Hidden between the urban landscape of Detroit and its surrounding strip mall suburbia lies the tight-knit community of Grosse Pointe. Ever since the automobile industry boom of the 1950s, the tiny suburb has been renowned for its magnificent wealth and grandeur. But that wealth also brought with it a reputation for exclusivity. Considering this, the region appears to be an odd choice for media attention. However, over time, it has garnered a wide range of tropes in the realm of fiction.
Grosse Pointe has served as the backdrop for several TV programs and movies, including the cult classic Grosse Pointe Blank, the original National Lampoon’s story and the recent NBC murder mystery series Grosse Pointe Garden Society.
Having spent part of his childhood in the neighboring town of St. Clair Shores, social studies teacher Brent Maynard has witnessed firsthand the area’s ever-changing atmosphere. Upon observing Grosse Pointe’s depiction in the media, Maynard saw a juxtaposition in how it was and still is portrayed.
“There’s a vibe that goes on in terms of pop culture there,” Maynard said. “You’ll hear it often referred to as the ‘Grosse Pointe Bubble,’ that idea of a tight-knit community in which stuff like that could happen. The polar ends of what tends to be in the media, either highly speaking of the community of Grosse Pointe or focusing on the scandals that exist within.”
One of the scandals that formed the foundation for this bubble is the racial profiling once used for potential homebuyers. In 1945, the Grosse Pointe Brokers and Property Owners Association created a point system that rated possible homebuyers on a scale by a group of 3 realtors on their “sustainability” for their neighborhood. Inquiring about topics like their skin tone, accent or if their names were “American,” this system effectively excluded ethnic minorities from residing in Grosse Pointe until 1960. Past practices such as these, Maynard reflects, have the potential to reflect themselves in the future. However, he also noticed that the media’s attention was directed towards exploiting the past to work on the future.
“Whether it is how old discriminatory practices used to exist, that might influence continued patterns of settlement and interaction within the community,” Maynard said. “They’ve [news outlets] come to understand that and it’s shown in the media that Grosse Pointe more openly acknowledges its history and the nuanced realities within it.”
Another person who has noticed this “Grosse Pointe Bubble” from an outsider’s perspective is Jeffery Eugenides, author of The Virgin Suicides, an award-winning novel that was inspired by his experience growing up near the area in the 1970s. Throughout the novel, Eugenides delves into the historical context of the setting, including the “white flight” of Detroit. In 1967, the Detroit Police Department raided a homecoming party for two African American Vietnam veterans, sparking violent riots. In the end, 43 people were killed, approximately 1,400 buildings were burned and 7,000 National Guard and US Army troops were called into service. The aftermath caused almost 147,000 people to flee Detroit, relocating to nearby suburbs such as Grosse Pointe or elsewhere. Since the “white flight” and the abolishment of the Point System, Grosse Pointe has flourished in terms of social diversity. As the “Grosse Pointe Bubble” begins to deflate, many people, including freshman Gabrielle Moore, believe that the area’s media portrayal should shift.
“I would like it if more people are represented,” Moore said. “There’s many races and ethnicities here.”
Another advocate is librarian Amanda Pata, who wants the media to highlight Grosse Pointe’s positives. By distancing Grosse Pointe from its harmful stereotypes, Pata believes the area will get the attention it deserves.
“I pay attention to the media discussing what’s new and fun to check out around here,” Pata said. “I would also like it to focus on kids making a difference in their schools and their communities.”
Like those others, Pata believes that although it is important to remember Grosse Pointe’s history and never forget the controversial past, she also notes the importance of highlighting the city’s achievements. Similarly, Maynard also calls for a more diverse and practical take on Grosse Pointe in the media.
“Despite it being known as affluent and one of the upper crust suburbs, there is a wide array of socio-economic disparity within the district,” Maynard said. “There needs to be more realistic coverage of the realities that people face on a day-to-day basis.”
How would you like Grosse Pointe to be perceived in the media?
Laurel Laws, Freshman
“ I would like Grosse Pointe to be perceived as genuinely and wholeheartedly what it is, both its positives and negatives and everything.”
Emma Dombrowski, Sophomore
“I would like it to be perceived as a kind and welcoming place where everyone has opportunities.”
John Doyle, Junior
“As a very loving and accepting place.”
Cassidy Finley, Senior
“I want more of the school to be shown.”
Jennifer Spears, Staff
“I would like our communities to be perceived as welcoming communities that are home to all kinds of different people that we care about, our neighbors, that we support each other.”
