City of Dispossessions: Indigenous Peoples, African Americans, and the Creation of Modern Detroit

Detroit's bankruptcy in 2013 was due to decades of deindustrialization, white flight, and financial mismanagement. However, the city's history goes back much further, to the dispossession of Native Americans and African Americans. Kyle T. Mays' book "City of Dispossessions" explores how this dispossession has shaped Detroit's modern development, through memorialization, physical dispossession, and gentrification. It also highlights the ways in which Black and Indigenous Detroiters have contested dispossession through movements like the Red and Black Power movements and culturally relevant education.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 24 May 2022
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Detroit's bankruptcy in July 2013 marked a significant milestone in U.S. history, reflecting decades of deindustrialization, white flight, and financial mismanagement. However, the city's current state cannot be fully understood without considering the longer history of Native American and African American dispossession that has shaped its identity since its founding. In his book "City of Dispossessions," Kyle T. Mays delves into this complex history, exploring how dispossession has impacted the development of modern U.S. cities.

Mays argues that physical and symbolic forms of dispossession have played a central role in Detroit's modern development. The book begins with the first settlement by Cadillac in 1701 and traces how the logic of dispossession has persisted through various forms, including the memorialization of disappearing Indians, the physical dispossession of African Americans through urban renewal, and gentrification. Mays also documents the diverse ways in which Black and Indigenous Detroiters have resisted dispossession, such as through the Red and Black Power movements and culturally relevant education.

Through lively and accessible prose, Mays provides historical and contemporary examples to illustrate his arguments. He highlights the ways in which dispossession has created economic and social inequalities, perpetuated segregation, and marginalized communities. He also shows how these experiences have shaped the cultural and political landscape of Detroit, contributing to its unique identity and challenges.

"City of Dispossessions" is a valuable contribution to urban studies, Indigenous studies, and history more broadly. It sheds light on the ongoing struggles of marginalized communities and challenges readers to consider the legacies of dispossession in their own lives and communities. By examining the historical experiences of Native Americans and African Americans in an urban context, Mays offers a fresh perspective on histories of race, sovereignty, and colonialism.

In conclusion, "City of Dispossessions" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex history of Detroit and the broader implications of dispossession in American society. Mays' thoughtful and engaging writing style makes this book accessible to a wide audience, and his insights into the ongoing struggles of marginalized communities are essential for building a more just and equitable world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812253931