Research Guides: 2021-2022 One Book: About the Book

About the Eric McGinnis Case

Some of the content in the following links pertain to the death of Eric McGinnis and to other individuals. Please be advised that some of this content may be upsetting.

The River: An ABC57 Investigation A local news station's investigation into the death of Eric McGinnis and other Black residents who were found deciest in the St. Joesph's River. Contains video, podcast, and an interactive timeline.
Original Press Release on the Death of Eric McGinnis
Across the River: Death of a Teenager Widens a Racial Rift Between Two Towns --- Authorities and Whites Say Eric McGinnis Drowned, But Blacks Call It Murder --- One Cop's Search for Answers: Wallstreet Journal (1993)

In May 2021, the St. Joseph Police Department reopened the Eric McGinnis Case. The below links are related to the reopening of the case.

The Other Side of the River, Revisited: The New Yorker (2021) Alex Kotlowitz revisits the death of Eric McGinnis after the reopening of the case.
The River: What Really Happened to Eric McGinnis: ABC57 (2021) ABC57, the local ABC affiliate for the Benton Harbor/ St. Joseph area reports on the reopening of the Eric McGinnis Case.
A 30-Year-Old Cold Case Reopened, And Why It’s Still Relevant Today: WBEZ Chicago (2021) Meha Ahmad interviews Alex Kotlowitz about the Other Side of the River and the reopening of the Eric McGinnis case.
Black Teen's Death Threatens to Tear Down Bridge Between Cities - Decades-Old Case Could Unravel Progress Between Benton Harbor, St. Joseph: Detroit News (2021)
The River: Michigan's Attorney General Takes Over Reopened Eric McGinnis case: ABC57 (2021)

Map of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph

Videos About the Time Period

The Untold story of the 90's Part 1: A&E (Film) From the unplanned fall of the Berlin Wall to Bill Clinton's ground-breaking campaign strategy, we see how technology, media and politics collided during the early 90s and led to the world we live in today.
Keep Your Head Up, Part 3 of Black America Since MLK: PBS (Film) The third hour reveals profound fissures within the country—and within black America—that deepened through the 1980s and ‘90s, just as African Americans were becoming more visible than ever.
A More Perfect Union (1968-2013): The African Americans—Many Rivers to Cross: PBS (Film) After 1968, African Americans set out to build a bright future on the foundation of the civil rights movement’s victories, but a growing class disparity threatened to split the black community. As African Americans won political office across the country and the black middle class made progress, larger economic and political forces isolated the black urban poor. When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, many hoped that America had finally transcended racism. By the time of his second victory, however, it was clear that many issues, including true racial equality, remain to be resolved.

About Benton Harbor and St. Joseph

Local Newspapers

The Herald Palladium
The Local News Paper of South West Michigan (1999-present)
The Michigan Citizen
Statewide Black Newspaper (2011-2014)

Related Articles

Fatal Police Chase Ignites Rampage in Michigan Town
A NY Times article from 2003 reporting on riots in Benton Harbor that occurred in response to the death of a black motorcyclist, killed in a police chase.
Residents in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Urged to Use Only Bottled Water Due to Elevated Levels of Lead
An article from ABC News about the recent discovery of elevated lead levels in drinking water in Benton Harbor.

2021-2022 One Book: About the Book

About the Eric McGinnis Case

Map of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph

Videos About the Time Period

About Benton Harbor and St. Joseph

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