Detroit, Michigan chandy01: The past week I have seen two documentaries on Detroit. What they show is absolute decay and destruction of beautiful homes and city buildings with garbage strewn about. Does anyone on wire live in Detroit? Is this really true? Sometimes you can't believe everything you see on TV. I know the auto industry crashed and I heard Detroit was bankrupt. I look forward to any comments you may have on this subject.  chronology: 'Motown' has just reached a natural point where it is nearing the end of it's presence on the world scene. Industrial regions in Japan, Lancashire England, Germany, have all gone through similar declines and in some cases extinction. You have probably never heard of Manchester England, a century ago it was one of the worlds great industrial centres, today it is virtually unknown outside England. But today you see Detroit on global T.V. stations and Internet T.V. that you never saw in Japan England or Germany. Detroit has a rich and proud history that will be preserved on the Internet, and a cultural heritage is already preserved in Music and video. We all wish the folks in Detroit well, especially with dealing with the 'doom and gloom' documentary makers who are placing their own spin on the current position of the city. chronology: True Jack. I just hope folks remember to record as much 'Motown' history as possible. the city has such a vibrant place in the human experience, huge industrial factories, hundreds of thousands of workers, vast railroad networks. The African American community came close to rivalling Harlem as the cultural centre of African America. The Trade Unions in Detroit did ground breaking work in raising living standards for American workers. All this fine work by Detroit people of all races and classes. It would be sad if it was all forgotten.  Big Bopper: Jack, that looks like a group of people with solid, sustainable goals in mind for their city. An annual budget of $3.8 million would go a long way using a volunteer workforce. I wish them well. I'd like to hear from other Detroit citizens about what life is really like there. chandy01: Outback...you know maybe "the greening of Detroit" will be the way other cities go...Chron...Motown oh man I was around when it hit and remember all the great music from there. It was hard for me because the British Invasion was hitting and I really had it bad for the Stones. But they got their inspiration from American R & B groups and blues singers too. Now I love to hear the Motown sound and the Stones well not so much. Their early stuff yeah but then it all started sounding the same? Sometime I will post the night I met James Brown in Toronto in 1964...The Godfather of Soul.
chronology: chandy01 Oh boy we may be in for a treat here. Were you in Detroit in the 60s ? I understand the night life in the City was rocking hard in the Bars and Clubs. Tell us about your meeting with James Brown. I love his song 'Livin in America' Hard to imagine tens of thousands of people heading for a night on the Town on Friday and Saturday. But back then folks had jobs and money to spend. chandy01: No I wasn't in Detroit. I am from Toronto Canada. He played at a club called the Mimicombo but I was too young and broke to actually see the concert. I knew there was only one way he could get in the club without going through the front doors. That was at the back up the fire escape. My friend and I waited there until his bus pulled around with the "Blue Flames" on the header. I was so excited...I can remember man he is here. Some of his entourage came up the stairs and then there he was. I just said to him I couldn't believe it. He said he never realized he had so many fans in Toronto. He shook my hand just like a gentleman and then he went into the building. I'll never forget it. I think his hit single then was "Papas Got a Brand New Bag." You know I am going to post something here that might offend some people but I now think he likely couldn't believe that two young white girls would be standing there waiting for him. I wasn't brought up with any racial discrimination and never thought twice of it. I didn't even realize then that all this discrimination was going on...until I got older. Now I have seen the documentaries on the Watts riots in LA and the riots in Detroit. Very very sad. Wire might flag me for this right?? So be it... chronology: Great Post chandy01 you met the 'Great Man' in person. It was not so much 'riots' in Detroit back in the 60s it was often Bar Fights that spiralled way out of control. In one Bar fight 60 people wound up getting chilled, it was really way out there. It was a fantastic night scene in Detroit, but when you have the city morgues overflowing the next morning that is a real kicker.  calybonos: I lost my foreskin during a bar fight in Detroit. That waitress was hell bent on getting a tip.  Captain Canada: Sad situation for the big""D"""" You can now purchase entire city blocks of homes just for a song and a dance .bring in a bulldozer and remove all houses,wait till prices and hopefully a developer in 20/30 years will buy it from you I am just wondering if any members on here know of any friends in Detriot that have any old cars for sale cheap I am also looking for motorcycles too  (Post deleted by staff ) (Post deleted by staff ) (Post deleted by staff ) (Post deleted by staff ) | Off Topic Chat Room Similar Conversations |
