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21 things only Detroiters understand

Someone wearing a winter coat, a black beanie and a backpack walks in an abandoned building.
[Image description: Someone wearing a winter coat, a black beanie and a backpack walks in an abandoned building.] Via Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

1. When people ask us where we’re from, we always say “Detroit,” even if we’re from a suburb an hour away.

A man wearing a backwards baseball cap and sunglasses on his forehead, dramatically says, "You're the definition of suburban."
[Image description: A man wearing a backward baseball cap and sunglasses on his forehead, dramatically says, “You’re the definition of suburban.”] Via Giphy

As long you live within a two-hour radius of Detroit, you get to proclaim that you are a Detroiter. Even Canadians living across the river love to claim they are from Detroit.

2. Telling people you’re from Detroit makes you feel badass, even though you’re from Birmingham.

A woman with blond hair put on her black aviators and walks away from a house the explodes behind her.
[Image description: A woman with blond hair put on her black aviators and walks away from a house the explodes behind her.] Via Giphy

Let’s face it: Detroit is a tough city. So telling anyone you’re from a dangerous place makes you feel just a little bit dangerous too. People won’t mess with you if you’re from Detroit. At least, that’s what we like to think.

3. We know Campus Martius is the Times Square of Detroit.

A woman stands on a pole which has a sign of Times Square Broadway and she wave to the people below who wave back.
[Image description: A woman stands on a pole which has a sign of Times Square Broadway and she wave to the people below who wave back.] Via Giphy

We know Detroit isn’t very big and downtown is really just a small area but one thing we are proud of is Campus Martius. It turns into an ice skating rink in the winter and a beach in the summer. It’s surrounded by tall buildings and places to eat and drink. Now if that’s not comparable to Times Square, I don’t know what is!

4. Eminem is our hero

Eminem, a white man wearing a grey hat, confidently says, "I'm pretty awesome."
[Image description: Eminem, a white man wearing a grey hat, confidently says, “I’m pretty awesome.”] Via Giphy

Eminem is a legend and he put Detroit on the map. Yes, his movie 8 Mile made it seem like the entire length of 8 Mile Rd. is a part of the ghettos, which it’s not, but we are proud to be from the same city as such an amazing artist.

5. Everybody owns a Detroit shirt or hoodie.

A black man wearing a grey Detroit hoodie has a big smile on his face and dances in a hallway.
[Image description: A black man wearing a grey Detroit hoodie has a big smile on his face and dances in a hallway.] Via Giphy

It’s like a right of passage to own ‘Detroit vs. Everybody’ or ‘Detroit Hustles Harder’ shirt or hoodie. When you’re from Detroit, you want everyone to know. I wear my “Detroit is My Home’ shirt every time I travel. Is my family sick of it? Yes! Will that stop me? Hell no!

6. We know Detroit isn’t as dangerous as people make it seem.

A female cartoon character with grey hair is sitting in the car with a male cartoon character and says "Oh, it's not so bad," while he seems uninterested.
[Image description: A female cartoon character with grey hair is sitting in the car with a male cartoon character and says “Oh, it’s not so bad,” while he seems uninterested.] Via Giphy

When people hear you’re from Detroit, they’re pretty shocked because they’ve only heard how dangerous it is, but we know it’s not that bad. No, I don’t have to carry a gun or mace. Yes, I’ve walked around downtown at night and lived to tell the tale.

7.  We know there is no hope of winning for the Detroit Lions or Pistons, but we root for them anyway.

The Detroit Lions mascot, a person wearing a lion costume with the Lion's jersey claps his hands and covers his eyes. The caption reads, "It's All Good!"
[Image description: The Detroit Lions mascot, a person wearing a lion costume with the Lion’s jersey claps his hands and covers his eyes. The caption reads, “It’s All Good!”] Via Giphy

Even though we know the Lions have never won the Superbowl and the Pistons haven’t won since 2004, we still root, root, root for the home team! It’s like when your kids sucks at something, but you still encourage them anyway because you love them unconditionally.

8. The Detroit Red Wings make up for our other teams.

Somebody wearing a Detroit Red Wings jersey hits their hand on their chest.
[Image description: Somebody wearing a Detroit Red Wings jersey hits their hand on their chest.] Via Giphy

Even though it’s been a few years since the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, they still give us hope of winning. The Red Wings are always fun to watch and make you feel proud that you’re from Detroit.

9. You look forward to the Auto Show every year.

A little boy drives a kid car with a little girl in the passenger seat. He does a wheelie, while the girls puts her arms in the air.
[Image description: A little boy drives a kid car with a little girl in the passenger seat. He does a wheelie, while the girls puts her arms in the air.] Via Giphy

Every year, we go back to the Detroit Auto Show and take pictures in the cool cars like we own them. Do we? Of course not. Will we ever? Probably not. Does that stop us from posting those pictures on our social media? Naa!

10. You never put away your Winter clothes because you have to be prepared to wear shorts one day and a parka the next.

A forest scene changes through all seasons, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, in super speed.
[Image description: A forest scene changes through all seasons, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, in super speed.] Via Giphy

Detroiters know we have to be prepared to sit all four seasons in the span of a week. -12 degrees on Monday? Pull out the parka. 50 degrees and raining on Wednesday, pull out the rain jacket.

11. You know schools never get canceled, but you secretly hope it will anyway.

A white man with dark hair and a thick mustache raises his hand to show thats his fingers are crossed, while he raises his eyebrows. The caption reads, "Fingers Crossed."
[Image description: A white man with dark hair and a thick mustache raises his hand to show thats his fingers are crossed, while he raises his eyebrows. The caption reads, “Fingers Crossed.”] Via Giphy

Michigan schools just don’t close. It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing, raining or fire is falling from the sky. But every Winter, kids secretly hope and pray school will be closed at least one day.

12. You will always see at least one person in shorts and a t-shirt when it hits 50 degrees.

A man wearing only shorts, a baseball cap and boots jumps into the snow and makes a snow angel.
[Image description: A man wearing only shorts, a baseball cap and boots jumps into the snow and makes a snow angel.] Via Giphy

The second Michigan weather is in the 50s, people get super excited and feel like it’s Spring. The shorts and t-shirts come out, but you’ll still find me in my Winter coat.

13. You can’t wait to turn 19 so you can legally go drink across the border.

Three older grey-haired women are dancing and celebrating in a kitchen.
[Image description: Three older grey-haired women are dancing and celebrating in a kitchen.] Via Giphy

That’s right! The legal drinking age in Canada is 19 and all Detroiters know it. Most teenagers are already planning their 19th birthday party in another country.

14. Going to another country is no big deal.

A black and white dog climbs into a blue suitcase and it closes on him with just his head sticking out.
[Image description: A black and white dog climbs into a blue suitcase and it closes on him with just his head sticking out.] Via Giphy

When people travel to another country, they need suitcases, weeks of planning and tickets. But not us Detroiters! We can go to Canada for lunch and be back in time to pick up our kids from school. I know because I’ve done it plenty of times.

15. Autumn is our favorite season.

A young woman with blond hair and a fur jacket seriously says, "I like my pumpkin spice lattes extra hot!"
[Image description: A young woman with blond hair and a fur jacket seriously says, “I like my pumpkin spice lattes extra hot!”] Via Giphy

Cider mills, and Uggs, and pumpkin spice lattes, oh my! If there’s one season that Detroiters love, it’s Autumn. You’ll catch us in hues of orange and brown soaking in all the amazing changing colors of the leaves.

16. You don’t have to go far to get the best Arabic food in the country.

A woman with bond hair and lots of makeup enthusiastically shimmies, while chewing on food.
[Image description: A woman with bond hair and lots of makeup enthusiastically shimmies, while chewing on food.] Via Giphy

Dearborn: home to many Arabs and their delicious Arabic cuisine. You don’t have to travel far for a mouth-watering shawarma when you live in Detroit!

17. 8 Mile Rd. is not the border of good and evil.

Eminem, a white rapper wearing a black hat is confronted by seven men who look like they want to fight him.
[Image description: Eminem, a white rapper wearing a black hat is confronted by seven men who look like they want to fight him.] Via Giphy

Contrary to popular belief, 8 Mile is just another road. Nothing special really happens here though, it would be fun to see rap battles every night. Still, I do love telling people to take the 8 Mile Rd exit when they’re coming over.

18. The city is always under construction.

A construction worker sits on a bucket and drums on four buckets with sticks.
[Image description: A construction worker sits on a bucket and drums on four buckets with sticks.] Via Giphy

You can go anywhere around the Detroit area and you will be rerouted because of construction. It doesn’t matter if its day or night, Summer or Winter, Detroit is constantly being changed. Makes me wonder if they’re working hard or hardly working.

19. Abandoned buildings are plentiful and great for photoshoots and movie sets.

A white man wearing white boxers and glasses provocatively leans back on a red cushion for a photoshoot.
[Image description: A white man wearing white boxers and glasses provocatively leans back on a red cushion for a photoshoot.] Via Giphy

Detroit has a bad name for being run down, but people love to use the city and its abandoned building as the backdrop to their engagement photoshoots or just for a quick Instagram photo.

20. Our public transportation system…wait, what public transportation system?

One bus zooms by many cars, while driving on the opposite side of the road.
[Image description: One bus zooms by many cars, while driving on the opposite side of the road.] Via Giphy

You’d think for being a major city in the United States, Detroit would have some sort of public transportation system, but sadly we do not. If you want to get around, you’d better get a car! Otherwise, you won’t get very far.

21. In Detroit, we drink pop.

A man with a gray bear and a gray t-shirt clinks his glass with someone else. The caption reads, "Cheers!"
[Image description: A man with a gray bear and a gray t-shirt clinks his glass with someone else. The caption reads, “Cheers!” ] Via Giphy

No one, and I mean no one, says “soda.” Here, we drink pop. So either you get on board or go back to…wait, where do people call it “soda” again?

By Bisma Parvez

Bisma Parvez graduated from Wayne State University with a BA in English and a BSc in Radiation Therapy. She is a Breaking/Trending News Reporter at the Detroit Free Press and a board member for KBK Relief Foundation. Bisma has bylines in HuffPost and Muslim Girl and she wants to use her writing to change how people perceive Muslim women. She is a spoken word artist and has performed her poems at events around the Detroit area. She is a proud American and Canadian Muslim, a Detroiter, a mother of two beautiful children and speaker of truth.