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James VanVlerah, September 27th, 2016
In this interview, Vanvlerah briefly discusses growing up on Detroit's west side. In July 1967 he was an engineer at the Delray Power Plant, where workers were called in to stay on premises for the duration of the disturbance.
Carole Hall, April 17th, 2017
In this interview, Carole Hall shares memories of growing up in Detroit, and of the events of 1943 and 1967 in the city. She was a teacher at Northwestern High School and was very focused on improving the lives of her students. After the summer of…
Connie Griffith, August 18th, 2016
In this interview, Griffith discusses growing up near Woodward, witnessing Diego Rivera work on his famous murals at the DIA, her experience of witnessing violence during the 1943 race riots, her family’s relation to the Algiers Motel, and how she…
Ray Marbarak, August 12th, 2016
In this interview, Mabarak discusses his experience growing up on the east side and eventually joining in the military. He discusses National Guard training and conditions during ’67 and also what he witnessed in Recorder’s Court. He gives his…
Evelyn Sims, August 15th, 2016
In this interview, Sims discusses what it was like to grow up and go to school on the east side and her memory of the ’43 race riots. She recounts how she traveled various places going to school and teaching for nursing as well as various aspects of…
Dr. Tommie Johnson, September 22nd, 2016
In this interview, Johnson discusses growing up in Detroit and her experiences during both the 1943 and 1967 disturbances.
Brent Ausgood, July 23rd, 2016
In this interview, Ausgood describes growing up in her neighborhood and her experiences during the unrest. She also discusses the effects of the unrest, how she perceives that week, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Jim Aho
Jim Aho's grandmother kept a diary and recorded her thoughts on the 1943 race riots and the events of the week of July 23, 1967.
Richard Viecelli, August 12th, 2016
Viecelli discusses the 1967 disturbance from a police officer’s perspective, which he considers not a riot, but a “baby war.” He was stationed at Kiefer Command Center, where he tracked incoming and outgoing calls for the police. Notably, Vicelli…
Michael "Doc" Holbrook, August 15th, 2016
In this interview, Michael shares the differences between living in the north and south, coming of age as a black male in Detroit, living during the time of the 1967 unrest, and his observations of the city past and present.
Irene Fedorka, June 20th, 2016
In this interview, Fedorka describes what it was like living in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania and her move to Detroit with her family. She talks about how she met her husband and how he worked as a Detroit Police Officer during the ’67 unrest,…
Frank Boscarino, August 2nd, 2016
In this interview, Boscarino describes how he came to own his business in Detroit and his relationships with his (primarily black) customers. He tells of how his customers called him when the unrest started and assured him that they were protecting…
Thomas Robinson, July 19th, 2016
In this interview, Robinson discusses growing up near 8 Mile Road, experiencing the ’43 riot, and his experiences as an African American police officer during the 1967 disturbance, including the department’s riot training and his interactions with…
William Giovan, June 22nd, 2016
In this interview, Giovan discusses his upbringing on the east side of Detroit and his associations with Italian American organizations in the area. He also describes how he heard of the events in 1967, and his role in the criminal proceedings of…
Carole and Leo Alberts, March 31st, 2016
In this interview, Carole and Leo Alberts explain their experiences growing up in some of the neighborhoods in Detroit. The couple briefly discusses the differences of living in Detroit and its suburbs. Additionally they speak about their experiences…
Cynthia Garner, October 10th, 2015
In this interview, Cynthia discusses her neighborhood relationships growing up, where she and her family were during the unrest and her particular memories of it. She also compares the events of 1967 to the 1943 riots, as well as discusses how the…
Freeman Flynn, December 18th, 2015
Freeman Flynn discusses growing up in Detroit, his opportunity to attend Wayne University, and his training and experiences during World War II as a scout plane pilot, which led to his love of flying as a civilian. Freeman describes being a teacher…
Bessie Ernst Williams, June 16th, 2015
In this interview, Williams discusses growing up in a multi-ethnic community in Detroit and the causes and effects of the 1967 disturbance. She also discusses working in the Detroit school system and the changes that occurred over the years she both…