Alison Mellon
Title
Alison Mellon
Description
Alison Mellon was a student at Wayne State University in July, 1967.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Date
7/15/2015
Rights
Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI
Format
Text
Language
en-US
Type
Written Story
Coverage
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Text
We set out on Sunday morning from our home near Plymouth and Meyers for K-Mart, three of us looking for things for our little daughter. The radio was on, and suddenly the music was interrupted by announcements that, "many blocks of inner-city Detroit were by burning." We looked at each other, incredulous! What was this all about? Should we be going home?
I was a student at Wayne State University, and the next day I set out for campus, only to learn that classes were cancelled. So, instead, we put our baby in the back seat of our Mustang and started down Grand River. We were turned back by National Guardsmen with bayonets. Take your baby home, they said. This isn't safe, they told us. Get out of here!
Finally, a few days later, I was able to attend classes at Wayne. Some of my black classmates wept because of what was happening. I was astounded. How could this happen in my city, in my Detroit?
I was a student at Wayne State University, and the next day I set out for campus, only to learn that classes were cancelled. So, instead, we put our baby in the back seat of our Mustang and started down Grand River. We were turned back by National Guardsmen with bayonets. Take your baby home, they said. This isn't safe, they told us. Get out of here!
Finally, a few days later, I was able to attend classes at Wayne. Some of my black classmates wept because of what was happening. I was astounded. How could this happen in my city, in my Detroit?
Original Format
email message
Submitter's Name
Alison Mellon
Submission Date
3/21/2015
Search Terms
Wayne State University, Grand River Ave, Michigan National Guard
Files
Collection
Citation
“Alison Mellon,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed October 9, 2024, http://detroit1967.detroithistorical.org/items/show/26.