One of the most profound events in Michigan's history is the Detroit Riot of 1967. Wikipedia's 12th Street Riot entry explains:
The 12th Street Riot was a civil disturbance in Detroit that began in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 23, 1967. Vice squad officers executed a raid at a blind pig, or speakeasy, on the corner of 12th Street and Clairmount on the city's near westside. The confrontation with the patrons there evolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in modern U.S. history, lasting five days and far surpassing the 1943 riot the city endured. Before the end, the state and federal governments, under order of then President Lyndon B. Johnson, sent in National Guard and U.S. Army troops. The result was forty-three dead, 467 injured, over 7,200 arrests and more than 2,000 buildings burned down.
The best media I came across is Ashes to Hope: Overcoming the Detroit Riots from Michigan Radio (tip: open in a new tab and listen while you check out the other photos & stories).. This 2007 feature marking the 40th anniversary opens with recollections from John Conyers, Phillip Hewitt and Ronald Nye and delivers a frank look at various aspects of the riot - some say rebellion - and its aftermath from people who experienced it. I heartily recommend you click the link and listen to the whole thing. NPR's Riots Rocked Detroit 40 Years Ago Today has more recollections as does this Detroit News forum featuring letters from Detroit residents.
Here's an ABC News feature below, but the best video I found is Detroit Riot 1967/ Mr. Jacobs by KeylaBb (more videos under Related Videos at that link).:
The video features the song Black Day in July by Gordon Lightfoot which was banned in the US. Detroit Riot, July 1967 on Michigan in Pictures this morning has this listing of photos:
- Detroit Riot of 1967 portfolio at Virtual Motor City (cool site!)
- 40 Years After the Detroit Riots: Could It Happen Again? by photographer Jim Hubbard
- Six Detroit Riot photos at JamD
- 1967 Detroit Riot photos by Phil Cherner (includes a then & now video)
- Detroit 1967 Riots on Flickr (slideshow)
- Photo gallery from the Detroit News archives
- Excellent thread on Exposure.Detroit about the riot with lots of links to other resources.
There's of course a ton more to say ... I hope you'll share your thoughts in the comments and add links to sites and media we missed!
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There's a great thread discussing the Detroit Riot at Exposure.Detroit.
Among the links posted is 1967 Riots on atdetroit.net and a 50-plus photo gallery from the Detroit News archives.
I am presently engaged in a study on Detroit from the 1967 uprising through 2008. I am looking for any data pertaining to the role of the churches during the 1967 rebellion to the present day. I am also interested in any ecumenical collaborations during the same time frame. The data can be interviews, photos, articles etc. If you have any info please send to drrik@mac.com Thanks
I believe that me and my family were in Detroit
when the trouble began.We had been visiting friends in Savona(?)and had driven through an
African-American neighorhood,which was several miles long,(Seven Mile Road?)on our way there.
Probably on Wednesday before the trouble began.
We stopped a couple of times,for directions, etc.The gas station people (all black)could
not have been more friendly and helpful.We
returned home the same way on that Saturday,
during the day.I was heartbroken when we returned home,and learned of that terrible
time in my beloved Detroit,I prayed that
the people that helped me were allright.
Love to all in Detroit.(I listen to
WJR,the great station, on the Great Lakes.)
Bill
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[...] Detroit had just had a riot the year before where great damage was done. According to this article, "The result was forty-three dead, 467 injured, over 7,200 arrests and more than 2,000 [...]
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