“We All Most Lost Detroit.” Kujichagulia and the Detroit Race Riots of 1967

Motherland Media Network

Is an economic and political agenda based on the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination) possible for African people living in America? The lens that might offer clarity in answering that question could be infused within the aftermath strategies of the Detroit Race Riots of 1967. In the aftermath of that rebellion, Black Power advocates in the city advanced their visions of a new, independent Black Detroit. What were those visions and were they logistically well planned? Why didn’t they work? What was the root cause of the riots? Is there a blueprint or plan of action that might support a well-defined agenda for self-determination that could develop a new independent Black Detroit? What about the Watts Riots of 1964 and other areas of urban unrest? Do these post-rebellion strategies for Black urban self-determination raise questions about the meanings of Black liberation in a structurally racist and liberal capitalist nation? On this week’s program, the Black Reality Think Tank panel of community political analyst will explore these questions and others. It is the goal and objective of the Black Reality Think Tank to understand the past, dissect the present and offer suggestions that can ensure a meaningful future.