This is a repost from December 2, 2013. As I continue with this series of Black History Month, I would like to introduce you to Gordon Lightfoot, and particularly, to his song “Black Day in July” published in December 1968.
Amazingly, it is banned on many of the United States’ top 40 radio stations.
The lyrics are about the 1967 race riots in Detroit.
The riots were set off by a police raid in an inner-city bar raid. The rioting lasted five days. Tally aftermath was 43 dead, 467 injured, 7,231 arrested and 2,509 stores burned down or looted. City officials estimated damage cost at between $40 and 80 million (US).
CBC Archives did a great job reporting on this.
Not really related, but interesting articles:
- Unlikely duo of Lightfoot and Bieber to bookend Grey Cup halftime (ctvnews.ca)
- Grey Cup halftime show to feature Bieber, Jepsen, Lightfoot (cbc.ca)
- Bieber booed, Lightfoot lauded during splashy Grey Cup halftime (cbc.ca)
- Gordon Lightfoot, Justin Bieber to bookend Grey Cup halftime (vancouversun.com)
Bite Size Canada 
[…] Black History Month Part Six […]
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Sounds like an amazing song. I haven’t heard it, but shall check it out.
Are you telling me this song is still banned today, in the 21st century, in many US Radio stations?? That’s absurd.
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Apparently it still in some places … but not like it once was. Yes, I think it’s crazy, too! 🙂
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I remember the riots; I remember the song. I didn’t know it was banned anywhere. The Lightfoot song that most Americans know is the about the Edmund Fitzgerald. (What should we do, ban November storms?) Neither American nor Canadians are good about history. Canadians don’t know diddly about Louis Real. Americans have their own versions of the past, based on the overarching mantle of intentional ignorance. It seems important to re-investigate history regularly, to see it through new lenses, stripped (hopefully) of the economics and prejudices that formed the story initially.
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History is indeed ever changing, depending of the writer …
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I am a big fan of a number of Canadian folk musicians like Stan Rogers, Rankin Family, Bruce Cockburn etc. Although I know the song “Sundown”, Gordon Lightfoot was slightly before my time. Thanks for introducing to this song with its frank look at the issues of the day. This level of social consciousness and responsibility is lacking in most artistes today.
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Thank you! 🙂
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A sad but terrible time! Thanks for this post.
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You’re welcome! Some of them are uplifting, some not so much. But history must be shared, I feel. 🙂
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I think my favorite GL song is Did She Mention My Name?
Is the ice still in the river
Did you ever kiss a frog
And by the way
Bite Size Canada’s a great blog!
I think that’s how it goes, anyway… : )
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LOL. [Blush] thank you so much! 🙂
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You had me at Gordon Lightfoot. I LOVE HIM!
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An icon, eh? 🙂 🙂
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I just listened to the lyrics and the pictures in YouTube. That was so sad. No wonder USofA does not want to own to what happened. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPXL3iEVnCM
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Oh cool! Thank you for the link, P! Much appreciated!! 🙂
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Darn it! I get the message that it can’t play in my country. Weird because you live in Canada too! :<(
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Maybe you can just go directly to YouTube and search for the song. Sorry.
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No worries! 🙂
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I have never heard about this tragedy …
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Though I enjoy writing about some important Canadian timeline stories, I do so enjoy also covering some lesser known (but I think)interesting stories and trivia. Glad you enjoyed it, WM!
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Thank you once more for you blog.
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You are welcome … I am so happy you enjoy it! 🙂
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I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
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Reblogged this on Mother's Garden.
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