Civil Rights - FP2 - Violence Flashcards
Use of Violence: Overall
1880-90 1678 known lynchings
1890s peaked, avg 187 a year
Hundreds of white Americans sometimes gathered to watch
>50 victims were women
Number of victims never fell below 100 a year 1891-1901
Democrat controlled South voted as a bloc to prevent anti lynching laws, widespread support for lynching
Reasons for Lynching
Excuses included - talking disrespectfully to a white person, slapping a white boy, writing an insulting letter, being too prosperous etc - raping a white woman - preyed on stereotypes of AA as savage
Agric depression and competition with a more assertive black labour force fuelled white fears
Lynchings were extrajudicials efforts to maintain social control, white supremacy and Democrat rule
Examples of Lynching
Apr 1899 Georgia - Sam Hose burned and dimembered in front of 2000 strong crowd
In Texas Feb 1893 - 10000 white people watched lynching of Henry Smith - ‘souvenir seeking’ audiences
No one convicted for lynching until 1918
Black Responses to Lynching
Many black organisations hesitated to campaign against lynching - already on defensive against accusations of high black crime rate, any campaign might prompt additional lynchings
Ida B Wells Advocacy
Wrote many anti-lynching articles - ‘Princess of the Press’ and co-owner of the Memphis Free Speech - put the issue in public eye
1891 - fired after several years’ teaching because of criticism of inadequate segregated schools
1909 founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - aimed to make America’s 11m black population economically, intellectually, politically and socially free and equal
Wilmington Race Riot
White Dems lost control 1896 - white populists and AA republicans come to power
Next elections - Democratic campaign focused on white women’s fears of AA males and the threats of lynching - White newspaper published a contreversial speech supporting lynchings for interacial relationships
Dems win 1898 elections - vilence erupted, 500 white men growing to 2000 led to the Daily Record
10th Nov 1898 - Manly’s office set on fire - Manly escapes and possibly 100’s of AA killed after they attempt to fight back
