Murder City

Detroit

This past summer, comedian Bill Cosby came to Motor City and invited 700 men to an east side church. His aim? To combat violent crime by encouraging more parental involvement. "We've got to get these parents to get fired up," he told a reporter afterward.

Last month, Congressional Quarterly released a report detailing the central problem Mr. Cosby is trying to address: violence. Detroit isn't just another violent city. According to the CQ report, which analyzed statistics compiled by the FBI, it is now America's most dangerous city. Its murder rate of 47 per 100,000 residents is well above Chicago and New York.