Dancing In the Streets: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit. - Review - book review

Black Issues Book Review, July, 2000 by Tracy Roberts

Dancing In the Streets: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit

by Suzanne E. Smith Harvard University Press, January 2000 $24.95, ISBN 0-674-00063-3.

The 1960s--a decade of love and hate--was also the decade of Motown Records. Author Suzanne E. Smith analyzes the relationship between Motown and the explosive social scene of Detroit in her book Dancing In the Streets: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit.

The author readily upholds the idea that Motown's chart-topping hits did more than serve as mere background music to Civil Rights-era Detroit. Smith possesses an uncanny talent for pulling black power messages from Motown's music, including such songs as "Nowhere to Run" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. According to her, it captures "the essence of the volatile Civil Rights struggle." She also maintains that for many, the classic "Heatwave" was not only a witness to the power of love, it was also a reminder that "they [were] burning." Due to Smith's insightful writing, the reader learns that Motown was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement.

Yet, Dancing In the Street also shines a light on Motown's hypocrisy, mainly through the mixed messages it sent out by supporting conflicting campaigns and associations. Smith labels Motown president Barry Gordy's dirty business tactics as "aggressive" against the Motor City's other black record companies--against the spirit of black unity--the selfsame thing which was responsible for Motown's initial success.

Dancing In the Streets shows Motown in an unwrapped, de-glamorized version. Excellent focus is given to the music in comparison and contrasted to the whirlwind of social events that was 1960s Detroit. Music lovers who enjoy looking, and listening, beyond the wax will find this book to be an accomplished historical review.