108 years ago today (September 26, 1906) some 100 or more people, mostly African Americans, were killed and or maimed on streetcars in downtown Atlanta by a blood thirsty white mob In an attempt to exert white supremacy and male dominance over working class black folk. The exact number of people killed we will never really know. The population of Atlanta at that time was only approximately 85,000 of which blacks comprised about 35,000. Just like today there was a heated gubernatorial race. The candidates used the platform to sensationalize the mythologized and unproven rapes of virtuous white women in the city by black male brutes. Coupled with working class labor competition and work day fatigue, violence and rioting erupted on September 22, 1906 on Decatur Street and it spread throughout downtown and to black communities that demonstrated upward social, educational, and entrepreneurial mobility like Fair Street (current AUC), South Atlanta/Brownsville (Clark College original location), and other areas. The Georgia militia was called in...they perpetuated the white tyranny and violence in all areas. However, in Brownsville some blacks strategized on ways to protect their families from the random acts violence. Some armed themselves and engaged in a shootout with the militia and rogue white mob. A white officer was shot and killed and therewith the murderous rage continued until black men, some with no probable cause only blind suspicion, were rounded up and taken to the city jail. On this day, September 26, 1906, the violent rioting finally ended. This brief video unpacks and illustrates the lives of the courageous black folk in Brownsville.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 15:44:51 +0000
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