NCJ Number
10981
Date Published
1969
Length
58 pages
Annotation
NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE MIAMI DISTURBANCES, AN ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES, AND EVALUATIONS OF THE INFLUENCES OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AND THE MASS MEDIA.
Abstract
THE NARRATIVE CONCENTRATES MORE ON LOCAL CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND, EVENTS PRECEDING THE RIOTS, AND POLICE ACTIONS, THAN ON THE DETAILS OF THE ACTUAL RIOTING. THE STUDY FINDINGS ARE LARGELY DERIVED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE DISTURBANCES. OTHER INTERVIEWING TEAM CONSISTED OF TWO WHITE AND THREE BLACK MALE INVESTIGATORS. SECONDARY SOURCE MATERIALS WERE ALSO CONSULTED ARE CITED IN THE APPENDICES. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, WHICH WAS IN SESSION SEVEN MILES FROM THE AREA OF DISTURBANCE, WAS SEEN AS HAVING ONLY AN INCIDENTAL PART IN THE COURSE OF THE DISTURBANCES. OTHER THAN ATTRACTING ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO THE RIOT AREA, THE MASS MEDIA HAD LITTLE EFFECT. THE RIOTS WERE FOUND TO BE SPONTANEOUS OUTGROWTHS OF ACCUMULATED DISCRIMINATIONS AND FRUSTRATIONS, AND NOT STAGED OVER IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES. LOSS OF LOCAL JOBS BY BLACKS TO CUBAN REFUGEES, FAILURE OF LOCAL BUSINESSMEN TO PROVIDE SUMMER JOBS FOR BLACK YOUTHS AS PROMISED, AND SHARPLY MOUNTING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE MIAMI POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY WERE SEEN AS THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES.