The dimension that most defined the events of Detroit in 1943 was the scuffle between the black and white youths playing dice on Belle Isle. This kickstarted the events that followed, more and more youths from various races joined then tussles developed in other areas of the island. The events of what had happened a few days earlier at the amusement park must have come into play as well if the white teenagers and black teenagers and young adults knew one another. The feeling of frustration or annoyance at the fact that you’re being accused of something as well as those lingering emotions from being forcibly ejected from a place that is supposed to provide joy. That could undoubtedly cause something to happen, especially if it’s been festering for a few days and the feeling hasn’t passed.

The label that best describes the Detroit racial disorder based on the labels discussed in the lecture and readings would be race riot. A race riot is a public outbreak of violence between two racial groups in a community with little or no attempt at concealment, illegally assaulting at least one other group or illegally attacking or invading property. This case was interracial, there were multiple collectives of whites against blacks and collectives of blacks against whites. According to the Report of the National Advisory Commission of Civil Disorders (1968), this would be classified as a major disorder. The violence lasted longer than two days, there were reports of sniping, and federal forces were in use in addition to local ones.