Black Day In July

The 1967 Detroit Riot, also known as the 12th Street Riot or Detroit Rebellion, began on July 23, 1967 when police officers raided an after-hours club on 12th Street in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Virginia Park. The raid was part of a crackdown on illegal drinking establishments, but it quickly escalated into a violent confrontation between police officers and the club's patrons. Over the course of the next five days, the riot spread to other parts of Detroit, resulting in looting, arson, and violent clashes between police and protesters. The riot was the deadliest civil disturbance in American history, with 43 deaths, 7,200 injuries, and $50 million in property damage. Gordon Lightfoot wrote and recorded "Black Day in July" in response to the 1967 Detroit Riot. The song appears on his 1968 album, Did She Mention My Name?

"Black Day in July" is a powerful and poignant recounting of the events of the riot. Over seven verses, Lightfoot captures the violence and destruction of the unrest, as well the sense of shock and despair that many people felt in the aftermath of the violence. He also sings about the hope for a better future, and the need for understanding and compassion between people of all races.

Lightfoot begins and ends the song with its title. "Black Day in Detroit" takes on a double meaning, referring to both the Black people in Detroit who were rebelling against police brutality, but also that the events that transpired from July 23-28 were some of the darkest days in the history of the city.