Before the ghetto riots of the 1960s, African American violent resistance to challenge white dominance was much more limited, including only small slave rebellions and armed defenses in the early 1900s.

[3] Deep-rooted racial discrimination in housing, employment, education, and the legal system created a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities for African Americans.

High unemployment rates among Black communities, coupled with low wages and limited job prospects, led to widespread economic hardship.

While significant civil rights legislation had been passed, many African Americans felt that the pace of change was too slow and the progress was not reflected in their daily lives.

[4][5][6][7][8] Immediate causes were often aggressive confrontations between African Americans and whites or police officers that drew a crowd and began to spiral into violence and chaos.

The riots shifted perceptions of the Civil Rights Movement from a primarily nonviolent struggle for equality to a recognition of the potential for violent uprisings as a response to oppression.

This change influenced both public opinion and political action, prompting some leaders within the Civil Rights Movement to reconsider their strategies and approaches to advocating for justice.

The riots were ignited by the arrest of Marquette Frye during a traffic stop, which escalated into a physical confrontation with police officers and drew a large crowd of onlookers.

During the six days of unrest, rioters engaged in widespread looting of stores, burning buildings through arson, and in some cases, using sniper tactics to fire at authorities.

[19] In Detroit, a large black middle class had begun to develop among those African Americans who worked at unionized jobs in the automotive industry.

[23] The Detroit riots were sparked by a police raid on an unlicensed after-hours bar, commonly called the "Blind Pig," in a predominantly Black neighborhood.

[23][26][25] At an August 2, 1967 cabinet meeting, Attorney General Ramsey Clark warned that untrained and undisciplined local police forces and National Guardsmen might trigger a "guerrilla war in the streets," as evidenced by the climate of sniper fire in Newark and Detroit.

[27][28][29][30] Snipers were a significant element in many of the riots, creating a dangerous situation for both law enforcement and civilians, with shooters often targeting from rooftops and other concealed locations.

[34][35][36] A few days later, in a candid comment made to press secretary George Christian concerning the endemic social unrest in the nation's cities, President Johnson remarked, "What did you expect?

"[37] Congress, meanwhile, passed the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which increased funding for law enforcement agencies and authorized wiretapping in certain situations.

[19] Johnson publicly denounced the violence and looting occurring during the riots, calling on citizens to reject lawlessness and work towards peaceful solutions.