Stand Up And Tell Them You're From Detroit:belonging, Attachment, And Regional Identity Among Suburban Detroiters

liberalism suggests that, for many suburbanites, acceptance of the Detroiter identity is itself a form of color-blind racism. Although the traditional loss-of-community thesis was not fully applicable, contemporary social forces may create a comparable effect. Future research might explore the relationship between place attachment and the role of personal mobility and connectivity. It is likely that personal mobility facilitates (perhaps encourages) residency for those with no intention or desire to establish territorial ties. Likewise, connectivity allows telecommuters to enjoy economic opportunities offered by a region such as Metropolitan Detroit, but without actually taking residence in the area. These phenomena may become a greater issue as access to enabling technologies grows. A study that measures the correlation between telecommuting and regional attachment would be compelling. Lastly, the diminished role of the American automotive industry may spawn some loss-ofcommunity effects. For many, the auto industry is a defining element of being a Detroiter. Another compelling study might be one that explores loss-of-community effects related to Detroit losing of credible claim to being the auto capital of the world.