Don't over simplify it's way more complex than that. How do I know? Because I was raised in Highland Park which is surrounded by Detroit. Many blocks in H.P. were like that when I lived there. In fact, her area looks like it was just north of 6 mile and west of I-75.
I can't tell you what the true start of it was, but The big push downward was the riots of 68. Right after that you had the great "White Plight" where everyone ran away from the influx of black people. (African Americans for the P.C.) During this time there was real tension and resentment on both sides. I call it the "Blow Back Effect". The people in Detroit and Highland Park would allow many crimes to happen without prosicution because of the imprisonment of black people for drinking out of the wrong fountain, trying to sit in the front of the bus, and other laws now deemed silly and stupid. Plus you have all the pent up anger from the marches, beatings, MLK and Malcom X assasinations being released in many ways. Including violent ways.
Now add to this the low education of the average person moving in to Detroit and Highland Park at the time. Figure the average age was 20-25. You had Brown vs. Board of education, but I would bet big money that the books and other resources were sub par. Along with some of their parents chastising their kids for going to school. "Why you goin? You know the white man ain't gonna hire you." (Unfortunately, There are still some people out there that do hire based on skin color. Luckily, they are much fewer now.) So with a lower education level, there was limited job choices. (Many did get jobs from the Big Three though. That was good.
The other part of poor education and anger comes the voting for crooked politicians. Lets use today as a base line. Most people today have a much higher education and awareness level than before. (Many just don't care though.) Now even with all the tool available to use infinding information about potential Mayoral candidates, City Councel members, county commishioners, and other local public positions, how many of us honestly devote the time to learn about each and every candidate in these local fields? I can honestly say I spent maybe an hour max to find out about the candidates in my area. Compared to the Presidential election, its a joke. How about you? Now imagine back in the early 70's in Detroit just after the riot and White Plight. You get a charismatic speaker who points at the people with money running away and feeding fuel to the anger of those in Detroit; Well, its an easy victory for that guy.
Which brings up the other point. Now that these corupt or incompeitent people are in office, they build their "machine" to get as much of the people's money as they can. Why not? They can use those people's anger and hatred to blind those very same people. All the politicans have to say is, "Those Poeple north of 8 mile don't want you to get a better education. They don't want you to get a job. They don't want you to keep your house up. Its their fault!" THey say this while skimming money from the police, fire department, school budjet, and anywhere else they can. And the angry people fall for it. Now don't forget the angry white people nortj of 8 mile that resent the influx of black people moving in. While small in numbers, they do their best to impeed as many Detroiters as much as possible.
Then you have the drug problem. Anger leads to depression, which leads to more drug use. Hash and pot give way to coke and crack. (Probably meth now.) Get knocked down enough without having friends smart or tough enough to help you through this time and many fall into the drugs. Look in any depressed area and you'll see this no matter what their skin color is.
About 8 to 10 years later. Some of the people get tired of the crime, drugs, and corruption. They do their best to get what they can out of the school system, work hard at their jobs, maybe join the military, and move out. Now there are many "first generation black Detroiters" who are living in the suburbs and those areas are as clean and safe as they were back when i was a kid.
Some stay in Detroit and try to make it better, but the corruption, missmanagement, and lack of interest by many of the people is a monumental obstical to overcome to say the least.
Here's a question for you. You're in Highschool and a grownup is giving a lecture and tells you point blank, "If you live here by the time you are 24 you will most likely be dead or in jail." And then they give their stats to prove it. How would you feel if you were sixteen and heard this? Add to this that most of the families around you have no father because they are divorced, dead, or in jail. What would you do with no family living north of 8 mile and stories and news clips of people seeming to fear or hate you? Moving around in an area where you are a stranger and out numbered is very scary.
The single mom with the kids (Nowdays starting at highschool freshmen age) have a hard time getting a job, so many end up on wellfare. I'll let you know a little Ghetto secret. Most people are embarrassed to be on food stamps! They would rather have a job and earn the money. The common complaint is that the moment you get a Mc.Job you loose all help. If there was a leveling off system, it would work much better. Wouldn't it be better to pay someone $200.00 a month well fare and they earn the rest at a job then them sitting at home and getting $500.00? I never understood the resistance to this.
Then the "outside world" would see the idiot on wellfare that is exploiting the sysytem and they thing that everyone is doing it! This causes more resentment and anger.
So what happens is that those that are lucky enough, or tough enough, or smart enough, move out of the condemmned area, while the corrupt drain what little lifeblood the city has. (Last year, Detroits annual money for the school system went "missing". I guarantee you that the average person in Detroit didn't get a single penny of it. The politicians asked for more money to replace it of course.) Then the "outside world" sees this and thinks that the average person has skimmed it off and not the politicains.
"Vote them out!" You say. OK and vote for who? The other guy who is as corrucpt as the first? His friend, brother, dad worked for the other guy and now wants more of the pie for himself. And don't dare point out the faults of that group either. You do that and the other side paints you as a "traitor" to your people.
I also forgot the crime factor! Lets say you do have a job and you are trying to earn a better living for you and yours, but you just started and its not enough to move out yet. You save, but you also spend a little to make you feel better and show that you are accomplishing things. You go to work and when you get back, you house has been emptied! Or maybe someone tries to stel you car at night. You have a gun and shoot at the theif,scaring him off. You go to work and find your house burned to the ground when you get back. (If you're lucky. Most of the time its a drive by for the next three days then the fire bombing.) Remeber. You just got the job and can't afford to move yet. You have no house and no homeowners insurace. (Check those rates!) Have fun trying to work your new job while trying to keep your family safe.
So you see what I mean? Its easy to balem a side or a program, but the real problem is much more complex than that. If anyone ever figures out how to fix it, please let me know. I'm sure many people in Highland Park and Detroit would love to hear it.
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