The effects of local and national politics on racism in postwar Detroit. According to Sugrue, “...most important in shaping the concept of race in the postwar period, I argue, were local and national politics.”(9) While both local and national politics played key roles in the shaping of postwar Detroit, local politics had the greatest impact, good or bad. Under pressure from national groups, such as the NAACP and UAW, congress passed several laws that helped lift the racial boundaries and bias of Detroit. By doing so, local chapters of said organizations were able to apply pressure to local politicians, industries, and individuals to change their ways of doing things. During the war most white men went to fight and the employers had little
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Which of course led to more violence. “White Detroiters instigated over two hundred incidents against blacks moving into formerly all-white neighborhoods, including harassment, mass demonstrations, picketing, effigy burning, window breaking, arson, vandalism, and physical attacks.” (233) It also didn't help that local officials, such as law enforcement, allowed the violence to continue while doing little to nothing to help the victims. “After police arrived they often passively watched crowds gather, without dispersing them for parading without a permit, disorderly conduct, or riot.”(252) According to Sugrue, when police did actually break up crowds, smaller ones would hangout on nearby lawns and throw objects or yell perverse things at the victims. It was troops sent in by the federal government that restored peace to the local …show more content…
“The “excess” of Black Power and the affirmative action fueled white suburbanization and justified a newfound white backlash against the urban poor.” (9)It was local law enforcement and employers that continued to oppress black people, by refusing to implement or enforce the federal policies. However, it was also local members of organizations, such as the NAACP and the UAW, that marched and picketed and refused to back down that eventually made those same law enforcements and employers change their ways. “The shape of the postwar city, I contend, is the result of political and economic decisions, choices made and not made by various institutions, groups and individuals.”(11) This book, while interesting and informative, lacked the humanistic approach. It could be improved by adding more first hand accounts. If you really want readers to respond show them how it really was. Anyone can look up statistics in a record room but first the have to have a reason to do so. Knowing how something personally affected someone makes the problem more real and gets people interested. Also, the print was too small and difficult to read and the information was very repetitive. All in all though, Sugrue did a wonderful job of showing a different perspective of post war
Which of course led to more violence. “White Detroiters instigated over two hundred incidents against blacks moving into formerly all-white neighborhoods, including harassment, mass demonstrations, picketing, effigy burning, window breaking, arson, vandalism, and physical attacks.” (233) It also didn't help that local officials, such as law enforcement, allowed the violence to continue while doing little to nothing to help the victims. “After police arrived they often passively watched crowds gather, without dispersing them for parading without a permit, disorderly conduct, or riot.”(252) According to Sugrue, when police did actually break up crowds, smaller ones would hangout on nearby lawns and throw objects or yell perverse things at the victims. It was troops sent in by the federal government that restored peace to the local …show more content…
“The “excess” of Black Power and the affirmative action fueled white suburbanization and justified a newfound white backlash against the urban poor.” (9)It was local law enforcement and employers that continued to oppress black people, by refusing to implement or enforce the federal policies. However, it was also local members of organizations, such as the NAACP and the UAW, that marched and picketed and refused to back down that eventually made those same law enforcements and employers change their ways. “The shape of the postwar city, I contend, is the result of political and economic decisions, choices made and not made by various institutions, groups and individuals.”(11) This book, while interesting and informative, lacked the humanistic approach. It could be improved by adding more first hand accounts. If you really want readers to respond show them how it really was. Anyone can look up statistics in a record room but first the have to have a reason to do so. Knowing how something personally affected someone makes the problem more real and gets people interested. Also, the print was too small and difficult to read and the information was very repetitive. All in all though, Sugrue did a wonderful job of showing a different perspective of post war