I think most Blacks at that time were struck by a dissonance. On one hand they were finding tremendous opportunity for economic gain, but in the other they were still running into racial oppression. The realtor that "helped" the family find a home was no different than this White gentlemen in the South offering to help the family with the estate.
The story on how "Pops" got swindled reminded me why you should never make these decisions in haste or alone. Anytime someone tells you that "I don't know how long it will stay available," they are usually trying to get you to pay more for something than it is worth.
For example, recently my daughter has become obsessed with those awful Ray Harryhausen "Sinbad" films with the claymation monsters. She asked for one of the blu ray versions of the film for Christmas, but the lowest price I could find was $139.99!!!! I told my daughter we should wait until her birthday and see if the price would go down after the holidays. Sure enough - two weeks ago, I checked the price and saw it had gone down to $24.95.
I agree to the same ideals about making decisions alone, but sometimes it is needed because one opinion is better than 3 differing ones. An example of this is when a bunch of my friends decided they wanted to go pick up a PS4 on its release day, and I said no. Sure it would have been nice to spend the $400 I saved and bought one on its release day, but I felt better getting a refurbished one for 325 and using the rest of the money on something else.
I agree that racial discrimination hampered the family’s reach for social and economic opportunities. However, there were several significant differences between the Gordy’s lives in the North and South. In Detroit, African Americans had the opportunity to attend high schools that were second to none in Michigan. Gordy’s own mother was able to acquire more education, start an insurance business and become conversant with well-known political figures. Also, unlike in the South, the Gordy’s had models of Detroit African American professionals and businesspersons.
I find it interesting that there was no mention of how Pops was able to successfully open and run a grocery store, plastering and carpentry operation and print shop. The documented history of buying and selling of properties, residential (racially challenging) and commerical (pretty much unheard of at that time), to people of color was unfair treatment at its highest.
I think they realized that unlike the South, Detroit at first seemed like a place where an entrepreneur had the ability to make a living here without working in the plant. But after being swindled by via the house, he realized that he had to use his restless energy and ambition to make something of himself and for his family.
I think many times when people go to live in a new area, they have certain expectation of opportunity. Once they arrive and get a feel for the people, places, etc. they realize which opportunities they may have preconceived aren't in the cards for them, however, find out about other opportunities that they never knew about.
I would agree with the sentiment that most of you had. Initially, there was the excitement of new opportunities, but there was also the struggle of racial inequality. However, like Dr. Anderson stated, there were better opportunities, especially with education, in Detroit than in the south.
Things remained the same for the Gordys in the fact that, opportunities (quality housing and jobs) that should have been afforded to them were not because of their skin color. Even with Detroit offering better schooling, they were still overlooked for positions in which they were qualified.
I think most Blacks at that time were struck by a dissonance. On one hand they were finding tremendous opportunity for economic gain, but in the other they were still running into racial oppression. The realtor that "helped" the family find a home was no different than this White gentlemen in the South offering to help the family with the estate.
ReplyDeleteThe story on how "Pops" got swindled reminded me why you should never make these decisions in haste or alone. Anytime someone tells you that "I don't know how long it will stay available," they are usually trying to get you to pay more for something than it is worth.
DeleteFor example, recently my daughter has become obsessed with those awful Ray Harryhausen "Sinbad" films with the claymation monsters. She asked for one of the blu ray versions of the film for Christmas, but the lowest price I could find was $139.99!!!! I told my daughter we should wait until her birthday and see if the price would go down after the holidays. Sure enough - two weeks ago, I checked the price and saw it had gone down to $24.95.
I agree to the same ideals about making decisions alone, but sometimes it is needed because one opinion is better than 3 differing ones. An example of this is when a bunch of my friends decided they wanted to go pick up a PS4 on its release day, and I said no. Sure it would have been nice to spend the $400 I saved and bought one on its release day, but I felt better getting a refurbished one for 325 and using the rest of the money on something else.
DeleteI agree that racial discrimination hampered the family’s reach for social and economic opportunities. However, there were several significant differences between the Gordy’s lives in the North and South. In Detroit, African Americans had the opportunity to attend high schools that were second to none in Michigan. Gordy’s own mother was able to acquire more education, start an insurance business and become conversant with well-known political figures. Also, unlike in the South, the Gordy’s had models of Detroit African American professionals and businesspersons.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that there was no mention of how Pops was able to successfully open and run a grocery store, plastering and carpentry operation and print shop. The documented history of buying and selling of properties, residential (racially challenging) and commerical (pretty much unheard of at that time), to people of color was unfair treatment at its highest.
DeleteI think they realized that unlike the South, Detroit at first seemed like a place where an entrepreneur had the ability to make a living here without working in the plant. But after being swindled by via the house, he realized that he had to use his restless energy and ambition to make something of himself and for his family.
ReplyDeleteI think many times when people go to live in a new area, they have certain expectation of opportunity. Once they arrive and get a feel for the people, places, etc. they realize which opportunities they may have preconceived aren't in the cards for them, however, find out about other opportunities that they never knew about.
DeleteI would agree with the sentiment that most of you had. Initially, there was the excitement of new opportunities, but there was also the struggle of racial inequality. However, like Dr. Anderson stated, there were better opportunities, especially with education, in Detroit than in the south.
ReplyDeleteThings remained the same for the Gordys in the fact that, opportunities (quality housing and jobs) that should have been afforded to them were not because of their skin color. Even with Detroit offering better schooling, they were still overlooked for positions in which they were qualified.
ReplyDelete