Reviewer: John FitzGerald
Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit, by Thomas Sugrue is a study of the urban crisis in Detroit, specifically after World War II. Sugrue opens with discussing the issues that were facing Detroit: unemployment, poverty and abandoned neighborhoods. Written in 1996, it is worth noting that many of these problems are facing Detroit today.
Originally, I thought the book was going to be written from a corporate perspective on why companies were leaving Detroit and thinking that would be the cause for crashing the economy. The book turned into a thought-provoking read on racial inequality before and after World War II and how ending segregation still effects many in urban areas today.
Sugrue starts out writing to dispel the myth that all cities in America prospered around World War II. While there were many purchases made during this time, many assume that this meant all economies were great and everything was good. In reality, cities like Detroit and Cleveland had issues keeping up with the demand of consumers, which lead to lots of hiring.
With lots of hiring, many African-Americans moved to Detroit for jobs. Two of the biggest issues were permanent employment and housing. Sugrue explained that regardless of education, many of these workers were given assembly line jobs or menial tasks requiring little skill or education.
With the influx of people to work in the city, housing was quickly built and African-Americans were not given the chance/option to move away from these newly formed ghettos. Sugrue referred to this period as official and unofficial segregation. Even if black families had the money to move out of these areas, they were often blocked by the inability to receive a housing loan or a neighborhood that would accept them.
As the war came to an end and technology advanced, many of the factories laid off workers in favor of automated machines As a result, this led to many African Americans losing their jobs and concentrated poverty more into the ghettos. In addition, many businesses moved to more suburban and rural areas to save money, which made it even more difficult to combat the increasing unemployment rate..
Sugrue writes that much of this happened before segregation was deemed illegal, however the damage had already been done. Racism was very real in Detroit and there were many marches, riots and conflict due to racial tension. Sugrue ends in the 60s writing of how the racial inequality in Detroit was avoidable, however it was created by a bureaucratic government that took too long to pass laws and not enough to keep businesses in their city.
Overall I believe this book is a great read on racial inequality and urban planning. I think it would be best suited for a case discussion in a crisis communication class to talk about the possible repercussions of cities allowing businesses to leave a city and the lasting impact these can have. Detroit is still in major financial and racial crisis today.
John FitzGerald
Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit, by Thomas Sugrue is a study of the urban crisis in Detroit, specifically after World War II. Sugrue opens with discussing the issues that were facing Detroit: unemployment, poverty and abandoned neighborhoods. Written in 1996, it is worth noting that many of these problems are facing Detroit today.
Originally, I thought the book was going to be written from a corporate perspective on why companies were leaving Detroit and thinking that would be the cause for crashing the economy. The book turned into a thought-provoking read on racial inequality before and after World War II and how ending segregation still effects many in urban areas today.
Sugrue starts out writing to dispel the myth that all cities in America prospered around World War II. While there were many purchases made during this time, many assume that this meant all economies were great and everything was good. In reality, cities like Detroit and Cleveland had issues keeping up with the demand of consumers, which lead to lots of hiring.
With lots of hiring, many African-Americans moved to Detroit for jobs. Two of the biggest issues were permanent employment and housing. Sugrue explained that regardless of education, many of these workers were given assembly line jobs or menial tasks requiring little skill or education.
With the influx of people to work in the city, housing was quickly built and African-Americans were not given the chance/option to move away from these newly formed ghettos. Sugrue referred to this period as official and unofficial segregation. Even if black families had the money to move out of these areas, they were often blocked by the inability to receive a housing loan or a neighborhood that would accept them.
As the war came to an end and technology advanced, many of the factories laid off workers in favor of automated machines As a result, this led to many African Americans losing their jobs and concentrated poverty more into the ghettos. In addition, many businesses moved to more suburban and rural areas to save money, which made it even more difficult to combat the increasing unemployment rate..
Sugrue writes that much of this happened before segregation was deemed illegal, however the damage had already been done. Racism was very real in Detroit and there were many marches, riots and conflict due to racial tension. Sugrue ends in the 60s writing of how the racial inequality in Detroit was avoidable, however it was created by a bureaucratic government that took too long to pass laws and not enough to keep businesses in their city.
Overall I believe this book is a great read on racial inequality and urban planning. I think it would be best suited for a case discussion in a crisis communication class to talk about the possible repercussions of cities allowing businesses to leave a city and the lasting impact these can have. Detroit is still in major financial and racial crisis today.
John FitzGerald