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Loss Of Auto Jobs Slams Detroit’s Black Middle Class

Written by News One on December 22, 2009 1:00 pm

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From the Detroit Free Press:

From 1910 into the 1930s, the black population of Detroit rose more than 600% — double the rate of nearby Cleveland and four times faster than the increase in Chicago.

Nobody was moving here for the weather. The influx of people to Detroit — the city tripled in size during the same period to a population of about 1.5 million — was about jobs, mainly in the auto industry, after Henry Ford made his famous offer of $5 a day.

Among the many side effects of the assembly line was the rise of the American middle class and, in Detroit more than anywhere else, the creation of a black middle class. While segregation and racism were obstacles, Detroit became a place where good factory wages enabled African Americans to afford homes and cars; where black businesses could start up with ready customers and where succeeding generations had a measure of upward mobility. Hundreds of African-American professionals, businesspeople and academics owe their start to parents or grandparents who were able to make a decent living in Michigan’s auto plants.

That avenue to the proverbial American dream has now been largely closed off by the disappearance of job opportunities at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler and the many industry supplier firms.

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Tags: Detroit, Economy
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/duncan69/ duncan69

    AND JUST THINK NIGGAHS IN D,TOWN USED TO BRAG ABOUT THEM BULLSHYT AZZ SLAVE JOBS THAT KEPT THEM TIED TO SOME CADDY OR BUICK EVERY TWO FUCHIN YRS MAKEN A PAYMENT CAUSE THEY WAS GOOD NIGGAHS.WE FELT THE SHYT IN GARY IND.WHEN I WAS COMING UP SMELLIN THEM NASTY STEEL MILLS FROM MILES AROUND,AND THERE STILL NIGGAHS TODAY WAITING AND PRAYING THEM MILLS JUST LIKE THE CAR PLANTS WILL COME BACK FULL FORCE SO THEY CAN GO BACK TO BEING SLAVE MINDED NIGGAHS.I SAY BURN ALL THAT SHYT DOWN AND START THE FUCH OVER!!!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mr600benz/ mr600benz

    I encourage anyone out of work to stay positive and stay focus. The number 1 thing is to pray in unity, think in unity, exercise in unity, share ideas in unity, and then apply the results from being united. A great man once said, “Together we stand and divided we fall.” We don’t have to burn anything down like Duncan said because we are trying to build like President Obama said. We should all pray for guidance so we want listen to the wrong person for direction whom could possibly mean well but blinded by the light.Thank you all for reading and have the best Christmas by sharing hugs with family and friends. The best gift in the world is love!!!

  • http://newsone.com/nation/associated-press/44-detroit-schools-to-close-in-june/ 44 Detroit Schools To Close In June | News One

    [...] Loss Of Auto Jobs Slams Detroit’s Black Middle Class [...]

  • http://thelightnc.com/national/toneal/44-detroit-schools-to-close-in-june/ 44 Detroit Schools To Close In June | TheLightNC

    [...] Loss Of Auto Jobs Slams Detroit’s Black Middle Class [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/732599/ 732599

    The Middle calss in Detroit became disenfranchised because of THE INABILITY TO EMBRACE CHANGE,of course this was not a black or white thing it’s a Michigan thing; The “rough and tumble” blue collar culture is outdated, Michigan residents failed to see this long ago and now their left behind with record joblessness and a crumbling infastructure.

  • http://foxync.com/national/mbaisden/44-detroit-schools-to-close-in-june/ 44 Detroit Schools To Close In June | FoxyNC – Foxy Hits

    [...] Loss Of Auto Jobs Slams Detroit’s Black Middle Class [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Azrael3/ Azrael3

    The Middle Class of AMERICA in general is being quickly eroded. There are other industries that are also being affected due to the economic downturn. Detroit is just the tip of the iceberg.

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