Resurget Cineribus: "It Rises From The Ashes"

After five days of unrest, the rebellion ended on July 28, 1967, leaving Detroit profoundly affected. The aftermath saw 43 lives lost, 5,000 people displaced, 7,000 arrested, and property damage totaling an estimated $45 million. Though the fires were extinguished, the city faced significant challenges, grappling with widespread devastation and the urgent need to address deep-seated issues like racial inequality, economic disinvestment, and poor living conditions.

Aerial View of Destroyed Buildings

Bird's-eye view of buildings at Warren and Grand River destroyed by fire during 1967 riots in Detroit.

Detorit 67 Oral History of Bessie Williams Ernst

In this oral history interview with Interviewer Lily Wilson, Bessie Williams Ernst reflects on her experiences in Detroit during the 1967 riots and her lifelong connection to the city. She discusses her upbringing in the Cultural Center neighborhood, her family’s challenges during the riots, and the community bonds forged amid the turmoil. Ernst also shares her career in education and poetry as a means of documenting and processing the events. She reads from her poem “Ode to Twelfth Street,” which vividly captures Twelfth Street before the riots and mourns its destruction in the aftermath. The poem blends personal memories and historical context to illustrate the street's transformation from a lively nucleus of Detroit’s Black community to a symbol of loss and displacement. Ernst’s recollections and poetry shed light on Detroit's transformative history and the enduring impact of the 1967 riots on its urban and social landscape.

Rosa L. Parks Boulevard Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Raymond Parks, a civil rights activist, barber, and husband of Rosa Parks, owned a barbershop that was looted during the unrest. Both he and Rosa were deeply affected by the destruction. In response, Detroit residents petitioned to rename the street in her honor. On July 14, 1976, Twelfth Street was officially renamed Rosa L. Parks Boulevard during a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Coleman Young. The photo depicts Rosa Parks alongside Louise Tappes, Mary Sims, and an unknown reporter at the event.