Jalen Rose Says Detroit’s ‘Resurgence’ Narrative Is ‘Cap’ After Report Ranks Detroit & Flint Among America’s Poorest Cities

Jalen Rose

Jalen Rose Says Detroit’s ‘Resurgence’ Narrative Is ‘Cap’ After Report Ranks Detroit & Flint Among America’s Poorest Cities

Jalen Rose is pushing back against the narrative that Detroit has fully bounced back.

The former NBA star and Detroit native took to Threads after learning about a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data that ranked Flint and Detroit as the two U.S. cities with the lowest median household incomes among cities with populations of at least 65,000. The findings also show both cities continue to have some of the nation’s highest poverty rates.

“Sad to learn Detroit (and Flint) are the (2) POOREST cities in America. So any talk about resurgence is (hat emoji). I live here, politicians got work to do,” Rose wrote.

While Detroit has received national attention in recent years for new development, investment, and revitalization efforts, Rose suggested those improvements have yet to meaningfully benefit many residents.

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, Detroit’s median household income is just under $40,000, while Flint’s is roughly $36,000. Both cities also continue to report poverty rates well above the national average, underscoring the economic disparities that remain despite ongoing redevelopment efforts.