In the United States, where there are more cars than people with driver’s licenses, the car has taken on mythical proportions. It symbolizes freedom, individualism, rebellion. Yet the car also reveals the less beautiful sides of ourselves.
Reporter Daan Ballegeer explores the impact of automobiles in the United States, highlighting their profound influence on contemporary life. The car, a symbol of technological advancement, has transformed from simple utility to a critical component of socio-economic and cultural dynamics. This innovation has enabled unprecedented mobility, altering spatial perceptions and encouraging suburban growth and urban reconfiguration. However, it is essential to acknowledge that not all Americans have experienced this mobility equally throughout history.
How has the car impacted our way of living? To investigate this, we made a road trip through the United States, the country where this means of transport was originally born.
2023
In the 20th century, the automobile symbolized American freedom, offering the thrill of spontaneous travel, as captured in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. But while white Americans could explore the open road freely, Black Americans faced danger and exclusion.
Guides like the Green Book and Travelguide helped them travel safely by listing businesses that served Black customers without discrimination. A sign warned Black people to leave town by sundown—or face death.
Corbin, Kentucky, was not one of those safe places. Known today for being the birthplace of KFC, Corbin was also the site of a 1919 racial purge led by a mob led by Steve "Pistol Pete" Rogers, who violently expelled over 200 Black residents.
Corbin became a “sundown town,” one of thousands across America where Black people were barred from living or even staying safely, as sociologist James Loewen later documented.
Lisa Garrison, involved with The Sunup Initiative, an organization that works for equity and diversity in Corbin.
“It’s a dark chapter in our history,” says Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus. From her City Hall office, where she watches coal trains from a fading industry and leads efforts to confront the town’s past.
It's a delicate balance, she notes—some residents think too much has been done, others not enough.
Corbin’s city council and police force remain entirely white, and only a handful of Black residents live among its 7,800 people.
Wayne Riley, 70, worked in Corbin and grew up in nearby London, where only about 3% of the population is African-American.
Two decades ago, he opened a museum in a former church in London, showcasing local Black history with portraits, books, and the uniform of the area's first Black police officer.
Ballegeer examined the racism in NASCAR, America's predominantly white sport. Originating in the 1940s in the segregated South, NASCAR initially attracted white fans and had limited opportunities for Black drivers. Wendell Scott, the first Black driver in NASCAR's top division, faced numerous challenges despite his success.
Recently, efforts to diversify included Michael Jordan partnering with Denny Hamlin to hire Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the top series. Wallace has advocated against racism in the sport and for banning the Confederate flag, which was prohibited in 2020. His stance, however, met with backlash from some fans, reflecting ongoing racial tensions. The article highlights that despite steps toward inclusivity, NASCAR's legacy of racism remains a significant issue, with ongoing symbols and incidents indicating that true diversity and equality are still in progress.
Cover story in V, culture section of de Volkskrant
The car is a human being, the French writer Jean-Francis Held once remarked. He envisioned a nuclear catastrophe that erased civilization, leaving future archaeologists to infer our identity from an underground garage filled with cars. What if a Hummer were among them? A paradox on wheels, designed for rugged terrain yet lavish inside, with TV screens and lipstick compartments. An energy guzzler in an era calling for efficiency. To understand such cars, one must consider the United States, the Motor Age's epicenter, which birthed the Hummer. In the Netherlands, large cars abound, but none rival the Hummer's boldness, epitomizing American excess and the idea that bigger is better, accompanied by rebellion.
Daan Ballegeer’s investigation into Highland Park, Michigan, once the birthplace of the automobile industry, shows how it went from prosperity to deep poverty. In the early 20th century, Henry Ford’s assembly line in Highland Park revolutionized car manufacturing, bringing wealth and a booming population. The city’s success was linked to Ford and later Chrysler, making it a hub of the American auto industry.
However, after Ford ceased production in 1974 and Chrysler moved its headquarters in the 1990s, the city’s decline began. Today, Highland Park has fewer than 9,000 residents, with over 40% living below the poverty line. The city can’t collect enough taxes to maintain basic services, facing a $24 million water debt. Despite these issues, Mayor Glenda McDonald remains hopeful, though many residents doubt any immediate recovery.
Once known as the "City of Trees," Highland Park’s decline mirrors the broader trend of deindustrialization, where the shift to suburban living and the loss of manufacturing jobs depleted urban centers. Experts see Highland Park as a “failed state,” with deteriorating infrastructure and a shrinking population.
