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Recent Posts
- 50 years after the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids: What we know and what can we learn?
- WOOD TV 8 footage of the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids
- A Retrospective on the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids, Twenty Years Afterwards: From the Grand Rapids Press
- 3000 march in Grand Rapids after Birmingham Church Bombing – 1963
- The Mustache Affair in Grand Rapids, as reported on by the Commercial Media in 1966
Author Archives: Jeff Smith (GRIID)
50 years after the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids: What we know and what can we learn?
On July 25th, 1967, Grand Rapids police officers arrested several Black youth, when they pulled them over believing they were in a stolen vehicle. One source says that the officers may have used excessive force in dealing with the Black youth, according … Continue reading
WOOD TV 8 footage of the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids
(Thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library for directing me to this archival material.) Last week, we posted a 1987 story from the Grand Rapids Press about the 1967 riot in Grand Rapids, where two men who were part of … Continue reading
A Retrospective on the 1967 Riot in Grand Rapids, Twenty Years Afterwards: From the Grand Rapids Press
(This is the first of a series of postings that deal with the 1967 riot in Grand Rapids, which took place 50 years ago between July 25 and July 27.) “It is not enough for me to stand before you … Continue reading
3000 march in Grand Rapids after Birmingham Church Bombing – 1963
On Sunday, September 15 of 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was the site on a White Terrorist bombing, resulting in the deaths of four African American girls – Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair. … Continue reading
The Mustache Affair in Grand Rapids, as reported on by the Commercial Media in 1966
(Special Thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Grand Rapids City Archives for assisting with finding the material sources here.) Chapter 4 of Todd Robinson’s important and insightful book, A City Within a City: The Black Freedom Struggle … Continue reading
A Legacy of Pride and Struggle in the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Community
This week Pride celebrations are happening all across the globe. These celebrations are rooted in the Stonewall riot that took place in the summer of 1969. Pride celebrations have evolved over the years and many believe that it has become … Continue reading
Student Protests and an Unruly Audience: Earth Day 1970 in Grand Rapids
Earth Day activities were planned across the country on April 22, 1970. Grand Rapids was also included in those communities that celebrated Earth Day. Based on articles from the Grand Rapids Press, there were three separate activities that received attention … Continue reading
