Fighting in the Streets

Fighting in the Streets provides a comparative analysis of some of the most severe episodes of urban unrest that took place in twentieth-century America, including the 1919 Chicago Riot, the 1943 Detroit Riot, the 1967 Newark and Detroit Riots, the 1980 Miami Riot, and the 1992 Los Angeles Riot. Examining the patterns of death and destruction of property that occurred during these events, as well as historical evidence regarding struggles for housing, jobs, and political power among members of different racial/ethnic groups, this book makes the case for a general explanatory model of urban unrest as a product of rapid demographic change. Focusing at the neighborhood level, where demographic changes have their greatest impact, Fighting in the Streets posits that riot-related violence is most likely to take place in neighborhoods characterized by high levels of black/white segregation, poverty, unemployment, and rapid population turnover. Such a "profile" of the riot-prone neighborhood may enable policy makers to avert future violence through targeted economic and political intervention, such as building community institutions that integrate newcomers and natives. This book is particularly suited for classes in urban studies, race/ethnic relations, and collective behavior/social movements as well as public policy and planning.