The Red Summer of 1919: White Supremacist Terror & Uprising - Essay Sample

Introduction

The red summer refers to a duration covering the late winter, summer, spring, and early autumn of the year 1919 (Krugler, 2014). The period was marked with a substantial number of deaths, and many victims within the United States. The events of the period resulted from the white supremacist terror attack accompanied by a violent uprise in more than three dozen urban centers and a number of the rural counties. In most of these instances, the African Americans were attacked by the whites, resulting in retaliatory attacks, especially in Chicago and Washington. The highest number of severe injuries and fatalities happened in the rural area of Elain, Arkansas, where more than 100 African Americans and five whites lost their lives in what was to be termed as the Elaine Massacre (Krugler, 2014). Washington suffered about 15 fatalities while Chicago witnessed about 38 Casualties. However, Chicago had experienced more extensively in terms of injuries and property damage. This review will compare and contrast the riots in Longview, Texas, and Elaine, Arkansas, during the Red Summer.

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Reporting and Casualties

Longview in 1919 was in the process of settling down to get a glimpse of peace gained from the just concluded World War I. However, in July, race riots sparkled between African Americans and whites. In Longview, John Hope Franklin claimed that "witnessed the nightmares of a race riot when several white men were shot while in the Negro section of town searching for a black schoolteacher" (Fogg, 1999). However, the reports of the in American history, William M. Tuttle Jr. wrote: "...four whites fell with fatal wounds" (Tuttle, 1971). In another contrasting report by Tuttle states, "that day and night of rioting, however, had left five dead, a score wounded, and many homeless." (The Riot at Longview, 1919). In yet another report, the Texas Ranger report mentions one death while Franklin states none. In Elaine, the number of Casualties reported by various outlets also differed with the Zin education project placing it at more than one hundred. Eunuma (2018) states that "They went well beyond that, banding together with local vigilantes and killing at least 200 African-Americans (estimates run much higher, but there was never a full accounting)." While stating that the killing was indiscriminate, meaning women, children, and men suffered the blow in almost equal measures (Elaine Massacre, n.d.). Further, the reports indicate that about five whites were killed. In the Encyclopedia of Arkansas (n.d), the report indicates that it was hard to estimate the number of African Americans while the number of whites has been placed at precisely five. Thus, it is safe to say that in both the areas, the number of casualties, of the African Americans, remains unconfirmed to date because of the systemic differed reporting. The reports can also be used to show the discrimination between the whites and the African Americans since the number of blacks was fluctuating, probably to deny the requisite justice, while that of the whites were precise.

Causes and Timelines

Soon after the return from World War, the African Americans had a sense of pride as a result of their contribution. Their overall confidence had tripled because of the socioeconomic gain the war had brought. This angered the white supremacists who wanted to “put the Negro in his place.” (Durham, 1980) Due to Longview's rural nature, the bloodshed was not as much as the slaughter witnessed in places like Elaine. However, this cannot be termed the sole reason since Longview had 5173 residents, 30 percent being African Americans while Elaine, had less than 2500 people (Durham, 1980). The racial strife between the blacks and whites was apparent in Longview and might have escalated the riots; however, the primary reason for the uprise in the area was the murder of a famous African American activist. A local agent for the black-oriented newspaper, Professor Samuel L. Jones, had gone to the jail for his usual routine of disbursing the newspaper only to find a well-known dentist missing in his cell. Three black witnesses indicated that on June 17, 1919, Walter was dragged from his after his mouth had been stuffed with handkerchiefs (Durham, 1980). The sources also reported that the white sheriff allowed the white men to "take him from the jail and give him a good beating and make him leave town." (The Riot at Longview, 1919). Subsequently, his body was found nude and with bullet wounds besides the railroad tracks at Foote's Switch. The report of the murder on the Chicago Defender prompted instant riots as it explained the situation from a black man’s point of view on July 5, 1919 (The Riot at Longview, 1919).

Elaine riots have been termed so far as the deadliest in the history of Arkansas, as well as being termed as the “bloodiest racial conflict in the history of the United States.” ‌Encyclopedia of Arkansas. (n.d.). The riots began on September 30, 1919, and have been traced to have been caused by the state's commitment to the white supremacy, the tense racial relationship, and the growing concerns regarding the labor unions (‌Encyclopedia of Arkansas, n.d.). However, similar to Longview, shooting of a person during a convention of the Progressive Farmers and Household Union, quickly escalated to mob violence on the side of the whites in Elaine and the surrounding areas (Elaine Massacre, n.d.).

Conclusion

America has had a fair share of racial tension between the whites and other races that have resided within its borders. Currently, the same issue of racism has prompted people to hold peaceful and violent riots following the death of George Floyd, who is alleged to be strangled by a white racist law enforcer. Similarly, violent riots during the red summer of 1919 were caused by the death of one of the minority African Americans in the hands of the Majority. These protests in both the areas led fatalities and property damage, with the African American suffering more casualties. Racism is a vice that should have ended, especially after the World War I since all the races defended America full of patriotism and will. It is sad to note that even currently with the technological and educational advances that the racial tension is still alive and well.

References

Durham Jr, K. R. (1980). The Longview Race Riot of 1919. East Texas Historical Journal, 18(2), 6.

‌Encyclopedia of Arkansas. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/elaine-massacre-of-1919-1102/

Elaine Massacre. (n.d.). September 30, 1919: Zinn Education Project. Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/elaine-massacre/

Fogg, R. K. (1999). Longview's Red-Hot Summer. In NAAAS Conference Proceedings (p. 283). National Association of African American Studies.

Krugler, D. F. (2014). 1919, The Year of Racial Violence. Cambridge University Press.

Lansford, Jeremy, The Longview Race Riot: A Piece of Forgotten History, 1984.

‌Uenuma, F. (2018, August 2). The Massacre of Black Sharecroppers That Led the Supreme Court to Curb the Racial Disparities of the Justice System. Smithsonian; Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/death-hundreds-elaine-massacre-led-supreme-court-take-major-step-toward-equal-justice-african-americans-180969863/

The Riot at Longview. (1919, October) Texas, Crisis- A record of the Darker Races, XVIII.

Tuttle, W., M. (1971) Red Summer: 1919, American History Illustrated, Volume VI, Number 4. Pennsylvania, The National Historical Society.