Motown had nothing to do with that. Berry Gordy enforced strict rules on Motown musicians. They were supposed to dress appropriately, and behave respectably. Motown didn’t allow anything political or countercultural. They didn’t give an inch on that until the 1970s.
Thanks for that clarification, but it was still guilt by association. Cities were burning every night on television and it was absolutely repulsive.
Dancing in the Street.