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Venita Thompkins
In this interview, Venita discusses her experiences while growing up in Virginia Park District and how over time, things have changed. She talks a lot about how her community has come together as a cohesive unit to achieve goals set make her…
Roberta Sanders
In this interview, Roberta Sanders discusses her experience in Virginia Park, and her enjoyment and involvement of the community.
Shevon Fowler, April 28th, 2017
In this interview Fowler describes her childhood growing up in the Virginia Park neighborhood. The weekend of July 23, 1967, she rode her bike to Twelfth Street to see what was happening.
Phyllis Rogers, May 8th, 2017
In this interview, Phyllis Rogers discusses her impressions of the events of July 1967. She accompanied her father during the week of the unrest as he photographed the aftermath.
Joyce Ross, July 13th, 2017
In this interview, Ross recollects her childhood growing up and moving around the Detroit area and broader areas of Michigan. She remembers early encounters with racist ideals that she did not like and talks about her deliberate choices to ensure her…
Melvin Dismukes, August 3rd, 2017
In this interview, Dismukes discusses his childhood growing up in the Jeffries Projects and the many jobs he had. He talks about his memories of the week of July 23, 1967 and specifically his memories of what he witnessed at the Algiers Motel and the…
Darryle Buchanan, December 13th, 2016
In this interview, Buchanan discusses his experiences growing up primarily in Virginia Park during the 1960s. He notes the escalated police presence in the community, and details several anecdotes of police brutality he experienced as a child. During…
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…
Josephine Sarafa, August 16th, 2016
In this interview, Sarafa discusses growing up in Detroit's Chaldean community, where her family owned stores, including a store that was destroyed during the events of July 1967.
David Bruce, October 19th, 2016
In this interview, Bruce focuses primarily on his experience as a Black Detroit Police Officer during the 1967 unrest. He was at the blind pig on 12th and Clairmount the night it was raided, and discusses the racism that plagued the Detroit Police…
Venita Thompkins, July 23rd, 2016
Venita Thompkins was 4 years old in July of 1967. She remembers seeing fires on her street and being nervous about the presence of troops and tanks and the energy of the 12th Street and Virginia Park neighborhood.
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…
Monica Moffat, July 25th, 2015
In this interview Monica Moffat discusses living on the
west side of Detroit with a Detroit Police officer during July 1967. She shares her stories of being on sniper watch with other residents at her apartment complex on Virginia Park Street and…
west side of Detroit with a Detroit Police officer during July 1967. She shares her stories of being on sniper watch with other residents at her apartment complex on Virginia Park Street and…