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In 1837, Michigan officially became the 26th state. The capital was located in Detroit. At the time of statehood, there were already a good number of people living in Michigan. From 1830-1840, the population had grown by almost 185,000 people. Some lived in the established communities such as Detroit, while others desired their own farmland in the wilderness. Immigration and migration was responsible for the population increase in Michigan. Many people from the East coast of the United States desired farmland. The Erie Canal, a canal that served as a waterway to the Midwest from New York, allowed many people to easily move to Michigan. Word spread about the promise of this “fantasy land”.
Michigan had the available land, but it needed to be cleared first. Many trees were cut down to create farmland for the new settlers in Michigan. Transportation routes were sparse and pioneers had difficulty finding their way. Once they arrived at their purchased land, they would have to build their own log homes. Life was hard. Mosquitoes were plentiful and spread diseases. Once more people moved to a county, schools would be built. All students went to school together in one room. School would be in session during the winter, since farming chores had to be done the rest of the year. It was around this same time that the Michigan lumber industry was born. There were plenty of White Pine trees available. The available lumbering jobs drew many to Michigan, including Swedish and French-Canadians. Native Americans also worked these jobs. The workers were called “Shanty Boys.” Lumber camps were set up near large rivers that led out to the Great Lakes. Besides trees, Michigan had other precious natural resources to offer. Native Americans had already been using these resources for thousands of years. In 1831, a geologist made a discovery in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This area held stores of copper. Later, in 1844, iron ore was also discovered. The ore could be used to create steel. Like lumber camps, this discovery led many people to move to the Upper Peninsula to mine this sought-after resource. Immigrants from Europe arrived and took some of these jobs. Mainly the British, Swedish, Finnish and Italians were miners in the U.P. These metals led to financial success for Michigan. The opposite happened to the Native Americans living in Southern Michigan. President Andrew Jackson had approved a proposal that moved the Huron, Wyandotte and Potawatomi tribes West of the Mississippi. Some of the remaining tribes, including the Ojibwe and Odawa, moved to Canada to avoid this move. Others, stayed in Michigan but had to live on small pieces of land called reservations. Adapted from Rosentreter, R. (2013). Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press |
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The Civil War
The Civil War (1850s – 1865) is an important part of Michigan’s history because its close location to Canada allowed escaped slaves passage to freedom through Michigan. Also, as a part of the Union, Michigan’s population fought in key battles that ended up leading to victory for the North.
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As early as 1807, Michiganders opposed slavery. New immigrants shared the same sentiments when they arrived. Michigan even had an anti-slavery society that was established in 1832. African Americans could live freely in Michigan, but slave catchers frequented the area due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 being passed. This allowed slave catchers to capture escaped slaves in Northern states, even if the states were free.
Michigan was also known for its many stops on the Underground Railroad mainly in southern Michigan. Escaped slaves arrived in Michigan from many different slave states. It was a popular destination due to its close proximity to Canada, where freedom was found. Famous abolitionists, or people who actively fought slavery, resided in Michigan. Dr. Nathan Thomas opened up his home and members of the Second Baptist Church hid thousands of slaves within the walls of the church. Sojourner Truth was another abolitionist and former slave who actively fought for equal rights for African Americans. Despite many people opposing slavery, there were still some who did not. Abolitionists still faced criticism. African Americans may have been safer in Michigan, but they still did not have the same rights as white citizens. Civil War erupted in the United States in April 1861. The divide between Northern and Southern states had completely broken. Southern states wanted to become their own confederacy (or country) and began leaving the Union. Not wanting to be divided, the Northern states decided to fight back. Michiganians were quick to support both the Union and President Lincoln. They were involved in every major battle of the Civil War. The battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle, was won with the help of Michigan soldiers. General George A. Custer of Monroe, Michigan led the cavalry brigade at the battle. In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, that called for the emancipation (or freeing) of slaves. This caused many African American men to enlist as soldiers, now that they were allowed to participate. These men had separate “colored” infantries. Women also contributed to the war effort. Many sewed uniforms and gathered supplies for the troops, some even served as nurses. At home, women were left to run the family farms which kept them very busy. Four years later, in April 1865, the Civil War ended with the surrender of General Lee. Unfortunately, President Lincoln did not have long to celebrate the victory. He was assassinated a few days later. Despite tragedy, Michigan soldiers were happy to return home victorious. Adapted from Rosentreter, R. (2013). Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press |
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The Industrial Revolution was an event that took place in Great Britain while Michigan was in early statehood. Several revolutionary inventions came during this time including machining and the steam engine. Its breakthroughs quickly spread to the United States. Factories began to pop up in the larger cities by the late 1800s, including Detroit. Manufacturing jobs claimed 25% of Michigan’s employees. The proximity of iron ore and steel foundries made metal-based manufacturing a major player in Michigan.
Stoves were the first metal items to be manufactured in Michigan. Grand Rapids became the Furniture Capital of the World due to the available wood. Other renowned industries in Michigan were the pharmaceutical giant, Upjohn, and the cereal inventor, Kellogg’s, based in Battle Creek. Michigan’s factories were booming and changed the economic landscape of the state. Again, immigrants were pouring in to work in factories, including the Finnish, Italians, and Hispanics. In 1896, Charles King drove his “horseless carriage” in downtown Detroit. He had created the vehicle after hearing about the newly invented gasoline powered engine. This technology inspired many to create their own “horseless carriages.” Ransom E. Olds created the first automobile in 1896 in Lansing. By 1903, there were 15 auto manufacturers. One of these was headed by Henry Ford. Although he did not invent the automobile, his ideas made him very successful. Ford believed that everyone should be able to afford an automobile, but he had to figure out how to make this happen. He decided to create a model that was simple could be made on the cheap. Demands for the Model T exploded and Ford could not keep up. Finally, someone shared an idea with him. A man who worked for him told him about a disassembly line at a meat factory. Every person would cut a different part of the meat off as it went down the line. They would create the opposite - an assembly line. As the parts rolled down the conveyor belt, a worker would add something to it. This technique cut down production time, allowing more vehicles to be made. Ford Motor Company became a great industrial enterprise. Ford was not the only one to have success in the automobile industry in Michigan. Companies such as Oldsmobile, Chrysler, Buick, General Motors, Chevrolet, and Dodge all originated in Michigan. The state became the automobile capital of the world. Tons of people were moving to the area to work in the industry, which paid very well. African Americans came from the impoverished South to find work, along with immigrants, including the Polish. Unfortunately, people did not always get along causing major racial tensions in the city. Factories that provided parts for these automobiles also brought success. By the 1920s, Michigan was very prosperous. Adapted from Rosentreter, R. (2013). Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press |
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In 1929, the Stock Market crashed. The Stock Market is peoples’ partial ownership in different companies. This caused the United States to fall victim to what is known as the Great Depression. The economy collapsed and hit Detroit especially hard. No one could afford to buy automobiles since they did not have jobs. In 1932, Ford Motor Company had to lay off ⅔ of their workers. In Detroit, there were over 225,000 unemployed workers. Farming and mining were also affected. President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the country to dig out of the depression by implementing programs. Slowly, Michigan recovered. Once the economy recovered, production resumed.
Despite decent pay, tensions between the workers and factory owners began to rise. Workers had to work extremely long hours and were not treated very well. They also had no voice in matters and had to do what their bosses told them to do. Workers began to come together to come up with a solution. They decided to unite and create “unions” so that the people in charge would have to listen. They started as secret organizations, but eventually became public. The United Auto Workers was a union created in 1936 that aimed to give a united voice to workers. The automobile industry in Michigan contributed to both World War I in 1915 and World War in 1941. The Arsenal of Democracy was the nickname of the war production effort which aided U.S. allies in both wars. Automobile makers began producing vehicles for the war including several war-time automobiles, tanks, and bomber planes. These were made in the automobile manufacturing plants owned by Ford, Chrysler and others. At first, the U.S. did not send any soldiers but aided their allies by producing war vehicles and shipping them overseas. Two years after World War II began, the U.S. officially entered the war following the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. When the call to fight came to Michigan, many men had to leave their jobs. Women had to step in and work the numerous manufacturing jobs, especially the ones related to the war effort. This allowed women to have new economic opportunities, including becoming engineers. Michigan also had farmers growing food for soldiers. On the home front, people had to change their lifestyles to support the war. Many items were rationed such as food, gasoline, bicycles, clothing, and other natural resources. People began growing their own food in Victory gardens so other food could be used in the war effort. Others made their own clothing for the same reasons. A common pastime during this time period was sitting down beside the radio in the evening listening to the latest war news. All of these efforts proved to be beneficial as the U.S. and the Allied Powers won the war in 1945. Adapted from Rosentreter, R. (2013). Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press |
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In the 1950s, the automobile industry continued to thrive. A big change that came about in the 1950s was the building of the Mackinac Bridge. The Upper Peninsula was only accessible by boat and isolated. Construction began in 1954 and concluded in 1957. It became a major attraction along with providing better transportation between the peninsulas that helped with tourism.
One place was called Idlewild. Nestled in the Manistee forest was a resort specifically created for African Americans. At that time, segregation prevented African Americans from vacationing among white people. Idlewild included plots of land that individuals could rent or purchase. People enjoyed camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating, and night-time entertainment. Famous musicians, actors, and athletes visited Idlewild. The booming resort stayed in business for many years but lost its steam once the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. The 1960s brought civil unrest in several areas of Michigan. African Americans were fighting for full rights during the time of segregation. Many followed Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and joined him on marches around the country. There was even a march for Freedom in Detroit a few months before the Reverend made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington D.C. Rosa Parks, a woman arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, moved to Detroit. Malcolm X, another Civil Rights activist, grew up in the Lansing area. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. Despite this constitutional win for African Americans, tensions remained high. In 1967 Detroit experienced race riots due to tension between the African American residents and predominantly white local government and law enforcement. This time also brought positive changes culturally. Motown, the nickname for Detroit, became the birthplace of nationwide music phenomenon. Musicians such as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the Supremes all found success in Detroit. Rock and Roll music also had famous contributors from Michigan during this time, including Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, and Madonna. In 1974, Gerald R. Ford, of Grand Rapids became the President of the United States from Michigan after the resignation of President Richard Nixon. He had to navigate many issues during the 1970s, including the Vietnam War and oil embargo crisis. The Vietnam War was a civil war between North and South Vietnam. The North wanted a communist government and the South did not. The United States supported the South. There was a lot of U.S. opposition to the war in Vietnam but the draft required U.S. men to be deployed and fight. Northern Vietnam ended up winning the war which was an embarrassing event for the U.S. Sadly, the success of the automobile industry came to a halt in the 1980s. Global competition caused many plants to be moved out of Detroit to areas where the cars could be produced for a cheaper price. Plants closed and many lost their jobs. Cities like Detroit and Flint lost population because people had to move elsewhere for work. Others moved to the suburban areas. Sadly, those left behind became impoverished and the cities began to decay. The high-times were over for these major cities of Michigan. Adapted from Rosentreter, R. (2013). Michigan: A History of Explorers, Entrepreneurs, and Everyday People. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press |
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The Delicates, were an American three-girl singing group, made up of members Denise Ferri, Arleen Lanzotti, and Peggy Santiglia. The group was formed in 1958 while all three members were attending Elementary School No. Eight, in Belleville, New Jersey.
The Ford Thunderbird (T-Bird) was a personal luxury car produced by Ford starting in 1955. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was a very popular car! |
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Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. With a string of hit singles composed mainly by Smokey Robinson, her signature hit, "My Guy" (1964) is by far is most recognized song! Soon, she became recognized as "The Queen of Motown" until her departure from the company in 1964, at the height of her success.
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Martha and the Vandellas were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown. An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves, who became lead vocalist of the group after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed and recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.
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The Temptations (1960–present) are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations in 1967 included David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams.
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Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists. Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records. While her career did not immediately flourish, Franklin found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966.
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Marvin Pentz Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American R&B and soul singer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".
Tammi Terrell (April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. |
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"Message From A Black Man" reflected the injustices of the decade where young black men were either being shipped off to Vietnam or getting edgy in the streets back home. In its early days, Motown didn't directly address political issues, but it was hard to ignore the rise of the Black Panthers and similar revolutionary movements. For their Puzzle People album, The Temptations took on this Norman Whitfield-Barrett Strong lyric which left you in no doubt about where they stood: "Black is a color, just like white . . . No matter how hard you try, you can't stop me now".
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"I Should Be Proud" is a 1970 protest song recorded by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. The song was noted for being the first released Motown protest song (released in February of the year), just months before the releases of Edwin Starr's "War" and The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion".
The song's narrator talks of how she was devastated on hearing the news that her loved one, who had been fighting in the Vietnam War, had been shot and killed in action. Instead of being proud that her loved one had "fought for her", as people around her were claiming, all she wanted was him and not his honors for fighting the war. Lead singer Martha Reeves took the song personally, recounting that one of her brothers had died in a Vietnam War-related incident. |
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Charles Edwin Hatcher (January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003) known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. Starr was famous for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s. Born in Nashville and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he later lived in Detroit, Michigan while singing for Motown Records.
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“Ball of Confusion” was released by The Temptations on the Motown label in 1970. The song was featured on their Puzzle People album and was written by the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The song was a political statement on the chaos and disorder with the pervading times; the Vietnam War, segregation, white flight, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more.
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Stevie Wonder (May 13, 1950 - present) born in Saginaw, Michigan is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz.
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Glenn Lewis Frey (November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016) was an American musician. He was a founding member of the rock band Eagles. Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in nearby Royal Oak, Michigan, Frey studied piano at age five, later switched to guitar, and became part of the mid-1960s Detroit rock scene.
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Diana Ross (March 26, 1944 - present) born in Detroit, Michigan is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. They remain the best-charting female group in history,
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DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. The group originally consisted of El, Mark, Randy, and Bunny. The siblings who became DeBarge started performing in various groups together in the Detroit, Michigan area in the mid 1970s.
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Marshall Bruce Mathers III (October 17, 1972 - present), also known as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America during the 90s and is critically acclaimed as one of the greatest rappers of all time. During his childhood, Eminem and his mother shuttled between Detroit, Michigan and Missouri, rarely staying in one house for more than a year or two and living primarily with family members. For much of his youth, Eminem and his mother lived in a working-class, primarily black, Detroit neighborhoods.
At age 14, Eminem began to attended open mic contests at the Hip-Hop Shop on West 7 Mile Road, considered "ground zero" (where it started) for the Detroit rap scene. Struggling to succeed in a predominantly black industry, Eminem was appreciated by underground hip hop audiences. When he wrote verses, he wanted most of the words to rhyme; he wrote long words or phrases on paper and, underneath, worked on rhymes for each syllable. This drill helped Eminem practice sounds and rhymes. |
Flint Water Crisis
On April 25, 2014 officials from Flint, Michigan switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure for the struggling city. In doing so, they introduced lead-poisoned water into homes, in what would become a massive public-health crisis. After months of denial and dodging, the mayor, governor, and president declared a state of emergency in Flint. Free water bottles and filters were provided to residents to help them cope. The city’s recovery has been slow, replacing 30,000 lead pipes.
Community Support
When news of the crisis came out, many Michigan communities wanted to help Flint through his very hard situation. Since the regular running water was dangerous to drink, bath in, or cook with, residents in Flint had to use bottled water. Many of the communities across Michigan began to hold “water drives” to collect bottled water for Flint. Businesses, celebrities, churches, schools, and organizations, all donated bottled water to Flint so residents could use safe clean water. Even Hiawatha donated to help!
Questions of Racism
The city of Flint is predominantly Black (57%) and low income (35.5% live in poverty). Many people questioned if these events would have happened in a more affluent/wealthy white areas. A MI government-appointed civil rights commission in found systemic racism helped to cause the Flint water crisis. There were any specific violations of state civil rights laws, but says “historical, structural and systemic racism combined with implicit bias” played a role in the problems, which still linger in the city’s drinking water.
Detroit’s Comeback
The city of Detroit has reached a major milestone. In July of 2013, Detroit filed for bankruptcy with more than $18 billion in debt. Now, Detroit is out of bankruptcy, which is a financial feat few experts predicted could happen so quickly. With new development pouring in, hometown businessman and billionaire Dan Gilbert is leading the way. He has invested an estimated $5.6 billion in about 100 Detroit properties. Tens of thousands of new jobs have brought new workers to the city's central core stimulating Detroit's economy.
Gentrification and Poverty
Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. While this often brings increased economic activity to a community, it can also push out the current residents who live at a lower cost of living. Some Detroit residents now find it too expensive to live in the city and have to move out. At the same time, in neighborhoods outside the downtown area, residents earn an average of 25% less. The housing is crumbling and there are 150,000 vacant or abandoned buildings.
COVID-19
COVID-19 or Coronavirus, came to Michigan on March 10, 2020. Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency shortly after. COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the state causing shortages of medical equipment and room in hospitals. Schools were shut down and Michiganians were urged to stay home to slow the spread. Part of Michigan’s economy had to shut down and some were unemployed. Wearing a mask became required in public places to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.At its worst point, the pandemic caused hospitals to be overcrowded. Then, as time went on, the number of cases started to go down and parts of “normal” life were able to resume, with masks on, and then eventually without needing masks. COVID-19 continues to spread in Michigan today, but vaccines, more immunity, and new knowledge have helped the state learn to live with it. As of today, March 23, 2023, the total number of COVID cases in Michigan has been 3,064,125 and the total number of deaths has been 42,205.
Great Lakes Protection
From its beginning, the first peoples of Michigan showed great care and respect for the Great Lakes. Today, due to contamination of its beaches, toxic waste that has been dumped in the lakes, numerous bottled water companies draining the aquifers, the introduction of weeds and invasive species, drilling companies building underwater pipelines that leak, overproduction in the fishing industry, and sewage overflow, the Great Lakes have seen a decrease in their health. Today, groups are trying to fix these issues.
On April 25, 2014 officials from Flint, Michigan switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure for the struggling city. In doing so, they introduced lead-poisoned water into homes, in what would become a massive public-health crisis. After months of denial and dodging, the mayor, governor, and president declared a state of emergency in Flint. Free water bottles and filters were provided to residents to help them cope. The city’s recovery has been slow, replacing 30,000 lead pipes.
Community Support
When news of the crisis came out, many Michigan communities wanted to help Flint through his very hard situation. Since the regular running water was dangerous to drink, bath in, or cook with, residents in Flint had to use bottled water. Many of the communities across Michigan began to hold “water drives” to collect bottled water for Flint. Businesses, celebrities, churches, schools, and organizations, all donated bottled water to Flint so residents could use safe clean water. Even Hiawatha donated to help!
Questions of Racism
The city of Flint is predominantly Black (57%) and low income (35.5% live in poverty). Many people questioned if these events would have happened in a more affluent/wealthy white areas. A MI government-appointed civil rights commission in found systemic racism helped to cause the Flint water crisis. There were any specific violations of state civil rights laws, but says “historical, structural and systemic racism combined with implicit bias” played a role in the problems, which still linger in the city’s drinking water.
Detroit’s Comeback
The city of Detroit has reached a major milestone. In July of 2013, Detroit filed for bankruptcy with more than $18 billion in debt. Now, Detroit is out of bankruptcy, which is a financial feat few experts predicted could happen so quickly. With new development pouring in, hometown businessman and billionaire Dan Gilbert is leading the way. He has invested an estimated $5.6 billion in about 100 Detroit properties. Tens of thousands of new jobs have brought new workers to the city's central core stimulating Detroit's economy.
Gentrification and Poverty
Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. While this often brings increased economic activity to a community, it can also push out the current residents who live at a lower cost of living. Some Detroit residents now find it too expensive to live in the city and have to move out. At the same time, in neighborhoods outside the downtown area, residents earn an average of 25% less. The housing is crumbling and there are 150,000 vacant or abandoned buildings.
COVID-19
COVID-19 or Coronavirus, came to Michigan on March 10, 2020. Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency shortly after. COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the state causing shortages of medical equipment and room in hospitals. Schools were shut down and Michiganians were urged to stay home to slow the spread. Part of Michigan’s economy had to shut down and some were unemployed. Wearing a mask became required in public places to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.At its worst point, the pandemic caused hospitals to be overcrowded. Then, as time went on, the number of cases started to go down and parts of “normal” life were able to resume, with masks on, and then eventually without needing masks. COVID-19 continues to spread in Michigan today, but vaccines, more immunity, and new knowledge have helped the state learn to live with it. As of today, March 23, 2023, the total number of COVID cases in Michigan has been 3,064,125 and the total number of deaths has been 42,205.
Great Lakes Protection
From its beginning, the first peoples of Michigan showed great care and respect for the Great Lakes. Today, due to contamination of its beaches, toxic waste that has been dumped in the lakes, numerous bottled water companies draining the aquifers, the introduction of weeds and invasive species, drilling companies building underwater pipelines that leak, overproduction in the fishing industry, and sewage overflow, the Great Lakes have seen a decrease in their health. Today, groups are trying to fix these issues.