Detroit Riot of 1967

Detroit Riot of 1967, one of several racial disturbances in American cities during the summer of 1967.

The summer of 1967 was a turbulent period in American history. Racial confrontations escalated into full-scale urban riots in Newark, New Jersey; New York City; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; and Atlanta, Georgia; and Detroit, Michigan. On the morning of July 23, 1967, Detroit police raided an illegal black drinking establishment on 12th Street, handcuffed its patrons and forced them outside.

A crowd of black observers gathered at the scene, and the police retreated, fearing for their safety. Initially, the crowd looted and burned white-owned stores, but as the riot moved into its second day, African American stores were destroyed as well. Before the National Guard ended the rioting on July 25, 43 African Americans were killed, 1,189 were injured, and 7,231 were arrested.

The Detroit riot of 1967 became a notion of African American despair and had lasting consequences. Detroit's liberal political coalition was destroyed, significant numbers of whites moved to the suburbs, and Detroit's African American majority faced economic stagnation.

Despite these problems, Detroit fought back. By the end of the 1960s, federally sponsored antipoverty programs, aid to black churches and organizations, and municipal committees devoted to racial unity had earned Detroit a reputation as one of the most progressive cities in the country. However, significant problems continued to plague the city, including police brutality, inadequate housing, and economic inequality.