Patricia Clark
Title
Patricia Clark
Description
Patricia Clark remembers how the unrest of 1967 affected life Benton Harbor.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Date
06/16/2016
Rights
Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI
Format
Text
Language
en-US
Type
Written Story
Coverage
Benton Harbor
Text
The unrest was not just Detroit. Benton Harbor also was affected. White flight began and blacks moved into the city and many large families could not move out of the city and remained for many years.
I remember the riots breaking out here at the high school and my brother (white) going to Benton Harbor High School then which was majority black by then. He was scared to go to school.
We were scared for him. Lots of anger and dangerous time for all.
Today, I recall that period of civil right a very confusing time and happy I was not yet a teenager. Change was happening, and the hatred and prejudices erupted and exploded in many individuals of all races and towns, not just Detroit.
I remember the riots breaking out here at the high school and my brother (white) going to Benton Harbor High School then which was majority black by then. He was scared to go to school.
We were scared for him. Lots of anger and dangerous time for all.
Today, I recall that period of civil right a very confusing time and happy I was not yet a teenager. Change was happening, and the hatred and prejudices erupted and exploded in many individuals of all races and towns, not just Detroit.
Original Format
Email
Submitter's Name
Patricia Clark
Submission Date
06/16/2016
Files
Collection
Citation
“Patricia Clark,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed January 22, 2025, http://oralhistory.detroithistorical.org/items/show/270.