Coming from Los Angeles, I know what it feels like to love and rep a city -- hard. From the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine to the Lakers at Staples Center. Hikes to the Hollywood sign, afternoons at LACMA, the food trucks in East LA, and punk shows at The Smell. My brother taught me to never be a bandwagon fan, and I swear I'll support Kobe and the Lakers long after his jersey hangs next to Kareem, Magic, and Shaq. My family taught me that I come from one of the best places in the world. I have never felt that pride for one’s city could come close to what I feel for Los Angeles... until now.
Going to school at the University of Michigan has led me to meet some incredible people from Michigan and has introduced me to the marvel that is the City of Detroit. I have friends from the city, from surrounding areas like Grosse Pointe, Brighton, Bloomfield, Commerce Township, and from many more places all over the state, and one thing they all share is their never-ending love and pride for the Big “D.”
Detroit sports are unparalleled. I've been fortunate enough to see a Red Wings game at the Joe, the Pistons at the Palace, and I hope to one day make it to a Lions game at Ford Field and a Tigers game at Comerica Park. No matter how bad a season might be, Detroit has some of the most loyal fans you'll ever meet, always “putting on for their city.”
The first time I drove into the city, my friends insisted on taking me to the infamous Lafayette Coney Island diner, which happens to be located right next to American Coney. I was told that customers were loyal to either one or the other, and it wasn't until after we left that I really understood the extent of the rivalry between the two. You can usually tell where someone lives just by which Coney they frequent.
Detroit is, of course, the home of Henry Ford's empire that transformed the nation, and Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals chronicle it all. The city bleeds art and culture. Francis Ford Coppola, who gave us The Godfather films, was born here. Motown favorites such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye revolutionized the music scene, as well as the female powerhouses that are Diana Ross and Gladys Knight. This eventually led to artists like Jack White and Madonna, ALL of whom trace their roots back to Detroit.
One of the most infamous people coming out of Detroit would definitely be Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem. The rap community that is D12, Royce da 5'9", Danny Brown, Trick Trick, Big Sean, and many others, credit their success and entire lives to growing up in Detroit.
In the song "Detroit vs. Everybody," Eminem spits, "Cause so cold in the D, it is as days begin to tick away, but ain't this really what made me into the angry bitter blond, but ain't we sick of bein' underdogs," while later Trick Trick says, "You either ridin' with us or gettin' rolled on. That means Detroit vs. Everybody!" Detroit defines these rappers: who they are, what they had to do to achieve their success, and what they stand for. They have such a deep rooted allegiance to their city -- it's incredible to listen to them rap about it.
After bankruptcy hit Detroit, the city has had no where to go but up. It’s majorly on the come up and full of opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. From the great restaurants and cool activities to the eastern market, hidden coffee shops, the Detroit Auto Show, Greek town, and public and street art, Detroit is a melting pot of progressive, interesting people and hard-working Americans.
Though I am a California girl through and through, and my allegiance will always lie with LA, Detroit is a pretty dope city to call my second home and no matter how many times my friends shoot me down, I think I’m definitely on my way to becoming “pure Michigan.” Go Wings and Go Blue!
