Customer Reviews

Detroit Divided (Multi City Study of Urban Inequality)

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Detroit Divided covers many issues well-known to residents of SE Michigan - issues such as racism, the labor market, housing, transportation, etc., always coming back to the question of what factors influence the segregation of the city and its suburbs.
It was published in 2000, and is still quite up-to date, but there is no mention of the influence of recent changes in Detroit's downtown, such as GM, sports stadiums, casinos, and current revitalization projects.
What I really liked about this book was the survey data from the census, and from surveys done by residents in the inner city and the suburbs. I liked finding out about what "We as Detroiters" had to say about these issues, and I found myself agreeing with a lot of the findings because I see them on a daily basis. It is nice to have numbers to back up what are vague mental pictures of what the situation involves.
I learned quite a bit about the area, things I didn't know about our history and about the present. Professionals in urban issues will certainly use this book, but I would also recommend it to the general public and especially to residents in Detroit and SE Mich.

Why does this metropolis continue to have the most racially divided composition of the United States? Well, if you find yourself with the same question I reccomend this book. It gives good insight into how metropolitan Detroit became the city it is today and insight into what those of your race and and the other are doing/thinking. If you are curious about the extended population other than the whites/blacks then don't buy this but my money was well spent.