Neighborhood Structure and Riot Behavior in Detroit: Some Exploratory Findings

Participation in the 1967 Detroit riot, counter-riot activity, and withdrawal from riot participation were studied. Data from both pre- and post-riot surveys permitted some comparisons over time. A typology of neighborhoods based on social interaction, reference group orientation, and values provided a framework for analysis. Neighborhoods with high riot activity showed little social interaction but tended to have positive reference orientations. Counter-riot areas showed both extensive informal social interaction, values oriented to the larger society, and positive reference orientations. Neighborhoods where little riot involvement occurred lacked social organization more than other areas. The findings highlight the need for focus on the more immediate social unit, the neighborhood, in the black ghetto.