[Feasor13]

Lived in Livonia till I was 13 and graduated high school in Farmington Hills. The riots in 67 and Coleman Young being elected mayor were the death knell for Detroit. I live out West now, but the weird thing is that I find myself defending Michigan and the Detroit area when confronted by the West Coast snobs from Seattle and Portland who have absolutely no idea what the area is like.

When I was a kid you only went to the city on field trips and sporting events if you were a Tigers or Wings fan. It was like a black enclave surrounded by white folks. All of the money fled to the suburbs, where it has pretty much remained. I enjoyed hearing my grandparents talking about what a great city it was in the day. My parents have memories of that greatness too, and of the 82nd Airborne locking the city down during the 67 riots. They blocked liquor sales off and my paternal grandfather went out to Howell to get his supply of spirits.

[MarMema]

I saw the Beatles at something like age 9 in Detroit in a beautiful old theater....wish I could remember the name of it.

Also in Wa these days...

[re_nortex]

The riots in 67 and Coleman Young being elected mayor were the death knell for Detroit.

This photo of Coleman Young speaks volumes. Be sure to note the sign being held up behind him: