Detroit Civil Rights Trilogy

Segment 1 of 3

Last Survivor of the Ford Hunger March

Dave Moore's Story

In 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, thousands of unemployed workers marched on Ford Motor Company's River Rouge plant, demanding jobs and fair treatment. The peaceful protest turned violent when Dearborn police and Ford security guards opened fire, killing five workers.

Dave Moore was the last living survivor of this tragic event. His firsthand account provides a rare window into a dark chapter of American labor history and the struggle for workers' rights. Moore continued organizing workers throughout his life, held positions in the UAW, and became Director of Senior Citizens Department for the City of Detroit. He passed away on November 1, 2009, at age 96.

Segment 2 of 3

Rosa Parks of the Boblo Boat

Sara Elizabeth Haskell

In 1945—a full decade before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus—Sara Elizabeth Haskell (also known as Sarah Elizabeth Ray) challenged segregation in Detroit. When she was denied access to the dance floor on the Boblo Island ferry because of her race, she fought back.

Haskell took her case all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, winning a landmark victory for civil rights in the North. Her courage paved the way for future civil rights victories and demonstrated that the fight for equality was not confined to the American South. This story reveals an often-overlooked chapter of Northern civil rights history.

Segment 3 of 3

Mr. Interlocutor of Mount Clemens

Duane Gerlach

Duane Gerlach was the master of ceremonies for blackface minstrel shows that were staged by white men for over 10 years in a Detroit suburb. The documentary includes film clips from the 1959 show, providing a stark look at the persistence of racist entertainment in mid-20th century America.

This segment offers a complex examination of race and entertainment in American history. Gerlach's journey from participant to advocate provides a powerful narrative about confronting one's past and working toward understanding. The inclusion of original 1959 footage makes this an invaluable historical document.