from a local news organization, there are mixed opinions from residents on the future of the border. One resident states “There never was a good time for any of these barriers to be built, but this is a good time for the barriers to come down,” (Russell 2020) Another describes his support for the barriers by asserting that they stop traffic from coming through the residential areas. (Russell 2020)
This debate trickles down to the deeper issue present, of the divide between the white residents of Grosse Pointe and the majority black residents of Detroit. The socioeconomic and racial differences are ingrained very deeply into residents on both sides. In an experimental piece, Megan C. Martin explores the boundaries by walking along the streets of Grosse Pointe and Detroit, recognizing the stark contrasts in environment and resources available. Detailing her experiences side-by-side, she notes the white neighborhood consists of restaurants, libraries, public parks (for residents) and a friendly attitude. The black neighborhood shows signs of abandonment with chain fences and neglected buildings, yet still a sense of community and welcomeness. Martin acknowledges that her acceptance within both cities was due to her identity as a young biracial woman. She reports “In the affluent, white community my upper-middle-class appearance… provided me with a passport, an assumption of belonging… In the economically struggling, black neighborhood, my appearance as a woman of color allowed me to wander the neighborhood without drawing any attention or causing concern” (Martin 2007)
I believe the larger problem is the fact that residents on both sides have little desire to understand or collaborate with each other. Martin concludes that “While the physical boundary can be breached, the societal divisions between these communities require a great deal more to change than merely walking across a street.” (Martin 2007) In my lifetime of residing in Grosse Pointe, there is this idea of “the bubble” as people refer to the tendency of residents to stick to themselves and push away outsiders. This idea has led to an extreme lack of unity between cities that are geographically neighbors, yet appear to be separated by invisible social boundaries.
A recent journal article details current plans to build a performing, visual arts center on the border of the cities, on the corner of Jefferson and Alter roads. Organizers of the project say that the center will be a place for many groups to perform, including the “Grosse Pointe Community Chorus, Mosaic Youth Theatre, Detroit Medical Orchestra, Detroit Concert Choir, Detroit Public Television and Michigan Opera Theatre.” (Welch 2020) They are hopeful that this center will create a unifying force for the communities, a place for collaboration and appreciation. By showcasing groups from all over the region, the audiences will be exposed to new ideas and perspectives, a positive influence.
The future of the Grosse Pointe-Detroit border is one that will only improve with the efforts of residents to acknowledge the social construction of spaces and have conversations about their differences. I believe that through education and respect, we will be able to create an environment that is welcoming to everyone.
Works Cited
- Martin, Megan C. “Crossing the Line: Observations from East Detroit, Michigan, USA.” Qualitative Social Work, vol. 6, no. 4, Dec. 2007, pp. 465–475, doi:10.1177/1473325007083357.
- Russell, Kim. “Push to Stop Another Physical Barrier from Being Built between Grosse Pointe Park and Detroit.” WXYZ Detroit , 30 Sept. 2020.
- Welch, Sherri. “‘A POTENTIAL GEM’: $25M PERFORMING, VISUAL ARTS CENTER PLANNED FOR GROSSE POINTE PARK-DETROIT BORDER.” Crain’s Detroit Business, vol. 36, no. 46, 2020, pp. 3. ProQuest, http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Ftrade-journals%2Fpotential-gem%2Fdocview%2F2462179691%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D14771.
