51. Neighborhood Status Modality and Riot Behavior: An Analysis of the Detroit Disorders of 1967.
- Author
-
Warren, Donald I.
- Subjects
NEIGHBORHOODS ,RIOTS ,COMMUNITIES ,SOCIAL groups - Abstract
Students of the recent outbreaks in America's cities have with few exceptions attempted no social structural analysis of riot behavior. By structure, we mean relating the individual's place within a set of community status locations. Such a failure has significance in light of two aspects of the ghetto uprisings: (1) participation in rioting was limited to a relatively small portion of the eligible "riot" population; and (2) economic deprivation per se has not characterized rioters as individuals. Caplan and Paige (1968) report that 39 percent of rioters and 30 percent of nonrioters had incomes under $5,000 in Detroit compared to 33 percent and 29 percent in Newark. In Detroit, 30 percent of the rioters reported they were unemployed, while this figure was 32 percent for nonrioters. In Newark, the figures were 30 percent and 19 percent respectively. Both of these facts raise questions about the lack of participation among groups which are available for such action and the mobilization of persons who might otherwise be considered less likely to feel "outside the system," "alienated," etc. The present analysis of post-riot survey data in Detroit applies a model of status modality for income and educational levels using the local neighborhood as a reference point. By differentiating persons whose level of income or education falls significantly above or below the neighborhood mode, differences in riot participation were examined. Within age, income, education, and employment categories, neighborhood status modality proved to be an important predictive variable in regard to riot participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1971
- Full Text
- View/download PDF