Dispelling myths and stereotypes, promoting discussion and understanding of the underlying causes of the July 1967 Detroit uprising (often referred to as the “’67 riots”) are objectives of the provocative documentary trilogy “Summer ’67.” July 23, 2017 will mark 50 years since this epic event shocked the city. Featuring award-winning Michigan Public Radio reporter Sarah Hulett, the trilogy will sh
ed new light and tell previously untold stories related to one of the most troubling events in Michigan’s history. Attracting a wide and diverse viewing audience, “Summer ‘67” will contribute significantly to understanding and clearer perspectives of the undercurrents, impact, and long-range implications of one week in July that immeasurably changed Detroit. Benefiting from widespread interest as a featured broadcast on PBS television, the trilogy’s first feature, “Finding the Lost,” will premiere as the centerpiece of “Summer ’67.” In conjunction with the Detroit Historical Museum’s 50th anniversary exhibition, and as part of the museum’s special programming, the film and its companions will build upon two years of publicity, targeted social media and other promotions throughout the community.
“Finding the Lost” examines little-known stories behind lives cut short during a string of hot, destructive days that scarred a major city: A 4-year-old girl is killed inside her apartment, an innocent casualty of misjudgment; a deaf and mute man falls dead from a bullet while on his way to work, mistaken for a perpetrator; and a security guard’s desperate call for police help against a mob leaves one dead in the confusion – the security guard. Second in the series is “The Day Before,” a historical “pre-quel” examining the city’s prosperity and tranquil atmosphere just above the surface of racial and economic resentment leading up to the rebellion. The final installment, “Seeds of ’67,” takes a look at Detroit five decades after the deadly devastation that left a visible mark on many of the neighborhoods that remain today, and how the tragedy impacted future generations of metro Detroiters and their views of the city.
“Finding the Lost,” “The Day Before” and “Seeds of ’67” will educate viewers and enhance community engagement, contributing understanding necessary for the continued growth and recovery of southeast Michigan. Local, regional and national media will be generated by the historic magnitude of what July 2017 in Detroit reveals five decades later.
