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I grew up in Detroit, though fortunately, my family moved out in ‘65, 2 years before the major riot of 1967. It was an event that would brand Detroit so many bad names, from “Murder Capital” to “Bad Boy” (Detroit Pistons) images.
In 1967 it was a war zone with the National Guard out in full force, APCs in the streets, tanks and a curfew.

Block upon block of the inner city burned and firefighters who came to put them out were killed by snipers. The Detroit police responded with an iron fist, shooting a lot of folks who were looting.

Even in the northwestern suburbs where 99% of the Whites fled, there were rumors (unfounded) that Blacks would come out to our areas and kill White people, just to make a point. We were in a sort of “lock down” and we were armed, almost creating a militia, just in case.

This landmark even of 1967 was worse than the previous race riots of 1945. I was not yet born in 1945, so I guess, look it up on Google.

Detroit never recovered, it remained a gutted, grammarian city with many African American (note, previously, I used the term “Black”, you could do that then) Mayors, each one more corrupt than the previous one.

The true downfall happened with the aid of two individuals, Mayor Coleman Young and City councilman, Kenneth Cockrel. These two, more than any other politicians, DESTROYED Detroit.

A few years later, Toyota and Japan, Inc. would polish off the job, began in 1967...