Louis, illinois, corrupt city officials and industrialists had openly courted southern blacks, luring them north to replace striking white laborers. Louis race riot july 2, 1917 an outbreak of labor and racerelated violence that caused between 40 and 200 deaths and extensive property damage. Louis race riot left dozens dead, devastating a community on the rise three days of violence forced africanamerican families to run for their lives and the aftereffects are still. At least 50 persons were killed and 240 buildings destroyed. It was the worst of many incidents of racial antagonism in the united states during world war i that were directed especially toward black americans newly employed in war industries. Many scholars debate what caused the riot in east st. The local chamber of commerce called for the resignation of the police chief and at the end of the month, ten thousand people marched in protest in new york city over the riots. On july 1, 1917, a car full of white men drove into east st. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1917 east st. Clair county, illinois, united states within greater st. June 6 1917 two national guard soldiers escort a black.
A lack man was swimming and a group of white men hit him with a rock and he drowned. Wikitextbot 1 point 2 points 3 points 2 years ago east st. On july 2, 1917, the nation was rocked by one of the worst race riots in its history. Louis riots, 1917 enlarge digital file from original item. Men, women, and children were beaten and shot to death. Louis, july 2, 1917 by elliott rudwick, 9780252009518, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of one of the most brutal and shameful episodes of mass violence in american history. The purpose of harper barnes writing the book never been a time is to give the historical events of the 1917 riots. Louis race riot of 1917 on microfilm collection number. Governor lowden ordered the national guard out of the city on june 10th, leaving residents of east st. Smoke rises from fires set by white mobs in east st.
See more ideas about east st louis, african american history and black history. This was another of the infamous white riots against uppity black people. Louis on july 2, 1917, he opened the citys homeless shelter to hundreds of black people who fled their homes to. Louis race riot, one of the most horrid riots weve had in the 20th century. Old but not outdatedit has all the smoking guns in the back of its truck. Louis race riot of july 2, 1917, shocked the nation. Louis massacres were a series of outbreaks of labor and race related violence by people that caused the deaths of an estimated 40250 african americans in late may and early july 1917. East saint louis, illinois race riot of july 2, 1917. Through acts of mob violence and terrorism, up to 400 black people were estimated to have been murdered and thousands were left homeless after their houses. East saint louis race riot of 1917 united states history.
Louis descended into one of the deadliest race riots in u. Racial tensions began to increase in february, 1917 when 470 african american workers were hired to replace white workers who had gone on strike against the aluminum ore company. On july 2, 1917, it became the epicenter of hate and violence during the east st. Louis believed that african americans were coming to east st. Louis race riot of 1917 of work and wealth, darkwater.
Theodore roosevelt and the east saint louis race riot of. Historianjournalist harper barnes detailed the incident in his book never been a time. The caption that ran with this picture on july 3, 1917, in the st. Louis set the stage for a national movementyet today, few people remember the horror. The book tells about black peoplemoving north looking for work. They moved to many cities in the north including, cincinnati, boston, new york and smaller cities and towns, including east st. Silent protest parade in new york city against the east. Louis riot of 1917, a mob beats an african american man in front of a street car, while the militia charged with restoring order stands by and does nothing. Lieutenant arbuckle of the united states army reserve corp is in east st. Excerpts in the late 1910s and early 1920s, notably during the red summer of 1919, devastating race riots erupted across the nation at a level of mass violence unprecedented in american racial history. Louis and chicago race riots 1917, white mob attacked a black neighborhood over the employment of black workers in a factory holding government contracts. Angry whites burned buildings and randomly shot, clubbed, stabbed or lynched as many black people. Louis, july 2, 1917 blacks in the new world paperback august 1, 1982 by elliott rudwick author. It was around noon on a bright monday in early july 1917, and lena cook was on her way home to st.
By walter opinde on this day, 2 nd july 1917, the east st. On july 2, 1917, a car full of armed white men rolled into the black section of east st. Around six o clock that evening, white mobs began to set fire to the homes of black residents. It was the summer of 1917, a monday in july, and smoke billowed thick and charcoal dark above east st. In 1917, perhaps the worst race riot in american history was unleashed in east st. This tinderbox erupted on july 2, 1917 into what would become one of the bloodiest american riots of the world war era. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Louis race riot left dozens dead, devastating a community on the rise three days of violence forced africanamerican families. The riot that started following the death of a policeman. Once a bustling industrial center, like many cities in the rust belt, east st. Louis producer jim kirchherr looks back at the ethnic, political and social conflicts taking place in east st. Louis to push the democrats out of office by voting. Unfortunately, this is a neverending battle because some whites just cannot get it through their heads that the color of a persons skin is. Louis, illinois, an industrial city on the east bank of the mississippi river across from st.
An intimate reflection on the brutal events and aftermath of the 1917 east st. Black men, women and children were slain in east saint louis, estimates of the killed ranging from 40 to 200. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Louis, illinois, stemming specifically from the employment of black workers in a factory holding government contracts.
President wilson said almost nothing about this atrocity. Lumpkins lumpkins reveals the engagement of political and economic insiders in shaping both the violence and its aftermath, and in so doing he presents a model for understanding racial violence that both highlights black political activism and reminds us of the costs that. East st louis commemorates 1917 race riots through silent. Louis race riots a century ago, a tragic series of events in east st. While this riot remains a pinnacle point in american. Louis race riot of 1917 edited by elliott rudwick guide compiled by mike acquaviva a microfilm project of university publications of america, inc. Louis, illinois, race riot, which erupted on 2 nd july, 1917, was arguably one of the worst race riots of the early 20 th century. Hes been studying the race riots for years, and said it was the riots that inspired the 1917 silent march in new york city in response to the violence in east st. Read the fulltext online edition of race riot at east st. East saint louis race riot of 1917, july 2, bloody outbreak of violence in east st. Most historians agree that july 2 was the worst day of the rioting, fighting, property. Louis massacres of may and july 1917 were an outbreak of labor and racerelated violence that caused between 40 and 200 deaths and extensive property damage. Louis broke out into race rioting from july 1 to july 3, 1917. Louis, illinois was the scene of one of the bloodiest race riots in the 20th century.
The violence erupted during a period of acute industrial unrest, and after significant black migration to. Shows what a thorough disgrace some of white history in this country is. Louis, july 2, 1917 blacks in the new world paperback august 1, 1982 by elliott rudwick author 4. At least 100 africanamericans died some sources put the figure at nearly 200, and over 6,000 were left homeless. This study concerns a racial massacre which took place in east st louis, illinois on 2 july 1917. The 1917 race riot that sparked the civil rights movement 2008 learn more. The july 1917 episode in particular was marked by whiteled violence throughout the city. Louis planned to celebrate the 4th by killing and burning the black section. Louis race riot of 1917 proquest published by guset user, 20150322 00.
Group is placing historical markers at sites of 1917 east st. Louis is in what is defined as the metroeast region of southern illinois. The bloodiest and ugliest of the race riots in the industrial north took place in east st. I found, in deming, new mexico, a 1973 publication, race riot at east st. The riot was arguably one of the worst race riots of the early 20 th century. Louis riverfront of the mississippi river, with st. This is a very important book, heartbreaking and riveting, history that is as fresh as todays. Louis massacres were a series of outbreaks of labor and racerelated.