Review of BLACK DETROIT
A people’s history of the Motor City
I was born and raised in Metro Detroit, at old 8 mile and Mack Avenue. Detroit was my playground as an adolescent during some of the worst times in Detroit’s modern history. The Detroit I knew was corrupt and rundown – an ideal place for a rebellious teen. The Detroit I know now is a city on the up-and-up; a rich, diverse, cultural center I can’t wait to spend time in when I visit home.
Detroit is a black city. A city rich with history, ups and downs, and resilient people. It’s a beautiful city. A city unique among the other major American cities. A city worth learning more about. I came across Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination, by Herb Boyd, and I was eager to learn more about a beloved city with a 300+ year history.
Herb Boyd delivers on providing a detailed expose of Detroit’s origins and evolution, from its founding in 1701, its complicated role during America’s slavery era, to its rise during the industrial revolution, to its mid-century decline, civil unrest, and the corrupt Kwame era.
Black Detroit is a people’s history of the city. What I loved most about this book is the centering of the book on the people of the city, and particularly Detroit’s black cultural history from when black folks made up a minuscule proportion of the city’s population through mid-century when Detroit became the iconic black city it is today.
After reading this book, I became acutely aware of my limited knowledge of the city’s history. Most of my understanding of the history is modern, post-2000 when I spent the most time in the city. But the city, as I learned, has a tumultuous and dynamic history – a city in constant flux.
Although I enjoyed the book, mostly out of personal interest, I’m glad I listened to, rather than read, the book. It’s a classic history book – rich in detail, stories, and characters, which for me can be hard to follow and engage with when read in a physical format. I could easily listen to this book again to pick up on a host of new details that I missed the first time around.
This is a great book for history buffs or those with a personal interest in the city of Detroit. If you’re ever in Michigan, I encourage folks to check out the lively downtown, culturally diverse restaurants, the brilliant Detroit Institute of Arts, and hang out along the river walk. It’s a truly beautiful city.
Published: June 2017
Format: Audio
If you think this sounds interesting, bookmark these other great reads:
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan (2017) | Read my review
Picasso's War: How Modern Art Came to America by Hugh Eakin (2022) | Read my review
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