It traces the history of race relations in the city, describes how the disorder began, and how it ran its course. The riot is considered from many perspectives, including those of the rioters, police officers, public officials, black and white merchants, residents, and whites and Hispanics. The text examines what the police did to contain the riot and what they might have done, reviews the damage and the cost to the city and county, reports on how public and private agencies responded to the riot after it ended, and shows how the Miami riot differed from other racial disorders in this century. Also identified are the danger signals that other cities should heed to prevent similar riots. Chapter notes, tables, photographs, and an index are provided.