Chicago Race Riots 1919

We have been learning about WWI and events that have taken place post WWI and my topic is the Chicago race riots. I learned that by 1919 Chicago had already developed a reputation as center for racial conflict during this era. What caused these tensions were the determination of whites to deny black equal  opportunities in employment, housing, and political equality. All these unfair treatments resulted in violent clashes especially during this time of postwar tension. Another reason that caused the tension during this time was the Great Migration which was the reason the population of blacks had expanded so much in these northern cities such as Chicago. It cause blacks that were already living in these areas to fear that whites would become more racist towards them, which turns out that's exactly what happened.



(Racial tension)

I also found out what caused the most famous riot in the history of Chicago which happened between July 27 August 3rd 1919. What started the riot was the drowning of a black teenager who had crossed the imaginary line on 29th street. I also learned that this event caused a " seven-day orgy of shootings, arsons, and beatings that resulted in the deaths of 15 whites and 23 blacks with an additional 537 injured (342 black, 195 white)." 

(violence)

One of the most horrifying things I found was a article from 1919 about one of the days during the seven days of conflict. Under the title of the article it says "Man Riddles Negro's Body with 16 Bullets,
Covers it with Gasoline, and Sets it Afire" 
This shows how bad these riots actually were during these seven days. Also I learned that during these seven days
4,000 troops were sent in to try and stop the riots along with the entire police force being assigned to the riots
.

(clashing)

I also found a website on the white gangs in Chicago which is a part of the riots that is rarely known about and a newspaper article from the Chicago Tribune in 1919.
These white gangs would molest blacks, beat them, and even kill some. In almost all these cases the authorities
would choose to look the other way. This shows how blacks had almost no fair chance in any of these incidents, because
if they would fight back they could be charged with crimes, but if they decide to not defend themselves they could be killed.
A example I found was when the black man was drowned there was a witness who saw the white man who did it
and the authorities knew about it and decided not to charge the man with any crime.

(No chance)

I also found another interesting event that happened during the "seven day orgy" which was when 1500 blacks challenged 100 armed police officers. After the two days of violence had ended neighborhoods had been burned and more then 6,000 militia had been called in. On the third day 12 to 1500 blacks returned to their work in the stockyards under a cover of machine guns. The only officer killed during the riot was a black man named John Simpson.

 (rebelling)

Overall I learned that the Chicago Race Riots were a terrible thing that happened in our country and probably could have been avoided. If whites wouldn't have seen the presence of more blacks as a threat in the workplace and life in the city then these riots would have been avoided. Also the post war stress of WWI cause for some problems also. The police force also didn't help much because of the unfair treatment blacks received during this time, like when the black teenage was drowned by the white man just because he crossed into the white section of the beach. It shows the inequality because the policemen knew the white man who did it, but never charged him with any crime.

(non stop fighting)