1906 Atlanta Race Massacre (Riot) What happened? Summarize the event!
The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, also referred to as the Atlanta Race Riot, was a violent event that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 1906. The riot was triggered by false allegations that a black man, named Sam Hose, had and murdered a white woman. This false accusation fueled racial tensions in the city.
A mob of white residents formed and sought to take matters into their own hands by capturing and lynching Sam Hose. However, before they could find him, the mob turned their anger towards the African American community in general. They attacked black neighborhoods, homes, and businesses, setting them on fire and destroying property.
The violence escalated throughout the city, resulting in the deaths of several black residents. The situation intensified when armed black individuals attempted to defend themselves. As a response, police and armed white mobs indiscriminately targeted black people, leading to further casualties.
The destruction lasted for multiple days, and the violence was not effectively stopped until the intervention of the National Guard. By the end of the conflict, at least 25 black people, and two white individuals had been killed, while many others were injured, and numerous homes and businesses were left in ruins.
The event exposed deeply rooted racial tensions within Atlanta and highlighted the systemic racism and violence that plagued the United States during that period. The massacre led to a significant exodus of black residents from the city for their own safety and caused lasting trauma in the African American community.