Detroit : race riots, racial conflicts, and efforts to bridge the racial divide /

During the summer of 1967, simmering tensions between blacks and whites in Detroit boiled over. The days of civil disorder left an enduring mark on the city's psyche, in addition to tens of millions of dollars in property damage. This meticulously researched book seeks to examine what brought on this major historical event and its effects 40 years later. Michigan State Univ. faculty Darden (geography) and Thomas (emer., history) consider race relations from a number of perspectives, such as housing segregation, black-white educational gaps, and the emergence of black political power after 1967. Each framed by a clear statement of purpose, chapters are filled with interviews, graphs, and statistics. While the material is rich, the work would have been strengthened by an introduction to provide readers with a road map and to explain the authors' goals. Chapter summaries are sometimes followed by "options" or "policy proposals"; others end with "conclusions." Is this a primer for action, a policy proposal, or a history text? A lack of periodization weakens strong research: the post-1967 years are discussed as a single era; data from several decades are often strung together without explanation. Needless editorializing interrupts the powerful impact of data liberated from deep within the archives. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty. A. B. Audant CUNY Kingsborough Community College