The City of Detroit

In this essay, the author

• Explains that the detroit riots of 1967 began when police officers raided a drinking club on twelfth street.
• Describes how the officers tried to arrest everyone who was at the club. while the police waited for backup vehicles, a crowd gathered in protest.
• Narrates how after the last car left, some men who were left behind lifted up the bars of clothing stores and broke all of the windows. violence raged.
• Explains that on july 25, u.s. troops were sent into detroit for backup on city police.
• Describes how president johnson agreed to transport 4,700 army paratroopers into the city around midnight the previous night, right as two african american rebel snipers blockaded two police posts during all of the rioting that put the large city into shock.
• Reports that tanks were loaded in, fire bombers were arrested all over the city, and looters were on an outbreak, stealing from every store.
• Describes how the protests became so out of hand and violent that neither local nor state police could control the people involved. mayor cavanaugh asked the michigan governor for help.
• Explains that the mayor and governor decided to ask the vice president for national backup troops.
• Explains that the governor ordered the 2nd brigade to duty on july 24th. other brigades were training at camp, but due to the dire situation, their training was cancelled so that they could be moved to detroit.
• Describes how the situation got worse and within three days of the riots, 12 miles of detroit was burning.
• Explains that within 6 days of the beginning, the city was under control, and the national troops were able to move out.
• Explains that many residents reported police brutality as the number one problem leading up to the riots.
• Analyzes how police verbally abused their victims, calling them "boy" and other harsh names, and asking them unnecessary questions.
• Explains that four separate police squads harassed blacks who were walking through rough neighborhoods.
• Explains that when stopped, the african-american would be told to produce identification, embarrassing them, and once it was produced, they could go on their way.
• Explains that housing was the second cause of the 1967 riots and protests.
• Explains that whites in detroit tried to block the entrance of african americans into their neighborhoods, sometimes as drastic as building concrete and brick walls.
• Explains that even though segregation was disappearing, it was still prevalent. african americans were paying more for the same exact homes of whites, forcing them to leave.
• Explains that only 39% of african americans had their own houses in the 1960s, compared to 64% of whites.
• Explains that the shortage of housing increased due to urban renewal projects around the suburbs of detroit.
• Explains that in the early 1960s, homes were torn down and bulldozed for freeways, and other public services.
• Explains that black bottom, a main area where immigrants and african americans moved to, was completely wiped from existence in order to construct i75.
• Explains that the "black bottom" was the heart of culture and social events for the african americans, which formed a lot of anger.
• Explains that detroit's booming automobile industry gave blacks decent jobs with decent pay.
• Explains that blacks were higher paid and had a lower unemployment rate compared to surrounding areas.
• Opines that the gap between the pay of africans and whites, and the unemployment rates, was large.
• Explains that local black militant leaders encouraged self-determination, and made claims that whites were incapable of sharing their power.
• Explains that the black population of detroit increased from 303,000 to 487,000 during the 1950s. by 1967, the riot was at about 40% of the whole population.
• Explains that the twelfth street neighborhood was 98.7% white in the years before the riots, while the area was over one-third 37.2% blacks and other ethnic groups by 1950.
• Explains that property damage amounts to $40 to $80 million in 1967 money, amounting up to $200 million now.
• Reports that 43 people were killed, 1189 injured and more than 7000 people arrested at the end of the 5 days of rioting.
• Explains that psychological effects are still present in the mental mindset that once did happen and that it always could happen again.