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The Red Summer of 1919
The Year White People Went Berserk, and Black People Fought Back
The year 1919 had to be something special to be singled out amongst surrounding years for its racial violence. In 1917, East St. Louis had one of the deadliest race riots in American history. The always under-inflated official death toll was 39 Black people, but estimates range as high as 200. Black workers were ambushed when leaving work at factories. They were victims of drive-by shootings and hangings, and some were burned alive.
“A group of white women beat a group of Black women with sticks and stones as they begged for mercy. But the white women laughed and answered the coarse sallies of men as they beat the negresses’ faces and breasts with fists, stones, and sticks.” — Carlos F. Hurd, reporter for the Post-Dispatch
Over half the Black population of East St. Louis fled the city for good. The NAACP organized a silent protest parade in New York City, but 1917 wasn’t the Red Summer.
The 1918 Philadelphia Race Riot raged for four days and involved 5,000 people. It was sparked by a Black family moving into a white neighborhood. Most of the events, called “race riots,” are organized attacks against Black families, individuals, businesses, and communities. The Philadelphia Tribune called for Black people to “stand their ground.” There were two additional race riots in 1919.
“We favor peace but we say to the colored people of the Pine street war zone, stand your ground like men. This is a free city in a free country and if you are law-abiding, you need not fear. Be quiet. Be decent. Maintain clean, wholesome surroundings and if you are attacked, defend yourself like American citizens. A man’s home is his castle. Defend it (even) if you have to kill some of the dirty, foul-mouthed, thieving Schuylkill rats (i.e., racist thugs) that infest the district.” — Philadelphia Tribune
