Remembering Detroit’s 1967 summer of civil unrest

By Metro Times editorial staff on Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 11:33 am

Some call it a “riot,” while others refer to it as a “rebellion” or even a “ri-bellion.” Whatever your name for it, it’s been nearly 56 years since the bloody 1967 clash between civilians and Detroit’s police department, at the time one of the worst in the nation’s history. Due to mounting frustrations with segregation and police brutality, a raid at an after-hours bar on Sunday, July 23 sparked five days of violence, resulting in a staggering 43 deaths, 1,189 injured, more than 7,200 arrests, and more than 400 buildings destroyed. Perhaps it was the memory of 1967 that caused Detroit’s 2020 George Floyd protests to be relatively peaceful compared to those in other cities.

This year, we dug through the Detroit Historical Society’s archives for a look back at photos of the summer of 1967 in Detroit. We also had some photos from our past coverage, and included those.

Related

A radical’s oral history of Detroit in 1967

A radical’s oral history of Detroit in 1967: Rebellion

Captions are provided from the Detroit Historical Society, unless otherwise marked.

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"One black and white photograph of a group of Michigan National Guardsmen who are on patrol during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The nighttime photo shows an armored personnel carrier (#183) with a machine gun and five guardsmen."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of a group of Michigan National Guardsmen who are on patrol during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The nighttime photo shows an armored personnel carrier (#183) with a machine gun and five guardsmen."

"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol at the corner of 12th and Hazelwood Streets in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The smoldering ruins of several buildings are visible in the background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol at the corner of 12th and Hazelwood Streets in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The smoldering ruins of several buildings are visible in the background."

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"Where we were, the Warren-Forest area, the looting was more like a circus." — From the Detroit Metro Times' article "A radical's oral history of Detroit in 1967."

Leni Sinclair

"Where we were, the Warren-Forest area, the looting was more like a circus." —from the Detroit Metro Times article "A radical's oral history of Detroit in 1967."

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"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows a young white man being stopped by police during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The man is standing on a sidewalk on a residential street and has his hands on his head. Two police officers are walking away from him and another office is standing in the street and is holding a rifle. A police car is parked on the street in the left foreground and a car is parked in the right foreground. A house and vacant lot can be seen in the background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows a young white man being stopped by police during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The man is standing on a sidewalk on a residential street and has his hands on his head. Two police officers are walking away from him and another office is standing in the street and is holding a rifle. A police car is parked on the street in the left foreground and a car is parked in the right foreground. A house and vacant lot can be seen in the background."

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"One color photograph of the intersection of 12th and Clairmount Streets during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The photo shows many police and fire vehicles parked in the street intersection with a large number of bystanders who are viewing the scene. Smith's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, located at 9050 12th Street, can be seen in the left background. Smoke is visible in the center and right background areas of the photo. A printed black date stamp on the edge of the photo shows 'Jul., 67.'"

Detroit Historical Society

"One color photograph of the intersection of 12th and Clairmount Streets during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The photo shows many police and fire vehicles parked in the street intersection with a large number of bystanders who are viewing the scene. Smith's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, located at 9050 12th Street, can be seen in the left background. Smoke is visible in the center and right background areas of the photo. A printed black date stamp on the edge of the photo shows 'Jul., 67.'"

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"One color photograph of a group of four Detroit Fire Department firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze at a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

Detroit Historical Society

"One color photograph of a group of four Detroit Fire Department firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze at a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

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"One color photograph of a group of three Detroit Fire Department firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze from the roof of a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

Detroit Historical Society

"One color photograph of a group of three Detroit Fire Department firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze from the roof of a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

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"One color photograph of Detroit firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze at a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The photo shows many fireman at work with aerial and ladder trucks. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

Detroit Historical Society

"One color photograph of Detroit firemen who are trying to extinguish a blaze at a row of buildings located on 12th Street between Taylor and Clairmount Streets. The photo shows many fireman at work with aerial and ladder trucks. The buildings had been set on fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Insp. Barney Wasowicz.'"

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"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The ruins of several 2-story brick buildings are visible in the background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The ruins of several 2-story brick buildings are visible in the background."

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“The tanks in ‘67, boy … they’d damn near knock a building down.”

Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

“The tanks in ‘67, boy … they’d damn near knock a building down.” —from the Detroit Metro Times' article "A radical's oral history of Detroit in 1967."

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"One black and white photograph of four MP (military police) soldiers who are on patrol in a jeep during the 1967 Detroit Riot. Two soldiers, who are seated in the back of the jeep, are carrying rifles. A 2-story commercial building is visible in the left background. Several houses and parked cars can be seen in the right background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of four MP (military police) soldiers who are on patrol in a jeep during the 1967 Detroit Riot. Two soldiers, who are seated in the back of the jeep, are carrying rifles. A 2-story commercial building is visible in the left background. Several houses and parked cars can be seen in the right background."

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"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The smoldering ruins of a partially collapsed 2-story building are visible in the background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of a Michigan National Guardsman who is on patrol in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riot. The smoldering ruins of a partially collapsed 2-story building are visible in the background."

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"One black and white photograph of the hospital emergency room scene (probably Detroit Receiving Hospital) after the arrival of injury victims from the 1967 Detroit Riot. Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are attending to injured persons who are laid out on gurneys."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of the hospital emergency room scene (probably Detroit Receiving Hospital) after the arrival of injury victims from the 1967 Detroit Riot. Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are attending to injured persons who are laid out on gurneys."

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"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows the smoldering ruins of several buildings that were destroyed by fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot."

Detroit Historical Society

"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows the smoldering ruins of several buildings that were destroyed by fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot."

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"One black and white aerial photograph of ruined buildings taken during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The photo shows the smoldering ruins of several blocks of houses and businesses that have been destroyed by fire."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white aerial photograph of ruined buildings taken during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The photo shows the smoldering ruins of several blocks of houses and businesses that have been destroyed by fire."

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"One color photograph of a row of buildings that were burned down during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A white Cadillac is driving along the street in the foreground. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Capt. J. A. Mancinelli.'"

Detroit Historical Society

"One color photograph of a row of buildings that were burned down during the 1967 Detroit Riot. A white Cadillac is driving along the street in the foreground. A red ink stamp on the verso shows 'D.F.D. [Detroit Fire Department] Photo, by Capt. J. A. Mancinelli.'"

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“We had a banner … and it said ‘Burn, Baby, Burn!’ … We were flying the freak flag.” — From the Detroit Metro Times' article "A radical's oral history of Detroit in 1967."

Leni Sinclair

“We had a banner … and it said ‘Burn, Baby, Burn!’ … We were flying the freak flag.” —from the Detroit Metro Times' article "A radical's oral history of Detroit in 1967."

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Fire from burning buildings light up the night sky on Detroit's west side.

Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Fire from burning buildings light up the night sky on Detroit's west side.

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"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows several stores that have been destroyed by fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The image shows Governor George Romney (in white shirt) in the center foreground. He is standing on the side of a street and is speaking with a Michigan State policeman. A news photographer and several other persons are standing nearby on the street. A Detroit Fire Department truck, firemen, and the ruins of the Zerry Furniture store can be seen in the background."

Detroit Historical Society

"One digital scan of a black and white photograph which shows several stores that have been destroyed by fire during the 1967 Detroit Riot. The image shows Governor George Romney (in white shirt) in the center foreground. He is standing on the side of a street and is speaking with a Michigan State policeman. A news photographer and several other persons are standing nearby on the street. A Detroit Fire Department truck, firemen, and the ruins of the Zerry Furniture store can be seen in the background."

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"One black and white photograph of two Detroit Police officers who are on patrol in front of the Golden Bird Patent Medicine store located at 13330 Dexter Boulevard at the corner of Davison Avenue. The two officers are carrying rifles and are wearing helmets. The business was damaged during the recent 1967 Detroit Riot."

Detroit Historical Society

"One black and white photograph of two Detroit Police officers who are on patrol in front of the Golden Bird Patent Medicine store located at 13330 Dexter Boulevard at the corner of Davison Avenue. The two officers are carrying rifles and are wearing helmets. The business was damaged during the recent 1967 Detroit Riot."

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