Flight Home, Sunday Morning
Detroit wasn't as bad as it's been made out to be. It being the highest rated city for crime in the US seems more a trumped up charge than an actual reality. In actuality; it was quite harmonious and peaceful. A quote on the side of a police car read, "Be Nice To People." Hard to believe right? The LAPD could stand to learn a thing or too from them. I saw and felt absolutely no tinge of racism from either side of black and white. The white people there genuinely did respect the black people in Detroit. They had no condescending nature or body language about them the way they do in California. They really, truly did live harmoniously. It seemed as though the black people there had been... left alone, to live in peace. It was really, very refreshing.
I think California, the issue of racism maybe be preached with an air of self-righteousness, and so, is inauthentic in many cases. It's just something to preach about, period. It is kept alive in this way. It's ironic, the way that self-righteousness can flip it's self.
All in all, Detroit was like so many other cities in the US. Fat, and boring. Big whoop. Next stop; Austin, Texas for Hot Import Nights. So, I may or may not see the following: cowboy hats, southern drawls, blonde ladies with huge everythings, and also lots of fat kids addicted to processed foods. Now, I can't wait to see how my preconceived notions will be shifted.
Detroit wasn't as bad as it's been made out to be. It being the highest rated city for crime in the US seems more a trumped up charge than an actual reality. In actuality; it was quite harmonious and peaceful. A quote on the side of a police car read, "Be Nice To People." Hard to believe right? The LAPD could stand to learn a thing or too from them. I saw and felt absolutely no tinge of racism from either side of black and white. The white people there genuinely did respect the black people in Detroit. They had no condescending nature or body language about them the way they do in California. They really, truly did live harmoniously. It seemed as though the black people there had been... left alone, to live in peace. It was really, very refreshing.
I think California, the issue of racism maybe be preached with an air of self-righteousness, and so, is inauthentic in many cases. It's just something to preach about, period. It is kept alive in this way. It's ironic, the way that self-righteousness can flip it's self.
All in all, Detroit was like so many other cities in the US. Fat, and boring. Big whoop. Next stop; Austin, Texas for Hot Import Nights. So, I may or may not see the following: cowboy hats, southern drawls, blonde ladies with huge everythings, and also lots of fat kids addicted to processed foods. Now, I can't wait to see how my preconceived notions will be shifted.
4 comments:
Good blogs, thanks for the insightful writing. I like the part about pre-judging. It's amazing how much I'll do it without noticing, and then it's hilarious when i catch myself being such a dick. Then i trace my judgments and laugh at the roots. It's similar to needing to be right. I try to de-cling, it's a much flowier existence. Also, I practice so i'm ready for the non-game. One.
I think you're going to like Austin.
As far as racism in California, it's authentic, alright! I guess this trip to Detroit probably gave you your first opportunity to be in a predominately African-American environment for an extended period. That type of environment exists here in California - North and South. It's great you are having this chance to travel. Your interest in different cultures (without judgement) will serve you well. The people, the food, the dance, the clothes, the dialect, and the politics - in most places, there's an "us" and a "them" that can sometimes based on race, sometimes religion or $$$ or class.
It's all fascinating.
KV-
Well, I've traveled lots of places. I've been all over Europe and Mexico and plenty of states in America... but not the rural parts of America. The rural parts of America are what I tend to learn from the most. LA in alot of respects is like another country compared to the rest of the US. I expected Michigan to be utterly biased, but I was completley wrong.
"The rural parts of America are what I tend to learn from the most." Yeah, you ain't kidding! LOL BTW, I didn't intend to imply you haven't traveled. I already know you have been traveling quite a bit. I was just offering my perspective about going places and agreeing with your philosophy of being non judgmental and objective. Although a musician, Im a self titled "cultural tourist". And music has been my passport in to so many countries, cities, establishments, and living rooms. People are so different.
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