Race and the Urban/Suburban Divide in Detroit (1968)

Transcript

Hide -

Let's go down here. Now, now, double action firing for five rounds. [gun shots] That's a heavy calibur. That's about 38. It makes a lot more noise. Well, if there's going to be another riot, I want to be prepared. And let me tell you one thing. He better not show his face in front of my house because it means my own life. I'd shoot him. Fear is fear. And when you get fear into you, you'll do anything. And I know what fear we had when we look up in the sky and see the sky all illuminated. It wasn't very pleasant. I don't like the idea of shooting at one - anybody. And I don't mind target shooting. That sounds like fun. But people, I just don't like the idea at all. But if it's necessary,

I mean, you know, you do what is necessary. What is it? Necessity is the mother of invention or something or is that the opposite? Is that the way it goes? The concern of these women is genuine. From their homes, they've seen flames in the night. But the president's report says the real danger facing the United States is dissolution. Two separate communities in a garrison state. One, two, three, four, five, six. So you didn't miss my [inaudible]? No. Attitudes are much the same in Rochester, 25 miles north of Detroit. On the surface, it's a peaceful White community, untouched by last year's riots. The nearest they came was 10 miles away in Pontiac. Still, there is fear. It's an insulated community,

quiet streets, proper homes, family pets, and apprehension. The citizens are worried from their isolation they can think only of us and them. It's going to happen. There's been too much - the robbing of the arsenal in Pontiac, and the stores are being robbed of guns and everything else. Somebody's doing it. I'm kind of apprehensive about the whole thing. Last year was pretty bad. I've been thinking about arming myself, my wife, you know, my father knew. He lives next door to me. He's armed, and I know several other people who've taken the trouble to go and buy a gun. I think quite a few people around here actually are worried about it. Even though we didn't have a terrible time last summer. It was in the city, of course. But I'm worried about it. I'm afraid it's not going to stop. They've been doing it for years and years now. It's getting on to what, 10 years or more

that we get this every summer. It's getting to be too much and I think it's going to be a... If the city or the government can't stop it, then we're going to be a little troubled in the suburbs or with normal people. Do you think there's anything that we've gotten done to improve the situation? I really can't see anything. I think that everyone's afraid of the Colored race lately. The man on the street, as well as even the police, they seem to - everyone seems to be scared to make them obey the laws, which is something that doesn't happen to Joe Blow like me or the guy next door. We get thrown in jail for some of these actions. I wouldn't know what the solution is, of course. It's probably difficult. I'm tired of being scared and not doing anything. These men have been

Race and the Urban/Suburban Divide in Detroit (1968)

Between 1965 and 1968, there were outbursts of violence and property destruction in Black neighborhoods in virtually every major American city. For some Americans, these were understandable and even righteous uprisings against problems that were not quickly solved by civil rights legislation, such as racialized poverty, residential segregation, and police brutality. For others, they were disorderly, dangerous riots that threatened to throw society into chaos. This clip, part of an episode of Public Broadcast Laboratory that aired the night before the release of the report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission Report. The clip documents the ways documents the ways in which white residents of suburban Detroit responded to the unrest with a mix of anger, fear, and a skepticism that the government was capable of keeping them safe.

Public Broadcast Laboratory | National Educational Television and Radio Center | March 3, 1968 This video clip and associated transcript appear from 32:50 - 36:40 in the full record.

View Full Record