Wayne State University summer course examines Detroit's 1967 uprising during 50th anniversary

"The Detroit Rebellion at 50: Retrospect and Prospect," a new course at Wayne State University, will examine the social dynamics of the events of the summer of '67 in Detroit.

The course, taught this summer through the Department of Urban Studies, will look at what has been learned from the civil insurrections as well as the development of Detroit throughout the years since. This course is open to non-degree seeking guest students as well as WSU students.

"The class will examine the difference between a rebellion and a riot as well as multiple social science dimensions such as housing, demographic and industrial issues," said Jeff Horner, urban studies program director and senior lecturer.

Students will visit culturally relevant locations such as Gordon Park and the Detroit Historical Museum. There will also be guest speakers, many of whom are public figures who witnessed the events of '67 in addition to those who have studied the events closely and have been asked to contribute to the forthcoming book Detroit 1967.

Guest speakers include:

Isaiah McKinnon, former Detroit Police Chief

Joel Stone, Sr. Curator, Detroit Historical Museum, Editor of Detroit 1967

Bill Johnson, former Detroit News Editorial Page Editor

Tim Kiska, media expert at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Bill McGraw, longtime reporter and co-author for The Detroit Almanac

Jim Carr from Coleman A. Young Professor of Urban Affairs at Wayne State University

The class meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays as well as online from May 11 to Aug 3, 2017. For more information or to register, visit wayne.edu/register. Not seeking a degree? Contact Cynthia Merritt at 313-577-0653 or cmerritt@wayne.edu and ask about taking the class as a visitor.

By Ian Aufdemberge, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences communications associate