In the Shadow of Lincoln Yards
A $5 billion development threatens one of Chicago's most beloved venues—and much more.
Activism then and now: A talk by Randy Cunningham
By Randy Cunningham The following is an edited transcript of a talk given by Randy Cunningham, author of "Democratizing Cleveland: [...]
The Urban Rural
When I have written about Roseland it is usually about tragedy and trauma as the result of generations of neglect. When I tell white people where I live, their response always begins with a recollection
Our Bungalow on Braile
More than anything, my dad talks about the trees. How branches reached up and intertwined over the street to block out the sun. Turned the street into a tunnel. You couldn’t see the sky. Same thing on every block he and his four younger brothers would have walked. Trees taller than all the Warrendale bungalows.
Preorder Bonus for The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook
Preorder The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook from Belt today and you'll not only be the first on your block to get your copy, it will come with a sweet bonus: a hand-drawn map of Detroit by Alex B. Hill.
Living LGBT in the Midwest in the Time of Trump
I’ve tried over and over and over to try and push out some thoughts about gay life in the Midwest. What exactly is there to be said that would help outsiders understand what we’re like around these parts? I keep coming up short.
In Appalachia, Solidarity For the Rust Belt
In the pre-election media race to locate the “heart of Trump Country,” all finish lines pointed toward Appalachia and the Rust Belt. In declining cities across these sometimes overlapping regions, journalists drank from what appeared to be an infinite well of wrenching stories from economically precarious white voters.
In Southwest Michigan, many aren’t shrugging off the march
On Saturday, January 21, the New York Times deployed a dozen reporters far and wide to report on the women’s marches happening across the country.
The View from Cincinnati
Here's a report from Zan McQuade, editor of Belt’s Cincinnati Anthology, about the role the local and national media played in the election in Ohio.
The View from Chicago’s Favorite Suburb
When I moved to Phoenix three years ago I expected to feel disconnected from my Midwestern roots. But it turned out a lot of Chicago had made its way here.
Shop Small Business Saturday … And every day
Independent retailers nationwide are celebrating "Small Business Saturday" this weekend and direct sales to you, our readers, are the lifeblood of [...]
In Cleveland (2016)
Filmmaker Ian Mantgani traveled from London to Cleveland in July to join Belt for the Republican National Convention. Here, just in time for Thanksgiving weekend, is the stunning result. Trump, Tamir, hope, despair, casual racism and potent rage: it's all here. Enjoy.