Housing Demographics
The majority of minorities lived in the center of Detroit. The riots following King's assassination brought on the 1967 riots and this lead to the Detroit Fair Housing Act. In 1960 27.9% of homes with minority families living in them were "dilapidated or deteriorating." Other deplorable situations such as rat infestations, leaky and molding houses and defective plumbing were also endured by minorities. The passage of the Detroit Fair Housing act as well as the election of mayors like Dennis Archer who fought for black equality helped the situation but did not fix it.
The image to the left shows the percentage of minorities living in the city in 1960
The black population started out very concentrated around the Grand Circus area in the 1950s and gradually became more concentrated in the northern regions of Detroit.
The image to the left shows the percentage of minorities living in the city in 1960
The black population started out very concentrated around the Grand Circus area in the 1950s and gradually became more concentrated in the northern regions of Detroit.
Housing Descrimination
The Grosse Pointe suburbs of Detroit was a highly descriminatory residential area of Detroit. A screening system was used to prevent Jews, Blacks, and other minorities from living in such neighborhoods. Even today, the disparity between downtown ghettos and the suburbs of Detroit is among the greatest in the country.
To the left, is the Grosse Point high school. Below is the Hamtramk High School. The differences between these buildings speak for themselves.
To the left, is the Grosse Point high school. Below is the Hamtramk High School. The differences between these buildings speak for themselves.
Reasons for Disparity
Most of the well paying jobs in Detroit are located in the suburbs where white people live. The price of suburban housing as well as the screening process to keep minorities out of these neighborhoods kept most blacks out of these jobs. This left them stuck in the city with low-paying jobs. This meant that most of the cities funds were being poured into the rich white suburbs while the downtown ghettos became poorer and poorer. In the 1970s, Detroit passed a law to integrate schools, but it was largely overruled at the individual school level. The NAACP sued saying that separate but equal was not constitutional. The court originally upheld the NAACP and required that schools be integrated, but upon appeal, the Supreme Court ruled against the NAACP. The effect of not requiring schools to integrate, further segregated neighborhoods and put downtown Detroit in a downward spiral that is yet to really end.
In addition to poor job distribution and lack of acceptable, affordable housing, tax distribution has been poorly handled in Detroit, aiding in keeping the poor poor and the rich rich.
In the 2010 census, this disparity is more evident than ever:
In addition to poor job distribution and lack of acceptable, affordable housing, tax distribution has been poorly handled in Detroit, aiding in keeping the poor poor and the rich rich.
In the 2010 census, this disparity is more evident than ever: