This course will take up the current tensions around gentrification and redevelopment in the city of Detroit. It will be divided into three sections. The first will take a deep dive into the history of the city and scholarship on race and racialization in the city. The second will be a review of contemporary scholarly and popular thinking about gentrification in the 21st century. The third section of the course will be focused on a couple of case studies in gentrification and redevelopment in the city now. This part of the course may include guest speakers. Students will be required to write a series of papers in response to each of the first two sections of the course and will be given the option to respond to the final section with either a paper or creative and/or publicly engaged project.

Intended Audience:

First- and second-year students in LSA Honors Program

Class Format:

This course will be entirely synchronous. Entirely online (although synchronous) participation is welcomed. There will be many optional in-person components, but no part of this course will require students to be on campus or present in-person. Course assessment will involve papers rather than exams. There may be virtual guest lectures but there will be no field trips.