How the 1960s' Riots Hurt African-Americans

http://www.nber.org/digest/sep04/w10243.html

Before the death of Martin Luther King Jr. many protests by African Americans were coordinated  through non-violent demonstrations of the early Civil Rights Movement. It was this non-violence that began as peaceful and respectable ways for the African American voice to be heard and end segregation. Yet, even through this act of non-violence, the malevolent racist acts and bigotry could not always be avoided by peaceful protest. After the death of Martin Luther King Jr. the carefully orchestrated non-violent demonstrations was overpowered by riots. And it was the riots of the 1960's that brought additional harm to the African American community.
Throughout history there has been significant amounts of race-related civil disturbances and yet it was the 1960's riots that were "unprecedented in their frequency and scope." Vast measures had to be taken to try and end the riots with the most deadly riots being in Detroit, 1967, Los Angeles, 1965, and Newark, 1967. These extreme riots also resulted in numerous arrests and injuries. And as an outcome of the riots later resulted in the significantly negative economic effects on the income and employment of African American's. There was numerous increase of black's living in high-poverty neighborhoods, attending low rank schools, etc.  However, these riots were initiated by the racial injustice administered by the government, law enforcement, and the fellow citizens of those who composed said riots. The discrimination, hatred and violence was trying to be shot down by protests as a cry to be heard.  Yet it is those who fight for change that ended up being the ones significantly hurt and history still repeats itself today. With the Black Lives Matter movement there are still numerous accounts for racial injustice that lead to riots. Angry people, rightfully so, demanding for change. Even now there is still the economic differences that are simply a result of racism and discrimination. The inequality displayed throughout the country factors into minorities being low in demographics and financially stability.  The fights from the 1960's for equality are still being fought today with little to no significant change. Although Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. longed for conflicts to be resolved through non-violence, when violence is being used against that non-violence, there needs to be a louder cry.
-Rebecca Hernandez-Chico