I went on this fabulous tour of Detroit yesterday with my daughters Sunday School class. It was beautiful. The history, amazing. We learned about the Jewish presence in Detroit. How we’ve been here, in some way, for 300 years. I was impressed at our hand in the Underground Railroad. Some of our prominent Jewish Detroit families gave clothes and supplies to the slaves for their new start.
I wasn’t aware of the Jewish influence all over the city of Detroit. Some of our famous landmark buildings were designed by local Jewish architects. It was just a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning. With my daughter. On a historical tour of our city.
Here’s my whrrl story, in case you missed it on Twitter:
http://whrrl.com/experience/story/18606282?sharer=18089166
Another thing I found out. Holy crap. Villages really did step in and raise children. It’s not just a little saying coined by Hilary Clinton and repeated ad nauseum by me, here on my blog.
Back in “the day”. When people mostly lived in cities. There were REAL neighborhoods instead of these psuedo ones we live in called subdivisions. With these neighborhoods there came a true sense of fellowship. They were all in this together.
Unity. A community. People looking out for and truly caring for each other.
Times were so different. Kids could hop on their bikes and ride for miles, stopping at various homes to bed fed, use bathrooms, play. No one worried.
Violent and petty crimes weren’t as rampant. Stay at home Mommies were staring out their windows, watching with those hawk eyes. Checking to see that all bodies were present and accounted for. Making sure everyone was acting appropriately. Kids were forced to behave. And when they didn’t, the whole neighborhood found out.
Oy, the embarrassment.
There was always a group of kids to play with and the Mom’s didn’t have to schlep anyone anywhere. Not the way we do today.
Life was simpler. Quieter. More peaceful. Happier.
In Detroit, the riots of 1967 changed the entire city. On so many levels. There was a mass exodus into the suburbs. Those riots caused a downward spiral of, what was once, a wonderful place to raise a family. Change had started happening, as it always does, prior to the catastrophic event. But change doesn’t necessarily have to be negative.
In Detroit’s case. It was.
All the families left. The insecurity of the city became overbearing.
And with their flight, they unintentionally left behind an entire way of life.
They left behind that village. That true sense of community. The unity.
Life became a little more chaotic. Louder. Not as peaceful. Less care-free.
Suburbs replaced neighborhoods.
Families NEEDED to have two cars because destinations were further away than walking distance.
Scheduled play-dates replaced just showing up at a friends house for lunch.
Things changed. Lifestyle changed.
Moms and Dads both work.
Kids are being raised by Nannies.
Latchkey kids became common.
Divorce, more prevalent.
Crime rate grew.
Community looking out for community?
That became a thing of the past.
The good old days were really just that. The good old days.
Smiling memories lovingly shared with us by our parents.
Burnt out ghosts of beautiful buildings, shadows of their former glory. Yet, still able to give hints of what used to be. Begging us to not turn away at today’s ugliness but to look for yesterdays allure.
Echoes of children playing still linger, swirling through the treetops. Laughter lost behind the obscurity of boarded windows. Memories playing tag-you’re-it in alleyways.
It left me wanting, wishing…
for those good old days.
those were truly the golden years. we had problems then, also, of course. but not like today. family members lived within walking distance of one another. we took buses into detroit.(the city). road our bikes eveywhere. no drugs. just normal problems. we also walked everywhere. i am so glad i grew up in those days. they are trying to do it again. putting in sidewalks.
I often long for the ‘good old days’, too… and it is very true that it takes a village to raise a child, and as you mentioned, it very often was the case. Things were far more simple, in some ways, it seems, ‘back in the day’, you know? Sigh…
Great post…Detroit is full of old ghosts, isn’t it? I hope someday, someday soon, new life comes to that great city, life after the auto industry. Some friends just bought a house down there for $5k. That’s just sad…
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Seeing once proud cities die off saddens me. Where my wife is from in Springfield Oh, it’s this way now as well. Every time we visit it seems much worse off than it was. city blocks razed, houses burnt out or gone. No one wants to live in a ghost town.
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What a wonderful and rich history, and how great you could share that tour of history with your daughters. I loved the slideshow, the architecture was stunning.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..The Dream of Life =-.
I come originally from South Africa so a lot of what you describe has been my life in the good old days. What I experience here is my good ole days
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It’s a shame kids today can’t experience their neighborhoods the same way we did as kids. On that note, I can remember being forced to behave. And if I was visiting somebody and got out of line? Those parents had permission to discipline me.
Your historical tour sounds like a great way to spend the day, or weekend. There is always so much to learn!
Sad really that not too long ago we knew the name of our postal delivery man, the house was always unlocked, the key always under the mat, we came home after playing when the street lights came on. Sad we live in a society of everyman for himself. I know friend, I know how we so wish to have those days back. Maybe one day.
.-= Karie´s last blog ..I Love Casey Deuce =-.
What a beautiful post… thank you for sharing it…
I love it. I live in a neighborhood like that now, on the outskirts though. I want to live in the middle of it. I completely agree with EVERYTHING that you have said here. So true. Been looking for communities like that for YEARS.
Have you ever heard of new-urbanist communities? Their whole basis is that you live work and shop in the same neighborhood. They have front porches that people actually sit on and talk to people that walk on the SIDEWALK. They have open space where kids gather and PLAY rather than 8 ft fences off backyards. They have town centers. They have open theaters where people gather on Friday nights in the summer to watch movies on a big screen. They have coop grocery stores. I love the idea and wish there were many more around here.
.-= Corina´s last blog ..I feel like Jeffery’s Mother =-.
Oh, I long for that too. So very much.
I had those kinds of days as a kid – I feel bad that my kids don’t. The little girl across the street is NEVER allowed over or out to play with my daughters even though my daughters adore her. It saddens me to see their hearts broken because she’s not allowed to play with them.
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The older I get, the less I long for the “good old days.” All we have is now. We can learn from history, and we should – but I think those lessons should help build the future. Our children have opportunities today that we never had. We can either entertain kids with all that’s available to them, or we can teach them to use what they’ve been given – the way we were given love and security and trust and the benefit of a close-knit neighborhood – to build a better world.
Wow. I think I’m channeling my mother…