Dallas County Leaders Reflect on Lessons from 1967 Riots

Rick Loessberg and Darryl Martin discuss how the Kerner Report's findings on racism still resonate today.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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In a conversation at The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, former Dallas County Planning Director Rick Loessberg and current County Administrator Darryl Martin discussed the lessons from the 1967 race riots and the Kerner Report, which found that decades of racism and inequality fueled the unrest. They traced how the report's recommendations for policy changes and societal dialogue have or have not been implemented, and how issues of police violence, political division, and racial injustice continue to plague America today.

Why it matters

The 1967 riots and the Kerner Report offer important historical context for understanding the social and political upheaval that has gripped the U.S. in recent years, from the 2020 protests over police brutality to the ongoing debates over racism, inequality, and the role of government. By examining how little progress has been made on the Kerner Report's recommendations, the discussion highlights the persistent challenges America faces in overcoming its legacy of discrimination and achieving true racial equity.

The details

Loessberg, the author of a book on the Kerner Report, explained that the committee's central finding was that decades of racism and inequality had fueled the 1967 riots, which saw National Guard troops deployed to 150 cities across the country. The report offered detailed policy recommendations for addressing these root causes, from welfare reform to strengthening civil rights enforcement. However, many of these changes took decades to implement, if they were enacted at all. Meanwhile, Martin, who grew up during the 1967 unrest, noted that the experience of "walking in Black skin" in America remains difficult, with ongoing issues of police violence, political division, and the dehumanization of Black citizens.

  • The 1967 race riots unfolded across 150 cities in America.
  • The Kerner Report was convened by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 to investigate the causes of the unrest.
  • The discussion at The Sixth Floor Museum took place on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Rick Loessberg

The former Dallas County planning director who wrote a book about the Civil Rights struggles and policies initiated from the Kerner Report in the 1960s and how they echo today.

Darryl Martin

The current Dallas County Administrator, who moderated the discussion and shared his personal experiences growing up during the 1967 riots.

Lyndon B. Johnson

The U.S. President who convened the Kerner Committee to investigate the causes of the 1967 race riots.

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What they’re saying

“It doesn't take you very long to thumb through these pages and see what this report talks about are the things that monopolize our public conversation today.”

— Rick Loessberg, Former Dallas County Planning Director (dallasnews.com)

“Walking in Black skin is still difficult in the United States.”

— Darryl Martin, Dallas County Administrator (dallasnews.com)

“If nothing else, the last few years should remind us rights are never given, they have to be demanded. You can't take them for granted because people will take them away from you.”

— Rick Loessberg, Former Dallas County Planning Director (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

The discussion highlighted the ongoing need for meaningful progress on the Kerner Report's recommendations, from addressing systemic racism to strengthening civil rights protections. As America continues to grapple with issues of police brutality, political division, and racial injustice, the lessons of 1967 remain painfully relevant.

The takeaway

The 1967 riots and the Kerner Report offer a sobering reminder that the struggle for racial equality and justice in America is far from over. While some progress has been made, the persistent challenges of racism, inequality, and political polarization show how difficult it is to enact the kind of transformative change the Kerner Committee called for over 50 years ago.