LANSING, MI (WSYM) -- A turbulent time in Michigan's history gets a revival on the big screen fifty years later. The movie "Detroit" depicts the Detroit riots... and some say race relations in the nation haven't made much progress.
"We're still struggling with a lot of things as far as race is concerned. I guess from the most recent acts in the last couple of years, it almost seems as if we've gone backwards," Reverend Lila Martin of Trinity A.M.E Church in Lansing said.
Race relations in 1960's Detroit is at the heart of this film, and reached a boiling at the Algieirs Motel, when police interrogated guests, and gunned down three men and brutally beat several others, which sparked five days of rioting.
"I'm sure it's going to have an impact. Many people are going to watch it. Many people will be reminded of that time and era. Many people will see what took place during that time,and I'm certain it will have an impact on them," Martin added.
Some movie goers are saying they are seeing the same things that happened then... happening now.
"The misunderstanding, the assumptions people make about people because of their race because of their socioeconomic standing in the community, it happens today, not just the race issues, but a lot of issues," Sally Humphrey said.
"I do believe this movie will spark a lot of conversation. I felt a lot of strong emotions. A lot of the portrayal of what happened were very graphic and raw but I think that's necessary," Kon Dwaniphiri said.
The film takes a graphic look back in time, at a volatile moment in this country's struggle with racism, that has relevance in America's current state of race relations today.
