America's Collapse: The Slums Of Michigan

I don't think I've ever been as scared as I was that day in Benton Harbor.
You might think Detroit is the worst place to live in Michigan. But it's little Benton Harbor. In this video, I explored another rust belt tragedy.
#michigan
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[@NickJohnson]

Here's my entire Great Lakes Road Trip playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6ypYq3snF04oSnlx1Nz_paCO&si=qFOJWC5lwy95Pu7b

[@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477]

Why do you ignore segregation?

[@CBPunisher1900]

@@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477 cuz it was 75 years ago lol

[@Fatdog-Dakind]

Check any MAGA-NUT, gang member, policeman, prison guard in any city and you will find 30 to 200 weapons of various types with thousands of rounds of ammo waiting for the moment to go crazy! Our USA has been lost to these gun-nuts and will never be the same again. OMG! Military weapons in a city is not fair to the unarmed everyday citizen going to work or school. England, Australia, Japan and Canada made them illegal. You can still have a real hunting rifle and or shotgun in these countries but no high capacity rapid firing military weapons! Common Sense!

[@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477]

@@CBPunisher1900 yet it’s still America’s most segregated city next to Detroit. 60 years, not 75. I have plenty of neighbors who remember segregation. You don’t, in your trailer park

[@homertalk]

Great series Nick, I hope you make it to the southwest deserts soon.

[@Lilcurious1]

Oh and by the way, they weren't up early my friend... they just hadn't gone to bed yet.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yeh😅😅

[@pauloconnor2980]

Most of 'em had nowhere to go!!!!!

[@Lilcurious1]

@@pauloconnor2980 Unfortunately, they're just comfortable remaining in their situation, whereby they resist any change and will threaten anyone who comes in from outside as well. Therefore, the ignorance that persist in that community recycles over and over each year/decade with no hope for a brighter future. In short, they're waiting for someone to do something for them, because they lack the initiative on any level to do that for themselves... and that is a total shame. At some point, human beings have to take accountability for their own actions if they want things to get better.

[@brynnmorriganpollard8757]

And in the case of The Speed-Freaks, both states are true...

[@geod3589]

I was literally going to make the exact same post. They've been up all night, jacked up on drugs, hanging out. No need to go to bed, they don't need to get up to go to work.

[@ver2cal2010]

You never come to a complete stop in a hood like that and certainly never ever get out the car. Holy hell man be safer.

[@edlee2336]

Right. Like it’s an abandoned house we’ve seen them before keep going 😂

[@ishastrega6851]

Windows up. Doors locked. Certain neighborhoods never even enter.

[@metalmike570]

Meth fire houses! Yeah stay in the vehicle minimum.

[@suckitgoogle7756]

He should stop and ask for directions to Popeye's Chicken

[@davidjanson7982]

@@metalmike570 LoL

[@jakerirenef7034]

I live in MI. I know Benton Harbor. Ranks up there with Detroit and Flint.

[@BastardX13]

Benton Harbor is as dangerous as anywhere here in Michigan.

[@tedkiser6860]

And muskegon heights

[@DavidSaltsman-qs2pe]

Pontiac and Flint feels more accurate - Detroit has a lot of nice pockets now a days. I personally see a ton of economy in the tri county area, been a Michigander my whole life, wouldn’t trade it for the world. If we can play a game of politics that actually makes sense and inspire people to be better and honest and have morals, thats really the only hope I see. Too much evil going round

[@jakerirenef7034]

@@DavidSaltsman-qs2pe I agree. I love MI. Beautiful Great Lakes, 4 seasons, we have a nice state.

[@lindatonkin3802]

I live about 20 miles from Benton harbor and all that you said is very true. About 50 years ago it wasn't to bad but I never go over there. St. Joe is a really nice place to go. The Mall was really nice and we used to shopping there. Yes Benton harbor they call little Detroit. You're lucky you made it out alive.

[@NickJohnson]

Not lucky it's skill

[@googleuser868]

All this upbeat news is making me think even St Joseph might not be our usual sunset stop on the return trip to Indiana after Lake Michigan beach hoping.

[@burtvincent1278]

Go a little north to South Haven to get your eyes accustomed to beauty again.

[@TriggerTravels]

No work boots were harmed during the making of this video

[@ricksmith4736]

And no Job Applications were filled out..

[@TriggerTravels]

@@ricksmith4736 that too

[@blacksilverchair3315]

But a lot of Jordans were harmed though 😂😂😂

[@alexg9727]

@@ricksmith4736 there are no jobs now

[@blacksilverchair3315]

​@@alexg9727there were jobs. Nick showed us a plant that was in that town. They don't want to work. We need more Venezuelans in this country to work. Americans have become lazy and decadent.

[@TheDann65]

I grew up in The Harbor!, Graduated HS went to the Army and never went back! Horrible place to live and grow up in!

[@uk-martin4905]

Glad to hear you've done well for yourself.For whatever reason, some of the people here lack that kind of determination. It must be difficult to feel incentivised in a community like that; it would probably be frowned upon by others anyway.

[@jamesbarrick3403]

I grew up in St Joe. I left Michigan in 1990 and have only returned for a couple HS reunions. BH was a dump, and I see things have not changed.

[@TravelatorH8r]

What year was it when you went to the Army? Just curious how long this town has been like this. Thank you for your service

[@ES-mc3cc]

Benton Harbor has been a mess for decades. I lived in St. Joseph (across the bridge) for about four years. St. Joe is beautiful. Then you cross the bridge.

[@chucknv5482]

Something I have noticed over my years is that there are two areas where people are outside: the projects/ghettos/poor areas and then strangely enough, the wealthy high end neighborhoods. The wealthy run in sports bras, walk their boujee dogs on super nice walking paths, and lots of people outside. Then in poor areas (personal experience lol)it’s mostly people hustling, getting into something, and just waiting for something to happen. There’s a huge in between those where people aren’t outside as much.

[@jeremyhodges7956]

The rest of use are at work😂

[@miguelrosario7302]

I think your observation is spot-on (people out and about). “Boujee” isn’t a word. Try “bourgeois” on for size. It’s the right sentiment, just a ghetto version of the word.

[@kevinfinnegan310]

Try to experience some nature if you're not outside that much

[@cupsoflove1245]

All wage slaves get to do is work ..I mean we wish we could enjoy being outside having free time .

[@davidboaz5600]

Nothing is built, nothing is back, nothing is better.

[@user-wy1dl2me2p]

Or hope and change

[@reubenj.cogburn8546]

1,000 points of light?

[@TheyMostlyComeAtNight]

Or Morning in America

[@hoppes9658]

Meanwhile 4 hours north you can’t buy Jack unless it’s 10,000 an acre.

[@jonathanandrew2909]

@@user-wy1dl2me2pyes, we can?

[@thebigguy5590]

A while back, my wife and I went to a wedding in St. Joes and decided to stay in Benton Harbor to save money. We thought: how bad can it be? Well, a lot worse than we thought. We were supposed to stick around and do things the next day, but we left at 4am and got as far away as possible.

[@johnokumu9069]

🤣🤣day made imagining you convincing your wife people like to exagerrate🤣🤣 What exactly happened and how much more expensive was the next place you stayed at? sounds like you were waiting for 4am than waking up at that time.

[@thebigguy5590]

@@johnokumu9069 we skipped the events next day and just went home. We were both up at 4am because we didn’t sleep very good and said: “you want to get outta here?” We left because we heard non stop police sirens, people were just hanging around the hotel and parking lot, the elevator smelled like urine, and we didn’t feel safe.

[@quincyrawls2841]

Wasn't nothing going to happen to u trust me we only harm our own here blk on blk crime that's the way it is and always have been sad to say 😢

[@samndisya1922]

​@@thebigguy5590Which hotel, I'm curious?

[@dirkcook1912]

Bro it ain’t that bad. I’ve lived in BH/StJoe my whole life other than the 15 years I was active duty. It’s not as bad as you are making it. Especially all the hotels in BH. They are all brand new over by the theater.

[@OkPp-fh2lk]

Rest In Peace America ! Rest in Peace Western Civilization ! 🥲🥲🥲

[@knightclassic1]

I'm a Rideshare Driver from Chicago and occasionally around Midwest. And been driving around Chicago for last 6 years, never gotten physical assaulted from riders until I got one incident at Benton Harbor at 2021 where I got followed and threatened, feared for my life that I had to get Berrien County Sheriff involved and filed police report, DO NOT Drive Rideshare or do deliveries at Benton Harbor.

[@uuuultra]

needed to see this comment

[@jjackson4754]

I just sent this video to Benton Harbor city council.

[@damonmelendez856]

Lmao hope they read the comments

[@facediaper09]

They can't read😂​@@damonmelendez856

[@reubenj.cogburn8546]

I am all but certain a place like this has nothing but top-notch administrators and several plausible plans of action. I am just a sure that your actions were not only warranted but will certainly have a measurable positive effect... Oh wait, never mind.

[@damonmelendez856]

@@reubenj.cogburn8546 lmao

[@WildManActual]

@@reubenj.cogburn8546 Top notch *democrat administrators

[@vernonrtodd1322]

It’s a Shame to say but this is the future of America…

[@damonmelendez856]

A dark future indeed

[@michaelbrinks8089]

More & more of USA will look like this. Especially if Biden gets his way. Who literally said on video that he wants an unrelenting stream of mass migration.

[@user-ie1tz5rm8x]

This is late to flourish , heavy industry's..fancy stuff , flexible fabricating , now rust belt , many areas are fine , lean ...some are too remote and often too specialized , ..nothings replaced manufacturing , ...jobs , housing foodstamps ,beer stamps , medical....it's ripe for socialism ..like Sweden perhaps...you found a .. pirate s camp ..lawless ...hopeless ...ready for risk. Double or nuttin

[@HenrikFredriksson-oi4lz]

I'm very sad to say yes, but it all depends on Wwho you wote for. Stay Strong - Hello from Sweden👍

[@postintheocean]

The future ?? More like reality, the now ! The future is gunna be a whole lot worse . These towns are gunna be bypassed eventually... well imho

[@ilirlluka6789]

Even the trees are in full depression mode.

[@planojag595]

Glad you made it out unscathed Nick. Keep yourself safe Bro!

[@kristinasativa]

Even the trees are depressed...

[@readtherealanthonyfaucibyr6444]

It's March, nothing is green yet

[@genericascanbe3728]

Thats normal in Michigan Sourve: live in MetroDetroit area

[@aBasicBro]

Thank you for being our disaster tour guide, Nick

[@tomquinn607]

Not a disaster tour guide. You don't understand America.

[@metalmike570]

He should have said, look here, this is a meth fire house.

[@richardsanjose3692]

When I was a kid, your trash was picked up as part of your taxes. You didn't get stuck with a bill here in Sacramento. I have to pay $100 every other month for them to pick up one bag of trash out front every week. It's just another bill that's been shifted on to the poor and addition to their taxes and I pay $4,000 a year in property tax for a tiny little house

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

Awesome job!!! Be safe!!

[@georgemallory797]

This city's been crap for decades. 40 years ago, when I was a teen, my dad and uncles called it "Benton Harlem."

[@danielowen5889]

Yes I remember it being called that as well.. must be a great source of pride for them..

[@NegativeYoutube]

Benton Harbor has been given multi-millions in support to grow and succeed over the years. I'm not allowed to tell you why nothing has changed on youtube, but you can figure it out.

[@brianv1981]

@@NegativeKZbin Pre-welfare, black families were intact, and black communities, as opposed to ghettos, were a thing...

[@9chilidog]

@@NegativeKZbinsame reason they dump billions over the years into Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee...

[@SBCBears]

Yup. Sixty years ago, when I was a teen, it was common knowledge that Benton Harbor was demographically-challenged.

[@williambush7971]

I'm getting old but I remember when the black side of town had families with a mom and dad and kids. They always went to church on Sunday and looked after themselves and their neighborhood. Dad worked and mom took care of the kids. Look at what we have today.

[@paul06660]

In the 80s Reagan got most those black parents addicted to crack and sent away to prisons. The CIA contra affair along with the proliferation of private prisons and penal harm ideology was similar in nature to the Holocaust. But without the gas chamber of course. They just let men murder each other in overcrowded prisons instead.

[@mcmanwich]

Seems like all these towns have the same story. Some company becomes the city's dominant employer, then eventually decides to move out in search of cheaper labor or bigger tax breaks. Jobs disappear, tax base dwindles, services diminish and it's tough to stop the rot. Long ago, this country decided corporations should be allowed to chase profits with no consideration given to community or societal well-being.

[@AlvinBoreo]

Not anymore they are spreading like crazy they are all ghetto with no respect

[@olafharoldsonnii4713]

@@mcmanwichLBJ WELFARE

[@9852323]

Black neighborhoods are dangerous now.

[@RichardAddison]

Thank you, Nick. Well done.

[@annavoss2919]

I used to live in Benton Harbor and it was a thriving place to live. We had some big corporations and one of the most beautiful and thriving city and then, Martin Luther King was as sainted and the black people went berserk and started the riots and you were unsafe to be white and they took over the city and began to destroy everything and then the white flight and the businesses would not stay and began to move out. Many beautiful homes were abandoned, businesses destroyed and if you were white, you could not be out. Hate killed Bend on Harbor, and now we see what happens when people give in to hate.

[@NatureScapesStudio]

Agree.

[@robinmiller7958]

Man you are crazy driving around solo without a police escort. Even more hilarious commentary than usual. I was very depressed after seeing how destroyed my former hometowns in Illinois and Pennsylvania had become and that was ten years ago. Your videos make it clear that much of America is in a death spiral.

[@Official_Baba_yaga]

Cops just don't give escorts to every random joe , who do you think you are ?

[@crazychase98]

All of america is

[@USA-CANADA1480]

lol. Police escort? Funded by who???

[@foodforthots29]

I always think the same thing when I see these. Blows my mind to creep so slow like that. I thought it was universally known you don't do that. It's asking for it.

[@Macattack11639]

⁠@@foodforthots29exactly. You dont do that. It it was a crowded street on the West side of Detroit hed be carjacked in 30 seconds

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

You can tell that this town was a nice place to live once upon a time

[@ES-mc3cc]

The shopping mall (Orchards Mall) opened in 1979, the first year I lived in St. Joe. It was a nice mall and provided decent shopping for the area. It's been closed for a few years now.

[@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287]

@@ES-mc3cc So sad...makes my heart break...but St. Joe is beautiful

[@malwads1836]

A lot of places in 🇺🇸 are like that now😮‍💨.

[@StephenMartinez-ve1ey]

Like Detroit Michigan to East side where I was born and raised. It was beautiful an epic. Beautiful libraries beautiful businesses and buildings architect. A lot of great things in Detroit in the 60s that no longer stands. I had two huge families that grew up with me over on the east side of Detroit Michigan most of our houses are gone it's back to farmland. I live in a 1950 house in the suburbs very safe middle-class neighborhood beautiful homes beautiful landscaping with a lot of curb appeal. The house I grew up in in Detroit was built in the 50s but after we left crack came to town. Our house down there was built in 1942 it was completely destroyed and demolished in 1971 and when we left it it was still a nice house intact. Street I grew up on East lawn Street Jay geils made their first record beautiful movie theater the next block over the Cinderella ballroom. 2600 seats. With balconies. Jay geils first record full House. The movie theater the Cinderella ballroom that I attended when I was a small kid 50 cent Saturday matinees. Is long gone. It was at coplin and Jefferson Eastside Detroit. That movie theater was beautiful. Like the Fox theater in downtown Detroit. As well as my elementary school what's humongous two city blocks big. 2800 kids attended at school which is long gone now. I'm a licensed gun carrier. And when I travel to Detroit now I carry two guns for my own protection.

[@StephenMartinez-ve1ey]

​@@kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287this is what happens are you allow crooked Democrat politicians to take over such a great city as Detroit Michigan corruption from the top all the way down. They were even stealing the kids schools supplies to maintain Detroit schools from the warehouse. They built two prisons in Detroit behind one of the prisons was a crack house selling crack 24/7 any other one had a drive-thru service. You would think the prison was in front of it this could never happen but it did. In the Michigan department of corrections prison bureau didn't help closing that crack house down being so close to the prison you could throw a tennis ball over the fence full of drugs as well as cell phones

[@user-yh1ft9gi2g]

Nick, I love your videos. Every night I fall asleep to one as they bring me great calm and take me away from this chaotic, violent world. I used to listen to Christian music and meditation videos, but they never calmed me like yours do. Keep up the good work!!

[@atcdiddly]

The legacy of Lyndon Johnson.

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

Good take.

[@guygravino9879]

Didn't know he was in the auto business

[@CyberspacedLoner]

no this has been a bipartisan project on the federal level

[@Elska2]

Driving a fancy White Jeep Grand Wagoneer through a place where people make 10k a year and prone to violence is a great way to get attention! 😂

[@bdleo300]

Perfect setting for a horror movie

[@stlawstlaw7585]

Post-apocalyptic zombie movie...

[@bdleo300]

@@stlawstlaw7585 Fallout 5: Michigan

[@user-hn4iw5pf5r]

it already is one, if you have to spend your life watching it.

[@alexdavidson7785]

Called AFRICA

[@StephenMartinez-ve1ey]

That's an excellent idea which they do here in Detroit Michigan especially on the east side it looks like something out of a mad Max movie. You should see some of these houses that people live in no running water electricity being stolen with the jumper cables using jumper cables as the wiring bypassing the electric meter. Detroit water authority shuts off the water going to the residence but these guys you would think straight out of a MacGyver weekly program. They have water keys to turn the water back on and they charge you. That's why Detroit water authority in the governor here wants everybody in the surrounding communities to be hooked up do the Detroit water authority and everybody they're asking to pay $2 more on their water bills so detroiters that say they can't pay their water bills we are forced to pay them for them. Being born and raised in Detroit Michigan I still say FH*K DETROIT. EVERYTHING IS DISPOSABLE DOWN THERE. A man can they tear up a house in a matter of a few weeks. As well as they'll just moved themselves right in and take over a rental house like it's theirs.that's why the Detroit Land Bank sells houses in Detroit and property on the internet and most of the property owners don't even live in this country. They send property Management companies come in and higher outside independent contractors to do them houses but as fast as you're redoing the house you leave for the night the next day they done stole the hot water tank the furnace the toilet even the kitchen sink. I've seen people Park their cars in front of their houses in Detroit with a big tree in front by the porch and they actually chain their vehicles to the tree in front of their homes 2 ft from the porch. And these guys that are professional car thieves they can use a laptop and reprogram a key in a matter of minutes and steal your brand new car or truck. Downtown Detroit area is beautiful in certain neighborhoods in Detroit are nice they have private security. 24/7 but mostly through the night. As well as you have gated condos security guards at the gate. The majority of Detroit is still highly dangerous. I guess it's true when the black old wise man told me not long ago killing is their business business is good. So many unclaimed bodies in the Detroit morgue they have now three huge semi-trailer refrigerator trucks to store the overflow of dead bodies.

[@patriciatimmons2736]

I enjoyed watching your segment on Benton Harbor MI. I live in Michigan but not anywhere near this town and was shocked at how bad it is. You're a good narrator and made it much more interesting. It really made me sad that there's towns like that not far away from where I live. Thanks again

[@squarewheel142]

I was an (office bound) auto extended warranty contract adjuster from 1991 to around 2019 and we had a lot of customers in Michigan with our warranties on their cars. We often had to send field adjusters out to inspect our covered vehicles and heard all kinds of stories from the inspectors, there were even situations where angry stray dog's sometimes attacked inspectors cars when they were out in the field around the "great recession" years. Never a dull moment. There may have a lot of folks out because it was only 70 Deg. outside in March.

[@goodson77784]

If there's time to lean there's time to clean.

[@soarornor]

That should be a rally cry.

[@vadermasktruth]

I learned this when I was 13 year old working in my first restaurant at $3.35 an hour. I'm almost 53 now and it was a small, but important lesson I learned early on.

[@facediaper09]

Phoenix avatar ❤

[@CyberAndy_]

@@vadermasktruth in 1983 $3.35 had the purchasing power of $10.51 in 2024.

[@loboblue5441]

You are, or were once, a waitress. I was too

[@gregryder9605]

We used to travel there to play football when I was in high school. Their fans vandalized our bus, threw rocks at our cheerleaders, and started a fire in the stands.

[@damonmelendez856]

Lmao good grief. At least you learned a lesson early in life.

[@Truth_Spoken]

We had the same thing happen when we played in Beecher, which is just outside of Flint.

[@gregryder9605]

@@Truth_Spoken yeah Flint ugh. I live near Muskegon Heights now. Another dumpster fire.

[@sirgalahad3574]

I used to commute and work at the Whirlpool headquarters. The St. Joseph river between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph may as well be a portal between 2 worlds. Very similar to 8 Mile Rd. in Detroit.

[@Stacie45]

I think I watch these because it reminds me that I really have it pretty good. I am not under any illusions that I could help fix the kind of dystopian disaster so many people live in, I just need to be reminded from time to time that I am fortunate to be in a place where things are better.

[@tinamartinez1940]

For me, watching this type of content, helps me not envy those that post their perfect life on social media, it helps put in perspective and to appreciate what I have since there are others that are less fortunate or have nothing.

[@tam6148]

This is America. The minority’s are provided all the opportunities and help that they need to be successful… Much more so than the the tax payers who support them. They chose to live in squalor. Historically ruining every place they live

[@peterbelanger4094]

Stuff like this just feels more real, more familiar. It's also interesting to see how nature reclaims what we abandon.

[@yellowstoneloyal8186]

If a person is in that poor situation, it’s sheer will and determination to get away from that, yes, it can be done

[@bobowrathsovine.]

How can a kid make it past elementary school without knowing how to read? Let alone nearly every kid in the town

[@damonmelendez856]

A ‘keeeeed’ or a kid

[@reubenj.cogburn8546]

Because you can't get 15-year-old black males to go back to second grade. And second grade wouldn't want them either.

[@TheBizziniss]

You actually have to work at not learning to read in this country.

[@Mel-ce2ry]

Teachers, schools get reprimanded for failure so everything is falsified

[@slee2819]

Reading is ray-cist, according to democrats.

[@reneenelsen7416]

Thank you for sharing your content, much appreciated 👍 Sending virtual Granny hug's and prayers to everyone ☺️💕

[@billa9298]

Good job,you did great research on the area

[@larrybuckner8619]

People get things confused. It’s not that we like watching these videos it’s that we can’t believe how many different places in the United States are like this. It’s really unbelievable how bad America really is but people want to put a good spin on it because there’s one or two places that are OK.

[@Emmy-J]

But we have billions to send to other countries every frickin year while so many of us here live in squalor

[@navyvet05]

Not every place in the US is like this. I would say most of the US is doing just fine, but like everywhere else, its got its underdeveloped places. You’re just seeing all the bad and none of the good so it seems like most of the US is trash.

[@larrybuckner8619]

@@Emmy-J EXACTLY!!!!

[@loboblue5441]

Yes, you're right. It's shocking

[@survivingthetimes]

Yep. Even the once prosperous small city that I live in is slowly crumbling to the ground.

[@casualwater698]

Another example of American corporations closing up factories. This was the home of Whirlpool.

[@NickJohnson]

Still is

[@casualwater698]

@@NickJohnson The factory closed.

[@googleuser868]

Wasn't Jean Klock park and gulf course upgraded for whirlpool elites?

[@dirkcook1912]

It still is!! There’s Whirlpool buildings and factories all over St. Joe and BH! They just built a huge building in St. Joe! Everytime I turn around Whirlpool is putting up another building.

[@casualwater698]

@@dirkcook1912 Their website doesn't actually list any manufacturing plants in St. Joe or Benton Harbor. Good to know they're building them again.

[@richardtaylor7240]

Thanks Nick. You are doing great work . Slap mappy for me.

[@NickJohnson]

👏

[@who7056]

Nick, I know you want to give KZbin viewers what they want, but what we want most of all is for you to be safe. I was hoping you’d get the heck out of there. Be safe first, Nick. We want you around more than your content, so if it means risking your life, forget it! Get out!

[@liamlynch2115]

I’m a middle class white guy at the edge of Philly. We have two incomes, and both of us work an extra PT job. It’s hard to maintain a mortgage, utilities, repairs, upgrades, kids, vehicles etc. I get it. I can only imagine the reality of a person who grows up with an unstable family, bad education, lack of support and role models etc.

[@malwads1836]

What's spooky is a lot more young people are growing up like that nowadays even in the 🤍 community, it's no longer just a "🤎/🖤 thing".I'm a young 🤍 person in my early 30's & I was raised by a loving homemaker from birth to 18...So I 👀 a lot more social issues in our gen vs the older gens through my own lense, it makes it kinda hard to find healthy folks to know from my own gen😮‍💨.

[@checkmaify]

two incomes, both work, and both have extra PT job?? You are not middle-class, you are an exploited wage laborer. And this is the problem of Americans, they are hopelessly blinded by the American dream while they toil day and night

[@liamlynch2115]

@@checkmaify Well I don’t disagree. We have to work a lot to maintain a good life for our kids (live in a good neighborhood, have good vehicles, pay for good school, clothes, pay for expensive groceries, pay for all the sports the kids do, pay for anything we do for fun, trips etc). Inflation/prices have been high the last few years because of all the “free” money the federal government sent out during Covid. Middle class compared to all the people we know in our lives, but if you really base it on the richest people in America vs the guy living on the street, we are not in the middle. No one is exploiting us though. We both have good jobs that we chose, where we work from home. The PT shifts are at a family pizzeria business.

[@liamlynch2115]

@@checkmaify It takes a lot to keep up with a good life for 3 kids. Inflation/prices are high the last few years thanks to the “free” money sent out during Covid. We aren’t exploited though. We were intentional in choosing our current employers, like what we do, and both work from home. The PT shifts are at our family’s pizzeria business. We choose to do a lot of extra stuff like pay for sports, preschool, new SUV lease every 3 years, memberships at gyms/zoo/Sesame Place/swim club, renovate our house etc. Edit: wife taking 3 kids to trampoline park today is $48 plus any games and drinks/snacks. Everything is expensive.

[@liamlynch2115]

@@checkmaify I don’t disagree with your sentiment though. How do the non-Americans who are doing it better live?

[@silentwalk1768]

Thanks for the tour what a place wow brave going in there first time I've watched you thanks

[@handkmommy]

I live on the outskirts of the city. I was a mail carrier here. It’s as horrible as you think and more. I’ve seen shell casings, domestic violence, drug abuse and drug dealers everywhere. Most of the people are unemployable. They are felons, drug addicts, young single moms and handicapped.

[@jrlove1815]

This is the saddest thing I've seen in a while. We the people have been destroyed by the very people that we put in office to make things good for the entire country. Half, or near half is cool with it, because they believe that "The Party" cares.

[@helloimclaudio]

Agreed, it’s even more troublesome when the people elected to be president aren’t the ones truly running things. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

[@313barrygmail]

No, these people do it to themselves

[@jrlove1815]

@@helloimclaudio You are right

[@bigscores7237]

This is the kind of confusion that results from near total ignorance of "genetic ancestry groups".

[@bigscores7237]

Zhutube censorship is on full steam. Yes, you're right. Except all of these Benton Harlem residents seem to share common traits that seem to correlate strongly with poor outcomes.

[@artlife6210]

once they figure out the cops dont patrol in the morning they come out like gnats from a sweat soaked towel

[@user-ie1tz5rm8x]

Perhaps no heat...warm in the sun...walk round all night ,sleep in the warm daze

[@artlife6210]

@@user-ie1tz5rm8x could be

[@petergrewe6923]

Sounds about right actually

[@user-ob3kn6lk6b]

Uggh!

[@richardalvarez2390]

Forbes just called Omaha as the best city to move to in 2024, Omaha got #1 with a perfect 100 score. The second city is Raleigh ,NC with a distant score Of 83. Omaha is run by a MAGA Mayor Jean Stothert since 2013 and the Nebraska Gov is MAGA too. Our mayor backs the blue and has increased the pay of police. Trust me, we are not moved in the wrong people to move into Omaha, Omaha has plenty of filters to only let family oriented people in.

[@happygrandma4ruthP]

Michigan was hit hard when they moved the factory jobs to Mexico and China.

[@occamsrazor4370]

You should have stopped in Muskegon Heights. It’s 90 minutes north of Benton Harbor. I would take the” Pepsi Challenge” that the Heights is way worse then Benton Harbor. You could have seen Grand Haven too where I live. Celebrities live here, it’s a tourist trap.

[@damonmelendez856]

Stay strapped Nick! And make sure your life insurance premiums are paid up.

[@daniel-nw5iq]

Yessir little dicky I mean little Nicky stay strapped.also please put me on your life insurance 😂

[@truthteller4442]

And health insurance.

[@ashaliyahaguilar3875]

So be a part of the problem lol and BH is “ghetto” 🤣

[@kathleenmetcalf6767]

I like watching your videos because it gives me an HONEST look at our cities and towns - not all bad - but a lot is - the politicians like to sugar coat the bad things that are happening in our own backyard - you don’t - and I appreciate that.

[@scotthayes9751]

This worries me. It's very sad to see when people lose hope.

[@Chris.P-rd6bf]

So much wonderful architecture just falling apart. That stained glass window in that church. What a shame.

[@KendraAndTheLaw]

They're not up early. They're up late.

[@Testing-123]

I like watching these videos because I see what once was and the potential that remains.

[@azdrifter3968]

I live in one of the fastest growing areas of one of the fastest growing cities in America here in far north Phoenix. It's a trip to see these places. Empty, falling apart, everything gone job wise. Everything I see is brand new, whole neighborhoods and plazas popping up everywhere, people everywhere, with every place around hiring. I don't care if all I had was a mountain bike, a big backpack full of supplies, and a foodstamp card, I would be riding to the next town or city with jobs and opportunities, regardless how far it is. I left a small town with high poverty and little opportunities at 19 to come here with just my car and some clothes and a few hundred bucks. I'm 42 now.

[@tomnohmy1273]

I think Nick, in my opinion has the best YT channel of this genre

[@delwhylie4748]

Can you imagine if all of our soldiers that died for this Country. Could only see us now!

[@truthteller4442]

This is seriously crazy. Just up, slugging around, doing nothing. Cars parked on lawns, everything looks like crap. Unreal. I realize money isn’t exactly plentiful there, but it’s costs NOTHING to clean up your immediate area.

[@Aphotic_One]

they just don't CARE

[@sausagelinksys4360]

It is crazy to see! If you look at most places that are in poverty you will see the same behavior. Imagine trying to drive down roads with HUGE potholes that the city WILL NOT FIX! Imagine the police force being HEAVILY understaffed because funding was cut! Imagine your job suddenly laying you off and closing, leaving you with a mortgage that you can no longer afford. Imagine all the big companies suddenly leaving and disrupting the entire economy almost instantly! When this happens, hope gets lost and so does will to simply clean up. It’s difficult to be PROUD of a place you are barely surviving in!

[@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow]

i like watching the bad stuff cause it makes my life feel a little less crappy that I don't live there...

[@frankperkin124]

Yep, the US needs to send billions to the Ukraine and Israel.

[@Gracekgs2002]

Hi Nick! I absolutely love Hawaii. Just a few blocks away from Waikiki beach there is poverty. Poverty is everywhere.

[@SAMOTUBER]

I've traveled quite a bit and out of my own bubble and yes, you can find the bad part of almost every mid sized American city. Bottom feeders like this guy know they can get hits by pointing out "ruin porn". I can tell he also supports politicians who vote a certain way, and create these conditions because they don't really serve voters, they serve the monied interests that fund their campaigns.

[@skrtskit1521]

Money is the worst man-made drug ever created.

[@boomr334]

I live in Africa. Your channel reminds me that everything passes

[@pallbearer1212]

Sad to see every town and every city falling apart☹R.I.P.

[@philipwalker8045]

Nick, BH has gone to hell in a hand basket! 20 years from now this place will probably become a Chinese military base…

[@jackjines3461]

One of many.

[@julisagaskins-jones1252]

I agree with you;I’m from there. I’ve moved away in 2008 and I don’t visit much. I haven’t been there since my grandmothers funeral in 2021 before that 2012. I don’t even desire to. I’ve seen so much more moving around now that I’m a military spouse.

[@TerryB751]

When you mentioned Whirlpool, I remembered I got some emails from them when I ordered water filters for my refrigerator, and sure enough, their address says Benton Harbor. Hard to imagine anything manufactured there that would be worth anything. Maybe the products are built elsewhere.

[@mellowmoods8393]

Dude, Nick. The danger you put yourself in to bring us first class content cannot be overstated!

[@MrDevinp74]

He didn’t put hisself in danger he just scary as hell stop falling for his agenda to make city look bad with showing the whole city it’s good and parts to every city

[@Knarkfist]

Hisself 😂😂😂

[@mellowmoods8393]

@@MrDevinp74 Yeah, I'm sure Benton Harbor and all those black dudes throwing gang signs and riding around on bikes staring at him driving by are REALLY just misunderstood, and that it's really a beautiful town. ;)

[@dirkcook1912]

First class content? You gotta be joking. More like the crappiest video ever of a dude with nothing better to do than be a POS and sh$$ talk a city he’s been to once.

[@AMoneyVideo]

​@@mellowmoods8393What planet are you on that people minding their business riding bicycles are dangerous lol 😂😂😂

[@christianc6941]

They probably think you're an undercover cop patrolling their neighborhood LOL!!

[@AmyElzeyLosingitwithAmy]

Or someone looking for to buy drugs

[@Kindmelllie1]

I watch you nick because im never gonna be able to travel and see all you show me. I live on the west coast and will never see these places. And yeah it does make me feel better i live where i live..i also watch because i like your narrative.

[@bfordLA]

Love the part where you say 'this is sketchy' and just roll right through the stop sign....we have all been there man

[@decacards5250]

One of my favorite comedians Sinbad is from Benton Harbor, he is recovering from a stroke, prayers for him.

[@nancymead2879]

Say Lot's Prayers for our Friend Sinbad he's in a bad way right now🥰💙🙏🏻🙏🏻🫶

[@funnyface2727]

Earnie Hudson is also from Benton Harbor.

[@rjf.49047]

Met him once at the old Walgreens on Napier and pipestone late one Christmas morning.

[@savvyroca]

Both Earnie and Sinbad made it out! Also both served in the military.

[@sjohnson65456]

Oh wow I didn't know that! So many legends from Michigan.

[@KaramelKissez37]

At least one guy waved hello lol

[@damonmelendez856]

He’s the dealer

[@NewHaven203]

He was trying to flag down Nick to sell him some crack

[@hutlazzz]

@@damonmelendez856 😂😂😂

[@YeshuaisKing4eva]

People aren’t friendly in Michigan.

[@user-ij8gl4wj5c]

The last 30 seconds of your video is hilarious 😂😂😂

[@tinah9187]

First video of yours I've watched. Have you done the slums of Appalachia?

[@1776mikew]

Your driving around in a Grand Wagoner in the hood and your wondering while people are looking at you? You might as well be driving a Lamborghini. Those Jeeps are expensive .

[@1776mikew]

Grand Wagoneer L, it will set you back $94,445. At the top of the Grand Wagoneer's six trim levels is the Grand Wagoneer L Series III Obsidian at $115,640

[@kirbyourenthusiasm]

That is EXACTLY what I said. You don’t drive a $90,000+ car as a white man in a majority black neighborhood in one of the poorest places in the state. That’s just foolish. I live on the East side of Flint so I know bad neighborhoods.

[@alexdavidson7785]

Jeeps SUCK

[@AMoneyVideo]

This stellantis fiat is nowhere close to a Lambo lol. Unless you mean they are now both not American 😂

[@snickersberet4792]

Hell take a closer look they live like sewer rats but they b driving 300s and land rovers...

[@12wingwfetech]

Mercedes sitting in the driveway of a dump

[@spencercorby4571]

Probably the dealer

[@twizzy585ful]

No different than hellcats in trash mobile parks

[@spencercorby4571]

@@twizzy585ful and the only thing higher than the drug user is the APR on the hellcat lol

[@kirbyourenthusiasm]

That’s super common. They drive a really expensive car and live in a $2000 house. Bet they wash their car every Saturday night too.

[@andyvega5584]

Priorities 😂😂 are the rims spinning

[@Travelingthru]

We left South Haven ( a nice little Michigan town ) and wanted to go to St Joseph..went thru Benton Harbor I wanted to cry it was so sketchy and scary 😢 When in St Joseph many told us do not stop in Benton…very dangerous ugh Michigan has so many little Great towns but yet so many that are lacking and so horrible for so many that live their. Thanks for the videos you do. We enjoy them …waiting for Hawaii video..Ilwe lived in California for 10 years never had any desire to go to Hawaii…Enjoy ❤

[@randyharrington2653]

You should of looked into the House of David. My Grand parents were members there. It was a religious commune that built a huge amusement park. That place was booming in the early half of the 1900's. Benton harbor is my home town, but i haven't lived there in 42 years. It was bad even back then

[@Mr.40.Hours.]

I'm a 56 year old black man. It's sad that you can't call out black people. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@alexdavidson7785]

But we're supposed to "keep it real"

[@fredicagoillanoise1309]

I call it as I see it no matter what race or color and I'm Black also!! If we don't put the mirror up to ourselves and see how bad we're looking out here, we'll never change. Stop playing victim and get up, brush yourself off, get clean and try to do something positive with your lives and your neighborhoods... It's never too late or long gone if enough people share the same vision and work together.

[@DoomieGruntVentures]

I did a video on that mall, and I got a long winded textwall about how I was a horrible person for calling Benton Harbor grim, how there are great people in Benton Harbor, and how I should do better. If there are great people there, they got a lot of work to do. Benton Harbor looks like the set of Hobo With a Shotgun.

[@michigandogman3060]

I’ve been past Benton Harbor but I have been to Saginaw, Flint,Detroit, Battle Creek, and Grand Rapids 😞☹️

[@kosmok.3825]

The crazy thing is the communities directly to the north and south of Benton harbor are pristine beautiful places to visit along the western Michigan coastline.

[@centuriahartfield8267]

People live here, they grow up here, we graduated from Benton harbor high school, we have friends & family and memories here. It is nasty that you would go through this community and scold our homes, our neighborhood, the only thing we have. You don’t understand us, or our city. So stay away if you’re going to belittle before help.

[@sandradavis9422]

I agree, I don't live there but michigan is a beautiful state in spite of our economic downfalls. Going around talking shit is bs. Michigan is doing things to remedy our problems, it all takes time. ❤

[@chrisdickenson1043]

You crack me up bro!

[@X-hoshaq-X]

It was nice in the 40’s,and 50’s…wonder what changed

[@missie2533]

Beautiful on the shores for sure 😊

[@cardinal8268]

I believe Whirlpool had a plant where the golf course is and it was technically in St Joseph. In order to develop that they had to make it part of Benton Harbor for a set number of years to build the tax base. Then it would revert back to St Joseph. That was in 2004-2008. Not sure how the recession of 2010 impacted the development.❤

[@AlexJacksonTempleSounds]

It's gone beyond politics. I didn't realise literacy levels could be so low in a 1st world country. This town looks post apocalyptic.

[@caseybray4321]

Absolutely amazing video Great job, glad you're safe.

[@terrymccleery3497]

I’ve spent lots of time in Benton Harbor in the 80’s Salmon fishing. I kept my boat at Tackle Haven. Once we went to a beer store back in a subdivision and there was about 20-30 people in the parking lot sitting on cement fence and just standing around staring at us walking into store. I’m guessing this was about 1980ish and I still remember it like it was yesterday. It felt just like the movie the Bird’s at the end when they walk out of house thru all the birds.

[@WildManActual]

That hood is ACTIVE.

[@DanTrustsTheFathersPlan]

No doubt, that's the scary part

[@alexp8455]

Yea I’m from there I moved 6 years ago.

[@damerochelle4014]

Greetings Nick, Amazing raw footage! Your journeys give me insight into the real America that we live in. It makes me appreciate where I live. I just hope that the states have a plan for urban renewal and future plans to rebuild and revitalize the bad areas that we see. Thank you for doing these vlogs, stay safe and have fun too.

[@shawnd7087]

This is sad to see. And it makes you angry that we as Americans can let so much go so wrong. In the land of opertunity we aren't using it and it is really sad.

[@Hellenicheavymetal]

Whenever I watch your videos I imagine it's actually Nick Swardson talking.

[@Jasonronsteinberger]

You bring me content I love thank you!