Benton Harlem

It’s the nickname most southwest Michigan high school students have heard several times before they graduate, and it refers, of course, to Benton Harbor, a small, poor, mostly-black town on Lake Michigan across the St. Joseph river from the mostly-white and upper-class town of St. Joseph. To anyone who has visited both areas, the divide is palpable. A 28-year-old black motorcyclist was killed early Tuesday morning after he crashed into a building at high speed during a police chase begun by white police officers. Now the citizens are rioting and it’s the top story on CNN.

posted by Chris on 18 June 2003 at 2205 in general

Post a Comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?