Detroit is a city that once helped shape the course of American industry. As the birthplace of the US auto industry, it not only gave rise to car manufacturing that transformed the way people travel, but also nurtured Motown, a musical movement that went on to influence popular music around the world. However, as the auto industry declined, factories closed and residents moved away, the once-thriving industrial city fell into economic hardship and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2013. Today, new investment and urban development are bringing renewed hope for Detroit's revival.

In this episode of Across America, CGTN stringer James Hawthorn hits the road in Detroit, meeting with local historians, former auto industry workers, Motown musicians and community residents. From the stories of auto workers and their families, to the evolution and legacy of Motown, and residents' efforts to transform vacant lots into community gardens, James explores Detroit's journey from industrial prosperity to decline and its gradual revival. He also discovers how ordinary people who have stayed in the city are preserving its cultural heritage, rebuilding their communities and working to ensure that a new wave of growth benefits more local residents.