SNCC in Trouble: A Report from Atlanta

The role of SNCC in the so-called Atlanta riots of September, 1966, gives some perspective on the black-power debate.

In the first place, “riot” was probably too strong a term by ghetto standards. There was relatively little firebombing and property destruction, and no looting. There was brick-throwing, and much milling about, with angry talk and shouts. Some police officers were injured; a television newsman (a notably humane one) had his skull badly fractured. White violence set things off. A white policeman shot a Negro auto-theft suspect who refused to halt in the Summerhill slum area on September 6, and three nights of rampage ensued. On September 10, Saturday night of the same week, a white motorist shot to death...