I want these photos of Detroit to be the exact opposite of the ‘ruin porn’ image we always see of Detroit. I don’t think Detroit is pathetic or dead. For starters, I think Detroit is a city with a rich history of fighting for workers rights, fighting against racism, and creating some of the best music of all time.
I was moving out of Detroit after many years and wanted to capture some of the city’s classic (to me) images. I wanted to show Detroit to my friends around the world, and to have some images to remind me of the city while I’m away.

— Brad Duncan in Love Letter from Detroit

Yes, this is exactly what Detroit needs. Perhaps next we can crowd-fund a postapocalyptic themed amusement park where white tourists can ride roller coasters while they gawk at all the homeless people.
Actually, though, who wants to go through all the hassle and danger of actually going to Detroit? Why don’t we just build a replica of the city (including, of course, only the boarded up buildings and the epic urban decay) so that every photographer in the world can snap up pictures of the ruins without having to worry about the actual residents of the city getting in the way of their shots?

— overglow commenting on “Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the awesome.”

Here’s the thing. White supremacy crafted the problems of Detroit just as much as capitalism did. In fact, in many ways, White Supremacy and Capitalism can not be separated. They are the same thing. And so when you hear things like: Detroit should be left to die, or Detroit is dead, or Detroit is dying, or the dying/death of Detroit is so tragic–in many ways, what you are hearing is White Supremacy commenting on itself. Or: White Supremacy encouraging the viewer to look the other way in the face of its violence.

— Detroit housing