Detroit - 40 Years Later

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the infamous Detroit riot of 1967.

There are a lot of things I can write about it, but I really can't add much to the historical record.

I don't remember too much about the riot - I was too young to pay much attention. Sure, I knew something was up because I couldn't go outside - and it was summertime in the 60s, so I spent most of my time outside. Stray gunshot fire also gave me a clue something bad was afoot, but pre-riot, I was actually much more worried about the Soviet Union invading than my city erupting in violence. Remember that Red Threat? It scared the stuffing out of me. Walking through the city? It didn't. Sure, there were areas to avoid, but life wasn't scary in Detroit.

In many ways, Detroit never recovered. Certainly, the Murder City title from the 70s and 80s didn't help, nor did the infamous Devil's Night fires in the late 80s and early 90s. While the riot was not a race riot in technical terms (Whites and Blacks didn't fight each other, and members of all races took place in the looting), Detroit kept it's reputation to this day as a racially hateful and dangerous city ever since. While Detroit isn't the safest place in the world, I think the vast majority of the "danger" hype is just that - hype.

I hear a lot of talk about Detroit as a washed-up city, and I can understand it - but there is no reason to remain chained to the nasty part of our history. Detroit was also the Motor City, literally helping the world grow up with the production of the automobile. Detroit was the manufacturing center of the US during World War II, producing for the war effort, and a large contributor to the success of our GIs. Detroit was a leader in economic development after the war. Then we lost it all, because we lost two traits: forgiveness, and self-responsibility. The city failed when people (of all races) tossed these traits by the wayside. These traits, alive and well and exhibited in the thoughts, plans and actions in a future generation, can make the city great once again.