Grew up in and around Detroit. From about 8-9 years old on. It was corruption, graft and the US auto companies that destroyed Detroit.
US auto companies, really? How do you explain how screwed up pretty much every other place in the USA is where there is a large concentration of black people and no auto industry? Even when the surrounding area is mostly OK like in Houston, Dallas, Memphis, East ST Louis, NOLA, Omaha, KC, Minneapolis, etc.? I would blame the welfare state and the destruction of the traditional family that comes with it more that any other factor, but that is just me.