32—Friday, Jury 31, 1970

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Detroit Riot of 1967 Powerfully

I rene MoIncr Becomes
the Bride of Pei Benson

Depicted in Barbara Tinker's Novel

Detroit's unforgettable July 1967 to look that way and if you was
experiences as:ume deeply may- to go to Africa it stands to rea-
son you'd find yourself a black
ing proportions in a very great
god there...' "
novel dealing with the riots of that
The author of this Detroit-based
month. Barbara Wilson Tinker, in
her narrative "When the Fire novel emerge; in all its greatness
!teaches 1. 7 s," portrays a drama so because the author had personal
stirring, with such personal know- knowledge of what had transpired.
ledge of the event•: and the people Iler description of the rioting, the
that were involved. that its impor- looting. the role of the police. the
lance can not he overstated. differing views of blacks on mor-
The publishers of the novel. Wil- ality of issues involved—scores of
liam Morrow and Co., have just cause; and effects are related to
made it known that the author has this story.
There was the looting. and' in
permitted certain information to
be stated about her. She is mar- this story there also is the reality
ried to a black 111:111. She moved of the existence of elements who
to Detroit in the mid-fifties, taught are determined to acquire freedom
in local ghetto schodls • still occu- and do not approve of larceny and
pies a teaching post in an adult firebugs and murder.

education project. The publishers'
biographical note reads:

Primarily it is a story that
demands understanding of the
occurrences in history that
dragged a people into a state of
second class citizenship.

GEORGE M. ZELTZER, presi-
dent of American Savings Associa-
tion, has been elected 1970-71
president of the Michigan Savings
and Loan League. Zeltzer succeeds
Arthur 11. Clarke, Jr., president of
Van Buren Savings and Loan Asso-
ciation, South Haven. The elections
came at the 83rd annual conven-
tion being held at the Grand Hotel,
Mackinac Island. The league rep-

resents all of Michigan's 69 savings
and loan associations throughout
the state.

11.1.00, :•

■• ••■•••

Portraits by

as always fine
quality photography
Merrillwood Bldg. Mall
Birmingham
251 Merrill, cor. Woodward

MRS. JOEL BENSON

647-5730

Irene Molner and Joel Benson

were married in a recent Sunday-
"Barbara Tinker Douglas was
evening ceremony at the Raleigh
born in 1909. White. the daugh•
House. Rabbi M. Robert Syme offi-
ter of an ornithologist, she grew
up in Ann Arbor and attended It is because of its realism and ciated.
Parents of the couple are Mr.
the University of Michigan, its factuality, because of its
earning B.A. and M.A. degrees frankness, that it appears assured and Mrs. Monroe Molner of Pear-
in Oriental Civilizations. Upon of a place of permanency in the son Ave., Oak Park and Mr. and
the completion of her formal literature that is being compiled
Mrs. Morton Benson of Greenview
education, she went to China be- in relation to the current struggle
Ave., Southfield.
cause was fascinated by the art for just rights.
15345 W. 7 MILE
The couple will reside in Troy.
and philosophy of China and
We are in the midst here of the
remained there from October
Detroit that suffered that horrid
1936 to 1939, when she was ar-
tragedy three years ago—Twelfth
rested as a spy and caught up in
Street. the northwest, Linwood,
the Sino-Japanese War. As a
the areas that were set aflame.
refugee, Miss Douglas traveled
The cast of characters is superb.
on foot for more than 3,000
ly drawn. The entire pattern of
miles from Peking in the North
this novel is clothed in brilliance.
to Yunnanuf in the South. Upon
Once again, in "When the Fire
returning to the University, she
Reaches Us," we experience the
entered the Hopwood Creative
violence and the heartbreaking
Writing Seminar, and won the
feelings that swept over us three
highest non-fiction award for a
years ago. Barbara Tinker makes
book on war time China."
them real. She also inspires a
The author's comments on her f sense of justice and a desire to
book are as Tollows, "I have writ- witness the emergence of condi-
ten this book for the white reading tions that will obviate another
public, but 1 am not so naive to such experience.
suppose that it will in any way
P.S.
change the course of events, but I
have a lingering belief that some-
where there are white Ameri-
cans who can be touched, who are
capable of walking for a bit in
' Opera tion
the shoes of black men and wom-
en. It is for them I have written
this story."
Richard Sloan is Detroit chair-
Barbara Tinker Douglas was
married in 1942 and spent the man of "Operation Israel," a series
of one-week study
war years in a black ghetto hous-
flights to ac-
ing project in Chicago where she
quaint communi-
remained for 12 years. "During
ty
leaders with
this time of struggle," she said,
the present situa-
"my bitterness toward the white
tion in Isr a e I,
world reached a crescendo, and
Paul Zuckerman,
has since leveled off. Our four
national chair-
children, the oldest is now 27 and
man of the United
the youngest 19, are all militant,
Jewish Appeal,
and it pleases me that although
and
Maxwell Jos-
we are middleclass they do not
pey, chairman of
regard us as Toms."
Sloan
the
Allied
Jewish
Her story revolves around Dan-
ny Sands as the novel's young Campaign-Israel Emergency Fund,
narrator and scores of interesting announced.
The veteran of nearly annual
people enter the vast field that is
created in the narrowed ghetto. trips to Israel during the past 10
People are afflicted with miserable years, Sloan is an enthusiastic ad-
conditions, yet many are ready to vocate of the necessity of main-
help one another. There is human- taining a strong Israel. He has
ity even in the period of inhuman- served in many capacities with the
Featuring working exhibits in:
Allied Jewish Campaign and for
ity.
Among the characters also is the past two years has been asso-
Mrs. Wong, and there is the search ciate chairman of the drive.
■ SKETCHING
Detroit men will participate in
for faith. There is challenging dia-
missions on Nov. 14-22, Jan. 16-1:4
logue:
■ WEAVING
and
Feb.
13-21.
"I used to wish that I had me
Special missions have been set
a god like Mrs. Wong's. I mean
■ JEWELRY DESIGN
up this year because of requests
her god looks just like her —
from specific groups. Physicians
same race and everything—so
■ GLASS BLOWING
will have their own tour Dec. 5-13.
you could believe he wouldn't
Many fathers expressed a wish to
put her on. The Jews they got
have a chance to show Israel to
them a Jewish god who under-
throughout the malls
their college-age sons, and a father-
stands they problems but I
son mission has been set up for the
never did see no black god. I
10 days between Dec. 20 and 30.
talked to Uncle Ambrose once
Women will have a two-week
about it and you know what he
trip,
said?
Jan. 30-Feb. 3.
139 STORES TO SERVE YOU
Information on "Operation Is-
"'Don't worry about it, Dan-
rael" may be obtained by calling
iel,' he says. 'You is better off
Sol Drachler, campaign director,
without a god. You ain't never
at the Allied Jewish Campaign-
goint to be able to stand- on your
Israel Emergenc y Fund, WO
two feet and think straight and
5-3939.
be strong inside yourself if you
is all the time leaning on some
Northwestern at Eight Mile & Greenfield Roads
god or other. How come you Family Service of Metropolitan
Detroit, a Torch Drive agency,
think the white man's god look
like him and Mrs. Wong's god reported its caseload for 1969 was

HAL
GORDON
MUSIC

For All
Occasions

BIG BANDS or
SMALL COMBOS

642-5520

FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERING

CUSTOM MADE FURNITURE—DRAPERIES
INTERIOR DECORATING

NORTHLAND PRESENTS .

Sloan Will Head
Israel'
Series of Tours

SAM
FIELD
ART
SHOW

SALE

JULY 30 thru AUGUST15

NORTHLAND
CENTER

look like her? Because they 47 per cent Negro in a service area
which is 22 per cent black.
made him up in their own minds

273-1863

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