Detroit: An American Autopsy (23 page)

EVIDENCE DETROIT

DANNY WILCOX FRAZIER

LIFE AND DEATH AND LIMBO.

DANNY FRAZIER HAS SEALED THEM ALL

IN THE BELL JAR OF HIS SECRET LITTLE CAMERA.

THIS IS HIS PORTRAIT OF DETROIT IN ITS DECISIVE MOMENT:

SMOKE AND SOOT AND BLOOD.

DETROIT — AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE PLACE. AN AMERICAN

PLACE FROM WHICH AMERICANS CAST AWAY THEIR EYES.

BUT GIANTS THROW LONG SHADOWS AND

HAVING NOTICED IT OUT THERE IN THE CORN, FRAZIER

JUMPED IN HIS RATTLETRAP, TOOK A ROOM IN SOME

DUMP ON JEFFERSON AVE. AND

GOT DOWN TO THE WORK OF STARING CLEANLY INTO IT.

WHAT HE HAS CAPTURED HERE IS THE CITY’S MARROW

IN 6 X 6 CHEMICAL GRAIN.

THE OLD SOOTY SMOKESTACKS OF A FACTORY LONG GONE.

THE OLD FLINTY MAN NOT FAR BEHIND.

A SEXPOT DRAGGING HER HEELS THROUGH RUBBLE.

A RAKE IN SILK. DEATH IN SATIN AND MAHOGANY.

THE COLD STEEL OF

THE EXAMINER’S TABLE. A PEOPLE HOLDING TIGHT.

ALL RIGHT HERE ON FILM, DANNY BOY. ALL RIGHT HERE.

GOOD GOD AND WAR,

IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE.

CHARLIE LEDUFF

S
UMMER
N
IGHT,
B
ELLE
I
SLE

A
BANDONED
D
OLLHOUSE,
M
IDTOWN

F
UNERAL OF AN
I
NNOCENT
B
OY,
E
AST
S
IDE

G
OD +
W
AR,
E
AST
S
IDE

M
AN AND
C
HILD,
B
ELLE
I
SLE

P
ACKARD
P
LANT,
E
AST
S
IDE

B
ED AND
S
HOE,
W
EST
S
IDE

F
OUR
A
LARMS,
E
AST
S
IDE

U
NCLAIMED
D
EAD,
C
OUNTY
M
ORGUE,
M
IDTOWN

P
RAYING,
E
AST
S
IDE

C
HILD,
E
AST
S
IDE