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The Detroit riot ... : a profile of 500 prisoners / Manpower Administration,
U. S. Dept. of Labor
United States.
Washington : Manpower Administration, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 1968.
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THE DETROIT RIOT

UNITED

DEPARTMENT

STATES

OF

AMERICA

OF

FLABOR

A Profile of 500 Prisoners

March 1968

OF
UNIVERSITY

ILLINGARY OF
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY

TINO'S

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR : Willard Wirtz , Secretary
MANPOWER ADMINISTRATION : Stanley Ruttenberg ,
Manpower Administrator

301.158
Un 3d

PREFACE
On Sunday , July 23 , 1967 , a riot broke out in Detroit ,
Michigan , which resulted in loss of life , limb and property .
Hundreds of alleged participants were arrested , some of
whom willingly answered various questions (psychological ,
social , and economic ) for research investigators seeking
causation for the riot .
Eleven days after the outbreak ( August 3 , 1967 ) , the
U.S. Department of Labor contracted , under authorization of
the Manpower Development and Training Act , with the Behavior Research Institute of Detroit to introduce into an ongoing survey of prisoners questions designed to shed additional light on their employment status and indebtedness .
Information was collected on the characteristics of the
prisoners ; the nature of their job and weekly earnings ; their
home situation ; their views as to the causes of the riot and

the degree to which they knew what was taking place ; and
their ranking of Negro leaders .
Limited information ( on employment status and indebtedness ) is available for the total survey group of 496 prisoners .
More extensive information was collected for 157 of those
interviewed on August 3 and 4 at the request of the Office of
Manpower Research , Manpower Administration .
The survey was not based on a scientific sample . It was
conceived and conducted under extreme pressure . The data
were coded , processed , and analyzed on August 5 and 6 .
The interviews were conducted at five prison sites between July 31 and August 4 , by 19 Negro interviewers . These
interviewers were recruited largely from among graduate
students at Wayne State University and from among Detroit
high school teachers . Some poverty agency workers were
added

later .

The names and addresses , and all other means of individual identification , were obliterated from the questionnaires , so that the respondents would remain anonymous .
The police charges were also removed , so that it is not
possible to assess the severity of the alleged offense .
The interviews were not conducted under ideal circumstances , nor was there sufficient time to pre - test or to

develop a questionnaire that would yield more precise information . For example , present employment status was
asked and the answer limited to " employed " or " unemployed , " with no provision for indicating whether a prisoner
might be a full - time student or out of the labor force for
some other reason . The " not employed " category used in
this analysis , based on the " unemployed ' reply , does not ,
therefore , conform to the regular Department of Labor definition of unemployment . Some other questions were not
phrased as precisely as would be desirable .
The study which follows actually a profile of 496 Negro
men arrested during the July 23 , 1967 riot in Detroit , Michigan attempts to provide a partial picture of the economic and
social background of these persons .

-

2

-

HIGHLIGHTS
Some of the highlights of the findings of this report are :
The typical prisoner , out of the total interviewed , was
single
a
man just over 30 years of age . He was a Protestant ,
but not a regular church - goer . He was a non- veteran who
had dropped out of school by the 11th grade . His birthplace
was the South and he had lived in Detroit for 15 years or

more .

● He was a blue collar
worker in a manufacturing plant
where he earned about $ 120 a week . Although currently
employed , he had experienced more than 5 weeks of unemployment in the past year . He had not participated in a government training or poverty program .
opinion , the riot was caused by " police
● In the prisoner's
brutality . " He also believed that poor housing , lack of job
opportunities , and tensions and frustrations resulting from
the Negroes ' failure to secure equality caused the trouble
in Detroit . His favorite leader is Martin Luther King and he
thought that non - violent means was the best way to achieve
civil rights for Negroes . He felt that conditions , both for
himself and Detroit Negroes , in general , had improved in
the last few years . He was also hopeful that the Negro would
someday have everything that the white man has today .
-About 1 in 5 of the 157 prisoners who reported on their
military experience had served in the Armed Forces . Only
one man was a Vietnam veteran .
-About half of the 157 prisoners reporting on their indebtedness status indicated that they were in debt . One - half
of those in debt owed for back rent or medical expenses .
More than 50 percent of those in debt owed under $ 200 .
Twenty - five percent owed between $ 200 and $ 500 .

3

One out of 4 single prisoners had
weekly earnings of $ 120 or more .
More than 2 out of 5 of these single
men earned more than $ 100 per week .
As a group , prisoners without a
high school diploma were almost as
likely to be making over $ 120 per
week as those with more education.2 /
However , considerably more high
school dropouts than graduates were
earning less than $ 80 per week .
Unemployment ( 22 percent ) was
nevertheless high about five times
higher than the unemployment rate
(about 4.5 percent ) for the entire Detroit metropolitan area . Unemployment was highest among the teenagers
( although the 1 out of 3 jobless may
have been overstated because some of
these youngsters were presumably

FOCUS ON PRISONERS
The prisoners averaged about
$ 120 a week . This equaled the average
wage in manufacturing for the Nation
as a whole , but was below the approximate $ 150 per week earned by the
average factory worker in the Detroit

area in July 1967. Even the youngsters
(both the 16- to 19 - year olds and those
20 to 24 ) averaged between $ 80 and
$ 100 per week . Two out of 3 of the
teenagers and 3 out of 4 of the men in
their early twenties reported they
were working .
One

out

of

8

-

married prisoners

was making less than $ 80 per week .
More than half of the married men
earned more than $ 120 each week./

Table
Selected

characteristics
Total Reported

1.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND WEEKLY WAGES
Total

Age

Under 20

Total Under

16

20-24
16-19

25 and over

Total 25-29 30-44

45 and

over

91

127

276

112

138

26

Employment
status
383
Employed .
107
employed
Not
.
6
reported
Not
.
employed
Not
21.8
rate

61
30
2

1

60
29
09

91
34

231
43

98
14

114
22

19

33.0

50.0

32.6

27.2

3

16

37

2

8

8 3 3

I
18
17

20

19

40

33

11

242433+

27

26.9

12

22

4

28

42
76
17

19

16.2

AI

30

NI
2

94

28
40

12.5

9

10

19

15

-

4 4

1

29
25

5

2

9

12

18

1

.

$

16

15.7

8 4 3

28

6

12

Not reported

7

7

113

12

6
16

.

74
80

.

12

101-120
121-150
151-200
Over 200

5

.

on

.

on

Four hundred prisoners reported
marital status and weekly earnings
earnings and education
Three hundred and ninetynine prisoners reported

/ /

2 1

15

31
42

.

..

.

$ $ $ $ $ $

$

Wages
Under 40
41-60 •
61-80
81-100

~

9

....

1

167

2

2

93

2

496

still attending school ) . Unemployment
was not much lower for the 20 - to 24year olds ( 27 percent compared to 33
percent
for the teenagers ) even
nationally ,
though ,
unemployment
rates among Negroes tend to drop off

very sharply between the teenagers
and the early twenties . The drop in
rates in the group surveyed occurred
in those over 25 , among whom unemployment averaged about 16 percent .

NUMBER OF PRISONERS WITH
INCOME BY WEEKS OF WORK LOST

Table 2.

Total

reported

Total reported

16-26

35

25

28

16

1

1

4

2

2 3

1

15

1

-

calling for advanced education More
prisoners 124 had
than
of every
job
semiskilled
such as
machine
operator or assembler Almost
in
occupation
79 worked in
service

.

a

.

1

a

)

(

4

1

)

(

.

;

prisoners

)

430

.

,

a

(

Some 59 who did not specify the type
of work they performed held jobs in
automobile plants
52 of the prisoners were laborers and 32 indicated
they were skilled workers This information is based on replies from
Table 3. KIND OF WORK
PERFORMED BY PRISONERS
Occupation

Number

OCCUPATION

.

Service

Automobile Plant
.

Laborers ·
Craftsmen

Other

..

.

,

)

(

a

a

5

2

Although about
out of prisoners
high school education or more
had
only
small number 17 had jobs
6





Total reported

Operative

.

.

;

;

)

(

a

.

-

.

6

)

-

a

$

Although the average pay for the
employed prisoner was
120
week
two thirds of those reporting on both
wages and unemployment experience
109 had periods of joblessness ranging from
week to
months or more
One hundred and fifty seven prisoners were asked whether they were
employed during the year
Fully
fourth of those who reported the weeks lost by unemployment in the past year 125 said they
lost months or more another fourth
lost
to 15 weeks less than 30 percent reported no work loss
4

work lost

.

EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS

3 1

10

12

6

0

8

.

4

30

1

50

5

1175

1



5

over

4

153∞

23

4
6
9

Does not include those who did not report wages and full weeks

(

26 and

LONI2

1

14
25

of

6

.



$



$ $

101-120
121-150
151-200
Over 200

5-15

1



$ 41-60 .
$ 61-80 .
$ 81-100
$

1-4

5

.

None

+

Under $ 40

109

Number of weeks lost

5

Usual
salary
per week

430
124

79
59
52

32
84

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Of the 276 men arrested who were
25 or older , 83 , or about 1 in 3 , were
high school graduates . This compares
with 1 out of 6 nonwhite male graduates of this age group in the general
population and equals the average of
all races . In addition , nearly 6 percent of those in the survey over the
age of 25 had more than 12 years of
schooling

.

1 out of 5 prisoners
( 93 )
teenager
was a
. One out of 3 of these
teenagers was a high school gradu-

Almost

ate . About 1 out of 4 of the 496 prisoners was between the ages of 20
and 24 ( inclusive ) . In this age group ,
43 of the 127 ( 34 percent ) were high
school graduates and 10 in this age
group had education beyond high
school .
About 1 out of 6 prisoners had participated in a Federaltraining or poverty program . The younger prisoners
were more likely to have been in such
programs . About 1 in 5 of the prisoners under age 25 reported some kind
of participation in a job training or
poverty program as against only 1 in
8 of the older prisoners .

Table 4. YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY AGE

...

26

5.2
1.0

ber

59.1
32.3

3.

3.2

Per-

276

100.0

52

18.8
44.6

55.1
33.9

123

10

7.9

16

cent

83

30.

5.8

of all of the prisoners were

.

married

Number

70
43

-

40 percent

FAMILY STATUS

100.0

127

5.4

55
30

cent

1



100.0

cent

25 and over

7

156

12.3
50.0
31.5

93

Per-

Num-

2

years and

over
Not reported

61

248

.
.

12

...

100.0

Per-

1

years and
under
9-11 years
12 years . : .

8

496

Number

4

....

Age
20-24

Under 20

53
550

Total

all persons
PerNumber
cent

13

completed

Total

5

Years of school

$

8

.

$

$

.

.

7

,

$

.

.

,

"

"
.

.

1

5

,

,

.

,

owed

,

separated divorced
or widThus about
out of every
prisoners over the age of 25 was
living apart from his wife and family
Because some of the single prisoners reported that they had children
the number of broken families among
the prisoners is even higher About
were

$

-

One fourth of the prisoners over

25 were single and another 20 percent

a

third of those with two to
four children earned between 121 and
150 per week One out of prisoners
with two to four children earned less
than 80 per week About half of the
prisoners with two to four children
earned more than 120 per week The
median weekly income for prisoners
with five or more children was about
125
Two hundred and forty prisoners who had children also supplied
information on their earnings
About

Table

MARITAL STATUS AND AGE OF DETROIT PRISONERS

5.

Marital status

Total

Total

Married

Total Under

496

...

Single
Separated ,
divorced ,
widowed
Not reported

93

16-19 20-24

16

Total

25-29

30-44

127

276

112

138

8
80

38

147

64

69

84

71

36

35

5

56

11

33

1

2

1

1

8

82

2

12

1

62
24

over

91

193

• •

25 and

2

237

..

Age

Under 20

-

12

45 and

over
26
14

12

EARNINGS AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN

Table 6.

Salary per week

Table 7.

replied

10

7

27

46

13

10

wages and

Over
$ 200
17
1

108
24
28

29

both questions

200

2

28

$ 151-

11
3

71

27
12
20

121150

2 9

64

$

3

101-

120

children

.

369

$

on

prisoners

,

the 496

-

39
17

6 6

4752

.

Of

/

·

32

and over

$ 81

100

1

0

137

·

61-

80

7

29
16

71



.

1

5

14

129

2-4

1

/

$

5

3691

.

reported

60

$ 40

9

Total

$ 41-

Under

reported

3

Total

children

to

Number of

EARNINGS AND MARITAL STATUS

8

I

19
14
2

16

marital status and weekly earnings

.

400 reported on

10
1

25

27

200

$

113
68
34

Over

21

80
37
34

3 7

20
47

151200

1

74

12

1

42

$

121-

150

|

$

$

-

101-

120

3 6

·

$

$

19

81-

100

42

2

31

61

80

2

1

Of the 496 prisoners

1

• •

10

26
17

,

Widowed



178

4

.

Divorced



14

175

60

1 2

400

41-

7

reported

Married

Single
Separated

40

/

Total

Under

3 2

Total

reported

Status

$

Marital

$

Salary per week

ORIGIN
15 percent of the prisoners
lived in Detroit 5 years or less .
Almost 200 ( 40 percent ) of the prisoners had been born in the Deep South .
( Florida , South Carolina , Georgia ,
Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , Ar-

had

About

kansas and Texas . ) An additional 67
had been born in the border States .
(North Carolina , Tennessee , Kentucky , West Virginia , Missouri , and
Oklahoma . ) Of those born in the Deep
South , over 40 percent had lived in
Detroit for more than 15 years .
Almost half of the prisoners live
with from four to seven persons . More
than 10 percent are crowded into living
quarters with eight or more others .
Although 237 prisoners are single ,
only 80 reported that they lived alone .
The average number of persons per
household is over five .
PRISONERS

'

VIEWS :

Police brutality was , by far , the

most frequent response of the prisoners to the question " What do you
think caused this trouble in Detroit ? "
About 30 percent 159 of the 523 responses- ( some prisoners gave more
than one reason ) pointed , in the view
of the prisoners , to the police as the
causal agent of the riot . Prisoners referred to specific incidents such as
beatings and other physical violence
and personal abuse on the part of the
police .
The second most frequent reason
given as to the cause of the riot was
less specific , but can be summed up
in the term ' discrimination . " Some
of these responses indicated the frustrations and tensions resulting from
ineffectual efforts of Negroes to end
segregation and discrimination as the
cause . Other responses emphasized
poor housing and living conditions and
lack of job opportunities ( 54 ) . Many of

-

prisoners

incident involving a neighborhood bar
(a " blind pig ' ) as the cause of the
trouble . These responses did not
mention police brutality .

Table 8. RESPONSE TO QUESTION :

" WHAT DO YOU THINK CAUSED
THIS TROUBLE IN DETROIT ? ”

Number of
Responses
523
Total .
159
Police brutality
Tensions and frustrations
resulting from Negroes '
65
efforts to gain equality

Don't know .

Lack of job opportunities , low pay , poor
housing and living

conditions .
Raid on " blind pig " without mention of police

"

CAUSE OF RIOT

the

not know what caused the riot . About
40 responses referred to a specific

(

114

)

stated that they did

brutality .

Outside agitators
Other responses .

" ...

114

54
40
15

76

FAVORITE NEGRO LEADER
About 50 percent ( 178 ) of the 363
prisoners who expressed a preference
for a favorite Negro leader selected
the Reverend Martin Luther King as
their first choice . About 14 percent of
the prisoners indicated that Stokely
Carmichael was their favorite leader .
Another
mad
and

15

percent selected Muham-

Ali ( Cassius Clay ) , Malcolm X

Elijah Muhammad

as their favorite leaders .
Of those who expressed a preference for Martin Luther King as
their favorite Negro leader , the most
frequently
mentioned
means
of

achieving civil rights was through
nonviolent approaches such as political action . The next most frequently
cited approach was a unified Negro
front . The third and fourth most frequently mentioned solutions were

9

education

and

respectively .

raising self - esteem ,

Prisoners who expressed a preference for Stokely Carmichael , Muhammad Ali , Malcolm X and Elijah

Muhammad ( combined ) , most frequently mentioned nonviolent measures , followed by force and violence ,
as the best ways of securing civil
rights .
The third most mentioned
means was a unified approach , followed by education and raising selfesteem . About 50 prisoners , who
named a favorite leader , did not offer
any suggestions .

FAVORITE NEGRO
LEADERS

Table 9.

Total

Number

..

Reverend Martin Lu-

ther King

10



363
178

Stokely Carmichael ..
Adam Clayton Powell .
Muhammad Ali . •

Malcolm X. .

.

Elijah Muhammad

Other

..

.

52

24
21

20
12

56

MOST THOUGHT CONDITIONS
HAD IMPROVED
The majority of the interviewed
believed that conditions in the last
few years had become better for themselves and for Negroes generally in
the Detroit area . About 1 out of 5
thought conditions had become worse

for himself , and a slightly smaller
proportion felt that conditions for Negroes in the Detroit area were worse .

APPENDIX
PROFILE OF

500

NEGRO MEN ARRESTED IN THE DETROIT RIOT ,
1967

( Number )

Age

No

Not reported

23821
2

19
976

8
2

62

82

7

44

8

147

64

69

71

36

35

15

26

14

34
236

12
100

-

61
12

20
112

2424334
1453I

9

53

35

10

905

29

72
2

14
28

56

14

19
12
2

4
1

21

4

74
4

12
22

6

11

58
67
119

19
107

9

8 3

4 4

20
40

18
17
19
33

2

21

19

1

48

28
63

1

114
22

I

3

19
35

28

98
14

1

18

65

76
17
16
37

2 6

32
2

I

1

I
-

81

15

28
40
42

29

1

-

55

34

8
3

8

38
84

408

1

132

2

13

2
7
6

9
1

2
2

-

57
42

1

63

4

2 3
53

2
IIINII
1

53
3250
IM
3

2

7
6

9
1

82

80

49
22

43

over

6

Government training
Yes

27

18

231

3

Not reported

34

28

-

12

6

8

4-7
or more

80
120
224

91

2

2-3

30

16
13

39

1

1

Persons living in house

94

26

58

18
29
25
10

12

138

83
16

16

12

237
33
23

12

112

123

16

113
28
19

193

-

12

Not reported

12

3

Widowed

42
74
80

1

Divorced

15
31

30

44

70

-

and

29

43
10

60
29

61

276

over

25-30-45

32
20

INI

Separated

107

-

53
30

Total

1

1

Single

383

55
30

2

Marital status
Married

127

INI

Not reported

91

8

$

81-100
101-120
121-150
151-200
Over 200

2

1

$ $ $ $ $ $

$

Salary
Under 40
41-60
61-80

24

I

Employment status
Employed
Not employed
Not reported

20-

19

72

Over 12 years
Not reported

248
156
26
5

3

years

16-

16

1

12

6

years

9-11 years

93

Under

6

8

Total

39
22

4

Years of school completed
Under 8 years

496

9

Total number interviewed

Total

7

Selected

characteristics

25 and

20

6

Under

24
1

11

PROFILE OF

NEGRO MEN ARRESTED IN THE DETROIT RIOT ,

500

1967

( Percent

Total number interviewed
Years of school completed
Total reported
Under 8 years
8 years
9-11 years
12 years
Over 12 years

Under 20

Num- Per-

ber

Total

cent

2-3

4-7
8 or more
Government training
Total reported
Yes
No

12

30-

29

44

over

27.8

5.2

27. 7
10. 3 41. 0
18. 2 59. 1
23.4 23. 0

5.3
30.8

55.6

22.6

491

100.0
100.0

18. 3

·

4

17.9

25.9

55.8

22.8

39
22
248
156

7.7

O

9.1

100.0
100.0

22. 2
19. 2

8

18. 6
15. 9
28. 0

· 4
.3

100.

100.0 15.
100.0 46.

1

25-

25.6

402

Persons living in house
Total reported

Total

18.3

Salary
Total reported -

Single
Separated
Divorced
Widowed

24

0.4

100.0

Marital status
Total reported
Married

20-

19

18. 7

490
383
107

$ 151-200
Over $200

16-

100.0

Employment status
Total reported Employed
Not employed

101-120
$ 121-150

25 and over

496

100. 0

$

Under
16

26

Under $ 40
$ 41-60
$ 61-80
$ 81-100

age )

Age

Total

Selected

characteristics

distribution by

15
31

42
74
80
113

28
19

492
193
237
33
23

100. 0

100.0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

100.
100.

O
O

9. 1

1

.9

-

4

487
80
120
224
63

100.0 18.9
100.0 3.8
100.0 15.0

.4

100. 0 21. 9
100. 0 34. 9

• 5

1.6

489

100.0 19.0

4

81

6

408

25.5
23.8
31.8

100.0 15.9

26.9
30.8

60. 3
40. 2

22.9
25.6
13.1

27.8
29.8
20. 6

59.5

25.

28.9

61.5

38.5

|

55.9

33. 3

1

20.0

-

21.6

9.7 25.8
19.0 42.9

24. 3 54.

11. 3

36. 3

10.6
3.6

52.5

25. 7

22.

67.

1

1
3

25.0
35.4

23. 0
23. 8
29. 2
32. 1

35.7
15.8

60.7
84.2

14. 3

18. 1

25.8

55. 7

4.

19. 7

76. 2
30. 0

22.6 27.8
33.2 35. 8

1

33.8

3.0

1

· 5

25.0
26.9

12.9 48. 4
19.0 66. 7

14. 3

.8

100. 0 34.

18.2
15.6
27.1

38.7

100. 0 34. 6
100. 0
3.0
100. 0
1
100. 0

6

90.9

28. 2 49.6
27.6 53. 2

1

100.0 18.5
100.0 4. 1

-

1

21.4
19.2

46.7

3.6

82.

10. 3

15. 7 24.9
20. 0

7
7
38. 7
14. 3
21. 6
11. 3
10. 6

-

7.7

45 and

18.5
3.8
15.0
21.4
33. 3

18.6
34.6
15.4

35.4

9.0 87.9
8.7 91.3
100.0

21.

163.

15. 2
18. 2

14. 8

57.6

22. 9 27. 0
14. 8 24. 7

26. 2

55. 2

5.0
6.5
5.5
13. 3

12.9
4. 8

5.4
3.8
2.7

14.

-

3

5.3
7.3

-

50. 0

25.8
23.5

42.0
57.8

5.3

2

22. 4 28. 1
17.5 43. 7
23. 3 24. 2
23.7 27. 2
22. 2 19.1

55. 4

1.3

3.8

33. 3

23.8 72.5
29.2 55.8
25.0 53. 1
23.8 41. 3

25. 7

3.2

12. 1
21. 7

17.4 52.
16. 7

2

13. 6

24.5 27.5

4.9
11. 3

8.3
2.2
1

5.3
2.5

5.9

PROFILE OF

500

NEGRO MEN ARRESTED IN THE DETROIT RIOT,
1967

(

Percent distribution by characteristics
Age
Total

Total number interviewed

93

496

over

25 and

Under 20

Total Under

Selected

characteristics

)

16-

20-

16

19

24

2

91

127

Total
276

30-

2529

44

112

138

45 and

over

26

Years of school completed
2
26
112
127
274
136
88
90
491
Total reported
Percent
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
46.2
3. 1
3.6 11.8
11. 7
3.4
3.3
7.9
Under 8 years
·
11.5
7.3
9.6
3.6
2. 2
2. 3
4.5
8 years
30.8
51.8 41.9
44. 9
60. 2
61. 1 100. 0
55.1
50.5
9-11 years
7.7
34.8 30.9
12 years
34. 1
33.9 30.3
31.8 33. 3
6.2
3.8
5.8
5.9
Over 12 years
7.9
5.3
Employment status
Total reported
Percent
Employed
Not employed
Salary
Total reported
Percent
Under $ 40

10.4
19.9

28.

121-150

Total reported
Percent
Married

100.0

67.0
33.0

-

Widowed

Persons living in house
Total reported
Percent
1

2-3
4-7
8 or more
training
Total reported
Percent
Yes

492
100.0
39. 2

48.

2

6.7

100.0

50.0
50.0

63

89
100.0

67.4
32.6
63

100.0
11.1

100. 0
11. 1

9.5
25.4

19.0
9.5
25.4

14. 3

14. 3

19.0

19.0

1.6

4. 7

Divorced

No

1

7.0

Single
Separated

Government

21.8

18.4

$ 151-200
Over $ 200

Marital status

78. 2

3.7
7.7

$ 81-100
$ 101-120

2

91

100.0

402
100.0

$ 41-60
$ 61-80

$

490

19.0

·
-

1.6

489
100.0
16.6

83.4

112

136

100.0

100.0

100.0

15.7

12.5

72.8
27.2

84.3

87.5

26

83.8
16.

2

239

101

116

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

4. 0

6.3

100

3.0

8.0

18.0

29.0
25.0

10.0
3.0

2. 1

11.7
16.7
17.6
31.8
7.

1

6.7

3.0
3.0

7.9

18.8
19.8

39.6
4.0
4.

0

·

6.9

15.5

14.7

16. 4

28.4
7.8

127

274

111

137

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

90.

100. 0

89.9

66. 1
2. 4

10.6

89

2

8.8
1

-

1.1

9.0
1.1

92

100.0

3.3
19.6
53.3
23.9

2

90

100.0

100.0
3. 3

50.0
50.0

93

2

100.0

100.0

1

-

69.9

100.

30.

20.0
53.3
23.3
91

0

100.0

30.8
69.2

29.9
1.6

53.6
25.9
7.7
2.2

57.7
32.4
5.4
3.6

.9

50.4
25.5
13.9
8.8
1.5

125

270

109

137

100.0
15.2

100.0
21.5

100.0
12.8

100.0
25.5
21. 2

28.0
44.8
12.0

126

100.0
15.1

84.9

24. 8
44. 1

9.6

270
100.0
12.6

87.4

25.7
48,6
12.8

44. 5

8.8

112

132

100.0
10.7

100.0

89.3

100.0

73. 1

26.9
22

100.0
9. 1
18. 2
9. 1

18.2

13.6
13.6
18.2
·

10.3

100.0

91

1.2


16.4
24.6
46.0
12.9

274

100.0

100.0

4. 7

487
100.0

125

15. 2

84.8

26

100.0

53.8
15.4
19. 2

11.5
24
100. 0

37.5

41.7
20.8

26

100.0

7.7 .

92.3

13

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE
(Total number interviewed

1.

5.

Age_

Number

Total reported
Under
16-19
20-24
25-29
30-44

16

years

years
years
years
years

45 and over
Not reported

2. Sex

M

F

Total reported
Operative
Service
Automobile
plant

.4

2

18.3
25.6
22.6
27.8

91

127
112
138
26

Laborers

Craftsmen
Other
Not reported

5. 2

please )

6.

Total reported

Under 8 years

8 years
9-11 years
12 years

Over 12
Not reported

491
39
22

248
156
26

Employed .

Total reported

Employed
Unemployed
Not reported

Total reported
Under $40
$ 41-60
$ 61-80
$ 81-100

Percent
100.0

7.9

$ 101-120

4.5
50.5
31.8

$ 121-150
$ 151-200

Over $ 200
Not reported

5.3

Unemployed .

490
383
107
6

79
59
52
32
84
66

Number

5

Number

124

Percent
100.0
28.8
18.4
13.7
12.

1

7.4

19.5

$

7.

4.

430

/

1

Salary paid
paid by that job per week

.]

school grade completed
Number

Kind of work you do .
Number

100.0

[Only men were interviewed
3. Highest

)

Percent

496

( circle

- 496

Percent
100.0
78. 2

21.8

402
15
31

42
74
80

113

Percent
100.0

3.7
7.7

10.4
18.4
19.9
28.

1

7.0

28
19
80
94

*8

4. 7

If

on aid program , state weekly
sum provided $

Number
19
Receiving aid
receiving
aid 477
Not

[by
Amount

of aid

sufficient
meaningful . ]

Percent
3.8

96.2

was not reported
numbers to be

15

8.

City and state of birth
Number

Total reported
Detroit

Other Michigan
Deep South 2
All other
Not reported

/

9.

Not reported

492
174

100.0
35.4

12
196
110

39.8

100.0

No

Protestant
Catholic

Muslim

None

Other
Not reported

450
359
44
3

28
16

13.

/

Total reported
Married

14.

193

237
33

493
296

Who do you

197

.7

48.

2

6.7

490

100.0

41
119

24. 3

8.4

10.0

Mother
Other relatives

80
63

Alone
Other

90

18.4

12

2.4

Not reported

15

21

etc. )

3.

1

16.3
12.9

4.3

6

How many persons live together
in your house ?

Percent
100.0
39.2

Percent

49

( YMCA ,

57.1

/

1

Both parents

Friends

42.9

100.0
60.0
40.0

live with ?

Father

100.0

8.5

3

Family

6.2
3.6

100.0
38.0
19.0
34.5

When you were growing up , were

Wife

9.8

Percent

your parents : Together
Separated or divorced
Number Percent

Total reported

15.

492

49

Number

100.0
79.8

Marital status
Number

over

Together
Not together
Not reported

1

Percent

and

Total reported

46

Church Attendance
Total reported 408
175
Yes
233
No
88
Not reported

Single
Separated

5

Not reported

regularly ?

Religion

Total reported

170
85
154
38

2-4

9

Do you attend church

447

0

6.0

89
298

1. 2

Number 1 of children you have

Total reported

14.6
18.3
61.2

71

4. 7

6

4

1

487
29

23

Number

22. 4

Number

16

12.

2.4

4

Religion ( don't probe )
Yes

11.

Percent

Years in Detroit ( if
if months ,, print
M after figure ) .
Number Percent
Total reported
Under 1 year
1-5 years
6-15 years
Over 15 years

10.

Divorced
Widowed
Not reported

1

Number

Total reported
1

2-3

4-7

487
80
120

224

Percent
100.0
16.4
24.6

46.0

480

100.0

241

50. 2

No

239

49.8

class , etc. )
TV , radio
Movies

16

Have you been in any government
retraining , youth , poverty , or
other such program ? Yes__ No_
If yes , what program ?
Number

Percent

489

100.0
16.6
83.4

Total reported
Yes

81

408

No

Not reported

7

do you

think of

/

' Drink

"

'

20.7

112

3.7

20
22

4.

1

, "

" women , "

" meeting

people , " etc.
Other
Not reported
21.

23

Have you ever had nervous condition that anybody thought you
Yes
doctor for
should see
please
tell what
If yes
No
seemed to be wrong

Percent

,

28

)

etc.

Local --athletic
or social
Church affiliated

7

25

,

Civil Rights
NAACP etc.

Other
Not reported

)

Union

26.4
23.6

6.6

16

15.1

16
14

15.1
13.

410

2

,

(

100.0

Not reported
22.

Who

is

leader

favorite Negro

your

Number

Total reported
Rev. Martin
Luther King

Stokely Carmichael
Adam Clayton

Percent

363

100.0

178

49.0

52

14.

3

5

Number

?

do

Elk Mason

Yes

No

100.0
13.8
86.2

Powell

24

6.6

Ali

21

5.8

Muhammad

Malcolm X

Elijah Muham-

mad
Other
Not reported

12
56

5.5
3.

3

4

3.9

397

492
68
424

Percent

4

14

106
Total reported
National fraternal

Total reported

2220

84

What clubs or organizations
you belong to

(

19.

Percent
100.0
82.4
13.7

102

Unfavorable
Other response
Not reported

Number

?

Number

Total reported
Favorable

/

?

What

it

18.

4

.

,

Program 3

4.8

14.0

76

a

17.

cultural activities (reading

52.8

3
/,

Not reported

Sport (baseball ,
fishing , pool ,
286
etc. )
Music or other

Percent

Yes

Total reported

100.0

542

Total reported

Have you ever voted ? Yes_____ No_
Number

Percent

Number

9

?

16.

5/

12.9

63

Not reported

is your favorite amusement ?

What

a

8

or more

20.

2016

Percent

Number

15.4

133

17

23.

Why ?

Number

Total reported
Like what he
says (pro-

gram )
Helped Negro
people (ac-

345

100.0

157

45.5

complishments

69

)

Doesn't preach
hate (nonviolence )
Says what he
means

Forceful or
violent ap-

proach
Leads in the

right direc-

tion
Other
Not reported
24.

Who

do

9.3

17

4.9

11

3. 2

Stokely Carmichael
Adam Clayton

Powell

Muhammad

Ali

Malcolm X

Elijah Muhammad

Other
Not reported
25.

gram )

Forceful or
violent ap-

proach
Other
Not reported
26.

21.8

28

10.7

18

6.9

8

3.

1

11

4. 2

22
118

45.0

8.4

239

100.

O

Stokely Carmichael
Elijah Muhammad

Rev. Martin
Luther King
Malcolm X
Adam Clayton

Powell

Other
Not reported
27.

26.3

13.

1

7.

1

6.1

Percent

644

100.0

22

3.4

97

15.1

28

4. 3

158
42

24.5

71

226

6.5

11.0
35.

1

126

What famous person would you
like most to be like ?
Number Percent

Total reported
" Myself "
Rev. Martin
Luther King

356
62

100.0
17.4

40

11.2

Ali

31

8.7

edy

25

7.0

6

1.7

6

1.7

Stokely Carmichael
Elijah Muhammad

26

13

Please name other Negro leaders
you have heard of .
5/

John F. Kenn-

99

16.2

397

Muhammad

Percent

16

7

Ali

Percent

57

31.3

6

Total reported
Muhammad

11.0

100.0

31

Number

1

262

Number

18

6.

Why ?

Total reported
Like what he
says (pro-

ments )
Doesn't preach
hate (nonviolence )
Says what he
means

second best ?

Number

Total reported
Rev. Martin
Luther King

complish-

20.0

32

21
38
151

you like
5You

Helped Negro
people (ac-

Percent

Malcolm X
Sports figures

1

48

.3

13.5

Number

Entertainers

Other
Not reported
28.

47

13. 2

90
140

25.3

Will there ever come

the Negro has everything
white man has ? Yes__________No
When?
Years

Total reported

Yes
No
Not reported

Total reported

Under 10 years

111
38

24. 2

380

100.0
24.5
27.1

Never
Not reported

31.

Nonviolent

political

119

21.

15.8

esteem

58

10. 3

violence
Other
Not reported

83
58

14.7

Force and

30.

10.

3

fore

Weeks before
Month or more
before
Other
Not reported

talk to regularly
are a good thing ?
Relationship

Total reported
Yes

32.

Is there

you know and
who thinks riots

Yes

No

Percent

481
86

100.

O

17.9

10.7

6771

164

Percent
100.

O

23.9

6.0
4.

5

7.5

35

6

6.0
9.0
9.0

15
8

22.4
11.9

4
6

429

any person you know and

are a bad thing ?
Relationship

Yes_____No

Number

Total reported
Yes

No

Not reported

Number

20. 2

talk to regularly who thinks riots

85

Is there any person

17
9

1

:

A week before

1

89

Raise self-

in OTHER

During riot
At start of riot
A few hours
before riot
The day before
A few days be-

100.0
28.0

6.0

63.

When did you last talk to him
about such things ? During riot ,
at start of riot , a few hours before riot , the day before , a few

Total reported

Percent

158

100.0

53

Number

,

action
United
action
Education

5-

412

8.4

19.5
20.5

/

565

846

fill

is the best way for the Negro to go about getting civil
rights ?
1

Total reported

Relationship 1/
Total reported
Relative

82.1

days before , week before , weeks
before , month or more before .
Circle correct answer above , or

What

Number

15

Casual acquaintance
Other
Not reported

Percent
100.0
75.8

395

Not reported

Friend

the

458
347

93
103
32
74
78
116

10-20
21-40
40 plus

No

a day when

Number

29.

Percent

Relationship 1/
Total reported
Relative

478
268
210

Percent
100.0
56.1
43.9

18

2498/
78

100.0
31.3

19

Number

Friend

Casual acquaintance
Other
Not reported
33.

Percent

129

51.8

15

6.0

27

10.8

259

in OTHER

Number

/

A few days before

A week before

Weeks before
Month or more
before
Other
Not reported

3.6
6.4

14

Number

Total re-

ported 10/
Rev. Martin
Luther King
Roy Wilkins
Adam Clayton

6.4
7.7

14
17
23

10.5

36

16.4

31

14.

Powell
Dick Gregory

1

278

Total reported
Yes

Who?

No

Not reported

mad

Malcolm X

Percent

119

100.0
26.9

324

73.

443

1

53

Other
Not reported
36.

Total re-

ported 10
Stokely Carmichael

20

123

72

100. 0

58.5

1

Percent
100.0

185
14

68.8

5.2
2.6
1.9
1.5

44

1
1

48

1.5

17.8

39

Number

Percent

57.9

42.

What other cities have had riot
troubles
like Detroit ?

Who

Number

100.0

269

75

Stokely Carmichael
Muhammad Ali
Elijah Muham-

who
are a good thing ?

Number

Percent

Who

Is there any famous Negro
thinks these riots
No
Yes .

451
261
190
45

Not reported

7.7

who

thinks these riots are a bad thing ?
No
Yes

Yes

27.3

8

The day before

Is there any famous Negro

Total reported

O

1

1.6
18.7

2

No
100.

1

4.9

23
48

Number

Percent

2209
Total reported
60During riot
17
At start of riot
A few hours be-

34.

35.

8.
8.

6

Other
Not reported

:

fore riot

10
10

mad

When did you last talk to him
about such things ? During riot ,
at start of riot , a few hours before riot , the day before , a few
days before , week before , weeks
before , month or more before .
Circle correct answer above , or

fill

Rev. Martin
Luther King
Malcolm X
Muhammad Ali
Elijah Muham-

Total re-

ported 5 /
Los Angeles (Watts )
Chicago
Newark

1,108
228
192
185

Percent
100.

O

20.6
17.3
16.7

Number
New York
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Birmingham
Other cities
37.

Harlem
Detroit

16.3

181
101
20
20
181

9.

Total re-

ported 5 /

1.8
1.8
16.3

40.

Radio
Newspapers
Other
Not reported

Number

Total reported
TV and radio
TV only
Radio only
None

-

Number

Total re-

/ /

TV
Percent

lence
(beating ,

71

Does your home have a :
set
Radio ?

496

100.

Police viodogs

5.6
8.7
6.9

43
34

,

etc. )

Police action ,
no violent
arrests , hold

O

78.8

391
28

1

3.9

:

ported 1 5
Looting ,
burning ,
fighting

90

4.

looting , attacking police , sniping , setting fire , etc.
Probe : Ask what they seemed to
be doing most such as , mostly
sniping , setting fires , etc. )

100.0
35.3
19.7
32.6
12.4

258
144
238

8.2
8.2
5.8

What were most of the people
doing in these race riots ?
(Examples

Percent

730

TV

38
38
27
19
18

Birmingham
Cleveland
Selma

1

Where did you hear about other
cities having such riots ?
Number

38.

Percent

back crowds

483

100.0

226

46.8

83

17.2

26

5.4

88
60

18.2
12.4

,

etc.

Percent

Crowd action
nonviolent ; or
action by other
,

39.

Have you seen any race

TV ?

riots on

No
they
Which ones did
show ?

Yes

Number

Total reported
Yes
No
Not reported

470
376
94
26

officials

Percent
100.

Total re-

ported 10/
Watts L. A.
Newark
Chicago-

(

Cicero

463
)

138
92

80.0
20.0

46

Percent
100.

126

O

Which ones ?
Number

(fire-

men , etc. )
Other
Not reported

O

29.8
19.9

9.9

What TV shows do you watch the
most ?
General Television Program
Categories
(No specific program title mentioned )

41.

73

Western

63

News

54

Total
10

Sports References
Boxing & Wrestling

Baseball
Football
36 Sports in General
7
1

21

49

Movies

14

Variety
Mysteries

13
12

8

The Invaders
Bill Kennedy
Star Trek

Comedies

7

Gunsmoke

All

6

The Joey Bishop Show

8

Specials

7

Science Fiction

6

Cartoons

3

Adventures
Dramas
Quiz Programs
Educational Programs

2
1

Discussion Programs
Spy Movies
Space Shows

42.

64
705

Total references to specific
programs

What

None

Other
Not reported

and " Unknown "

Total Responses

43.

636
310
167
76
38

45

Percent
100.

O

48.7
26.3
11.9

6.0
7.

1

30

ularly ?

Number

24

The Fugitive

21

Mission Impossible

19

The Ed Sullivan Show

13

Swinging Time

Look

The Johnny Carson Show
Combat

None

Bonanza

do you read

What magazines to you read reg-

I Spy

9

/

Detroit News
Free Press
Chronicle

30

12

newspapers

regularly ?

Total re-

tioned

( Specific
Television Program Titles
Mentioned )

22

309

ported 5

Specific Program Title Men-

"None "

Other titles

Number

mentioned )

309

110

)

General Program Category
specific program title
(No

- Jackie

Cheyenne
Green Hornet

5

Commercials
Army ( Documentary
Musicals

332

Rat Patrol
The Honeymooners
Gleason

Total re-

ported 5
Ebony

/

Jet

Life
Esquire

Sports Illustrated
Reader's
Digest

Other
Not reported

Percent

715
166

100.0

109
99

15.2
13.8

15

2.·

14
45

2.0
6.3

34
72
161

69

23. 2

1

4.8

10.1
22.5

programs do you hear

?

6.9
5.5
1.4

,

1

49.

Number

"

"

Type of Program 248
Soul and jazz
music
108
28
News

468

Relative
TV Radio

102
51
124

21.8
10.9
26.5

3.6
2.4

628
9

FM Music

18
12

80
111

17.

Serials and

4

adventures

All other

22
96

street
Other
Not reported

1.8

100.0

23.7

32



4.

47.

What did that source inform you
happening
If necessary
probe
Please try to remember
his the source's exact words.3

48.

After that who did you tell about
relationship of person not
name ____________ Try to remember
How
your exact words3
By
did you inform that person
By phone
personal contact

/

)

(

other offi-

8.1

10

2.

30

7.2

trated mad
No feeling
Have sense of

association

,

Told who

31.1

36

37

8.6
8.9

Number

Percent

DETT
Total reported
No one
Relatives

Friends

Other
Not reported

378
184
91

80
23

100.0
48.7
24.

1

130

,

,

Feel bad sad
Angry frus-

34

?

Critical of
Negroes
Critical of
whites or
society

4

cials

(

?

police or

:

100.

)

418

/

Critical of

O

/

5

?

Total re-

ported

Percent

it

Number

,

?

How do you feel when you see
race riot on TV

,

45.

a

:

)

Not reported

it in

Saw

?

Sports

9.3

4 8

)

religious

47

Percent

5
/

Total Reported1

5.5

Friend

shows
specified
Church and
(

21.4

/

Personality

,

:

,

,

.8
.6

it

WJBK

1

543

1.0

,

CKLW
WCAR
WXYZ

How did you first find out there
was trouble going on in Detroit
Respondent should answer without prompting
but
no answer
probe into these possibilities
Heard noise on street friend
phoned was out in street and saw
announced on TV heard
saw
about
on radio etc.
,

WJ LB

46.

34. 7

97

if

175
35
28
7

100.0
50.9

83

)

505
257

Percent

13.9
19.9

58

(

Total reported
Stations
WCHB
WCHD

rioters

Other
Not reported

;

Number

with the

it

regularly ?

(

What radio

it
,

44.

21.2

6.1

122

23

Percent

Number

7-18 hours
18-24 hours
Over 24 hours
Did not go
Not reported

How informed ?

Total re-

/
Personal

ported11

contact

By phone

191

100.0

170
21

89.0
11.0

52.

Try to

50.

What time of day did you hear
about it first ?

9-12 noon
1-4 pm
5-8 pm
9-12 midnight

After Sunday

Not reported

421
38

51
112

74
76
36

34

12.1
26.6
17.6
18.1

8.6
8.1

Number

9-12 noon
1-4 pm
5-8 pm
9-12 midnight
Did not go
After Sunday
Not reported
How long after ?
Total reported
Was at the
scene
Under 1 hour
1-6 hours
24

Percent
100.0

46.3
21.6

81
broken glass
People standing
around
38
Other
34
110
Not reported

17.0

,

damage

,

8.0
7.1

75

time did you first go to the
scene to find out what was going
on ?
How long was this
after you first heard about it ?

5-8 am

4. 4

22.4

103

Fire

9.0

2.8

Please describe what you saw

action

100.0

18.8

108

Police or
military

Percent

What

What time ?
Total reported
1-4 am

87

477
reported 5/
Looting ,
fighting , other
221
violence

53.
51.

17

Total

your exact

remember
words.3/

Total reported
1-4 am
5-8 am

11

Number

49.

Number

73

403
16
15

31

65

68
51
86
71

Percent

24
67
109

activities also if response is just standing around "
by asking " What else ? " )
serious

Number

100.0

4.0
3.7
7.7

16.1
16.9
12.7
21.3
17.6

93
388

were most of the people
doing the most of ? (Examples :
looting , sniping , fighting police ,
(Probe into more
etc. )
What

Total

/

reported 5

422

100.0

Looting ,
fighting , other
violence
220

52.1

Police or
military
20

4.7

29
broken glass
People standing
around
133
Other
20
reported5
103
/
Not

6.9

action

100.0

6.2

17.3
28.

1

Percent

Fire ,

damage

,

31.5

4.7

54.

What was the worst thing they
were doing ?
Number

Total
reported 5

/

100.0

Looting ,
fighting , other
109
violence

29.6

28

7.6

139

37.8

Police or
military
action

Fire ,

damage

,

broken glass

People standing
11
around
39
" Don't know "
42
Other
134
reported
Not
55.

riot .

Total reported
Yes
No
Not reported

405
151

254

Absolute
Number

Total reported
At homeinside
At homeoutside

3.0

At friend's-

10.6

inside

11. 4

At friend's-

-

outside
Outside - away
from riot
Outside - right
at the scene
Other
Not reported

Percent
100.0
37.3

62.7

91

58.

If somebody

said there was a teremergency
that was haprible
,
someplace
how would you
pening
check to find out if it were true ?
Number

Total reported
Go there
myself
Telephone
Radio , TV
Phone police
Do nothing
Other
Not reported

498
112
96
184
49

-

In transit
(from work ,
visiting )
At the scene
With friends

( talking )
Other
Not reported

the
not
but

(c )

31

7.1

37

8.5

22

5.0

28

6.4

59.

5.3

15.8

What were you doing just before
you went to see the riot ?

Sitting on
porch ( or
outside )

9.8
3.6
7.8

(b )

51.8

60

In bed

31

57. Just before you went to see
riot , where were you ? ( Do
suggest
let the respondent ;
probe ) ;
necessary
if
At home inside .
(a ).
home outside .
At

226

69

(general )
Watching TV

22.5
19.3
36.9

39

100.0

23

Total reported
At home

100.0

Percent

436

Number

Percent

18

f

( )

ify )

Did you meet any friends there ?
Number

56.

Outside , right at
At a store ,
the scene . ( g )
poolhall , or bowling alley . ( h ) .
Other ( specAt a bar . ( i ) .

Percent

368

At a friend's inside . ( d )
At a friend's outside . ( e )
Outside , away from the

Percent

416

100.0

129

31.0

39

9.4

70

16.8

19

4.6

37

8.9

56
62

13.5

4

1.0

14.9

80

What do you think caused this
trouble in Detroit ?
25

Number

Total
reported1 5
Police
brutality

/ /

523
159

Raid on the
" blind pig "
no mention
of police

Percent
100.0

30.4

'

40

Tension and

frustration
resulting from

inequality
Lack of job
opportunities ,
low pay , poor

65

Agitators , conspiracy

Don't know
Other
responses
Not reported

54
15

405

More justice

85

Enforce law ,
marital law
Impossible to
prevent riots

131

29.8

now

33

7.5

methods

29

6.6

7

1.6

2.9

Use greater

force
Call in Negro

leaders
Use force
against whites

solution
Other
Not reported

100.0

20.9

.

15.8

57

14.

1

28

6.9

8

2.0

1

35

97

8.0

22.

1

66

In the last year , how many different times have you been out
of work ?
Number
Percent
Total reported
None
2

64

.7

Total number interviewed -157
(in remainder of questionnaire )
62a

25.2

3

Have no

1

brutality ,
lack of

understanding
Talk , reason ,
cooperation

23.5

Use humane

,

decent treatment
End police

103

Talk and

What do you think should be done
to prevent this kind of trouble in
the future ?
Percent
Number

and equality

100.0

tactics as

14.5

Percent

439

Would refuse
to take job

10.3

76

Better jobs ,
housing , living
conditions ,
financial help ,
education
102

26

Total
reported!/

12.4

21.8

2.5

91

Number

7.6

114

1.7
10.9

the city hired you to break up
riots , how would you do it ?

13

Total
reported¹ /

10

reason with
people
Use same

living

conditions

7

44

If

61.

brutality

60.

Separation of
Negro and
white
Don't know
Other
Not reported

3

135
58

43
23
4

100.0
43.0
31.9
17.0

3.0

5
3.7
4-6
2
Over 6
1.5
22
reported
Not
62b . Altogether how many full weeks
were you you of work last
year ?

Number

Total reported
None
1-4
5-15

16-26
26 and over

Not reported
62c .

125
36

28.8
20.8
25.6

19
12

9.6

64.

None

126
11

Number

Total reported

100.0

8.7

38.9

49

37

29.4

15
5

11.9

4.0

9
31

7.

4
5

or more

Not reported

Have become
better
Stayed the
same
Have become
worse
Not reported

Percent

1

65.

1

Total reported
None
1

2

118
107
8
2

3

4
5

Not reported

1

Have become

better

Stayed same
Have become

100.0

90.7

worse

6.8

Not reported

1.7

-

or more



8

66.

39

How much money do you feel you
need each week to live decent-

Total reported

100.0

Under $ 40
$ 41-60
$ 61-80
$ 81-100
$ 101-120
$ 121-150

32
8

21.2

50

33.

$ 151-200

33

21.9

3
5
12

Yes
No
Not reported

Percent
2.0
3.3
7.9
5.3
1

53.2

38

24.7

34

22.1

3

67.

Percent

149

100.0

85

37

57.0
24.8

27

18.1

8

Did you ever have part of your
wages taken away ( garnisheed ) by
your employer because you owed
No
a debt ? Yes

Total reported

151

82

Number

ly ?

Number

100.0

Do you think that conditions for
Negroes generally in Detroit have
become better , stayed the same
or become worse ?

Total reported

Percent

Percent

154

Number

How many of these employers
fired you ?
Number

6

have become better , stayed the
same , or become worse ?

you

2
3

5.3

ly

15.2

have

8

In the last few years , do you think
that conditions for you personal-

32

employers

Total reported

63.

100.0

26
32

Number

.

Over $ 200
Not reported

In the last year , for how many
different
worked ?

62d

Percent

152

27
125

Percent
100.0

17.8
82.2

5

Did any of your employers ever

fire you because of these debts ?
Yes

212/

No and not

reported

155

27

68.

Are you in debt now for ?

How much ?

Back rent
Car payment
Medical expenses
Food
Clothing
Other

Total reported
Yes

Percent

157

100.0

77
80

49.0

129

100.0

51.0

Types of indebtedness

/

ported 5
Rent

Car
Medical ex-

26.4

34
17

13.2

expenses
29
Food
3
15
Clothing
31
Other
Total indebtedness

22.5
2.3
11.6
24.0

Total re-

ported
Under $ 200
$ 201-500
$ 501-1,000
Over $ 1,000
Not reported

Percent

71
38

100.0
53.5
28.2

20
4
9

5.6

12.7

100.0
24.4
75.6

No.

Percent

Number

Total reported
Yes

100.0
17.6
82.4

136

24

No
112
21
Not reported
71. Were you ever in the Armed
Forces ? If yes , when WW
Korea Viet Nam,
Other_______

-

-

Number

II-

Percent

Total interviewed

Never served
in Armed
Forces
Served in
Armed
Forces
When-World
War II
Korea

Viet Nam
Other

9

131
32

No
99
26
Not reported
70. Have you ever had anything you
bought repossessed by the seller ?

Yes__

Total Inter-

Total re-

Have you ever had a judgment ( a
court order to pay a debt ) against
you ? Yes
No
Number

Number
viewed
Did not report debts
Reported debt

69.

157

100.0

124

79.0

33

21.0

7

4.5

1

5.7
.6

16

10.2

9

FOOTNOTES
Classification developed subsequent to interview based on recorded response .
2 Deep South includes
Florida , South Carolina , Georgia , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , Arkansas
and Texas .

/

/Classification

3

not made because of diversity of replies and need for individual analysis .
Some persons volunteered opinions on training programs who were not in these programs .
More than one response tabulated .
6 / Only 84 of the 86 persons replying " yes " to the above reported .
7 Only 67 of the 86 persons replying "yes" to question 30 reported .
8 Only 249 of the 268 persons replying " yes " to the above reported .
9 Only 220 of the 268 persons replying " yes to question 32 reported .
TO More than one response was tabulated applicable to " yes " above .
Only 191 of the 194 persons who reported that they had informed someone about the riot replied to this question .
12 Applicable to " yes " replies of previous question .

/
/

/
/
II/
/

28

,

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Copies of this publication or additional information on manpower programs and activities may be obtained from the
U.S. Department of Labor's Manpower Administration in
Washington , D. C. Publications on manpower are also available from the Department's Regional Information Offices
at the addresses listed below .

John F. Kennedy Building , Boston , Massachusetts 02203
341 Ninth Avenue , New York , New York 10001
1015 Chestnut Street , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19107
1371 Peachtree Street , NE . , Atlanta , Georgia 30309
51 SW . First Avenue , Miami , Florida 33130
801 Broad Street , Nashville Tennessee 37203
1365

219
911
411
730
300
450

506

Ontario Street , Cleveland , Ohio 44114
South Dearborn Street , Chicago , Illinois 60604
Walnut Street , Kansas City , Missouri 64106
North Akard Street , Dallas , Texas 75201
17th Street , Denver , Colorado 80202
North Los Angeles Street , Los Angeles , California 90012
Golden Gate Avenue , San Francisco , California 94102
Second Avenue , Seattle , Washington 98104

GPO

939-923

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