Trust, distrust, and systemic inequality in Flint, Michigan: A generational case study

This study examines how residents in Flint, Michigan navigate trust, distrust, and systemic inequality in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis. Using a generational case study design, we interviewed nine members from three multi-generational family units. We used trust and distrust as a lens for understanding community resilience, exploring how participants navigate their relationships with institutions and one another. Through thematic analysis we uncovered that while participants expressed moments of calculative or particularized trust in institutions and those in power, these were often overshadowed by experiences of betrayal, inequality, and neglect in their relationships with governmental agencies, political leaders, and law enforcement that shifted initial trust into distrust over time. Trust was rarely generalized and more commonly existed in selective, functional forms. Our findings illustrate how cycles of racial and class-based oppression and public disinvestment, shaped participants’ lived experiences and their trust. Despite these challenges, participants sought to disrupt these cycles for future generations, demonstrating a commitment to elevating community resilience. Findings suggest participants viewed centering lived experience, addressing intergenerational trauma, and prioritizing locally driven initiatives as important strategies for disrupting cycles of oppression. Our study contributes to the conversation surrounding systemic inequality and trust erosion in marginalized communities.