Glossary
"If We Must Die" (Claude McKay)
A powerful sonnet written by Claude McKay in 1919, serving as a defiant response to racial violence and a call for dignity and resistance in the face of oppression.
Example:
Claude McKay's poem, "If We Must Die", became an anthem of Black resilience, inspiring those who faced brutal racial attacks.
Chicago Race Riot
A major racial conflict in Chicago in July-August 1919, sparked by the drowning of a Black teenager who crossed an unofficial segregation line at a beach.
Example:
The Chicago Race Riot demonstrated how seemingly small incidents could ignite widespread violence in racially charged urban environments.
Elaine Massacre
A violent event in September-October 1919 in rural Arkansas where white mobs killed hundreds of Black sharecroppers who were organizing for better conditions.
Example:
The Elaine Massacre revealed the brutal suppression of Black economic and political organizing in the Jim Crow South.
Exposing the Truth (Ida B. Wells-Barnett)
The act of using journalism and documentation to reveal the realities and horrors of racial violence, particularly lynching, to a wider public.
Example:
Ida B. Wells-Barnett's courageous work in exposing the truth about lynching helped galvanize public opinion against racial terror.
Greenwood District ("Black Wall Street")
A thriving, self-sufficient Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known for its successful Black-owned businesses and institutions, which was destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Example:
The destruction of the Greenwood District, often called 'Black Wall Street,' represented a profound loss of Black economic autonomy and progress.
Impact on Black Wealth
The long-term economic consequences for African American communities due to the destruction of homes, businesses, and assets during racial violence, hindering generational wealth accumulation.
Example:
The impact on Black wealth from events like the Tulsa Race Massacre contributed to persistent economic disparities that continue today.
Legal Battles (African American Response)
The strategy of pursuing legal challenges and lobbying for new laws, such as anti-lynching legislation, to combat racial discrimination and violence.
Example:
Engaging in legal battles was a crucial tactic for civil rights organizations seeking to dismantle Jim Crow laws and protect Black citizens.
Photographs from the Tulsa Race Massacre
Visual documentation, such as images of destruction and surrender, that provide direct evidence of the scale and human cost of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Example:
The haunting photographs from the Tulsa Race Massacre serve as undeniable historical evidence of the violence and injustice inflicted upon the Greenwood community.
Political Activism (African American Response)
Organized efforts by African Americans to advocate for their rights and challenge white supremacy through civil rights organizations and lobbying.
Example:
The NAACP's growth during this era is a prime example of political activism aimed at securing legal protections for Black Americans.
Post-War Chaos
The economic and social upheaval, including unemployment and inflation, that followed World War I, exacerbating racial tensions and competition for resources.
Example:
The general post-war chaos after WWI created a volatile environment where racial animosity could easily escalate into violence.
Pull Factors (Great Migration)
Attractive conditions in the Northern and Western United States, including industrial jobs, less overt racism, and established Black communities, that drew African Americans to these regions.
Example:
The promise of factory jobs and greater personal freedom served as strong pull factors for migrants heading to cities like Detroit and New York.
Push Factors (Great Migration)
Negative conditions in the Southern United States, such as Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and limited economic opportunities, that compelled African Americans to leave.
Example:
Oppressive sharecropping and the constant threat of lynching were powerful push factors driving Black families out of the South.
Red Summer
A period in 1919 marked by widespread racial violence and riots across numerous U.S. cities, primarily targeting Black communities, due to the bloodshed.
Example:
The Red Summer of 1919 saw over 30 major race riots, highlighting intense racial tensions following WWI.
Returning Black Veterans
African American soldiers who returned from World War I expecting respect and equality but instead faced intensified discrimination and violence.
Example:
The disillusionment of returning Black veterans who fought for democracy abroad but found oppression at home fueled racial tensions.
Self-Defense (African American Response)
The act of African Americans arming themselves and organizing to protect their communities and families from white supremacist attacks.
Example:
In some instances, Black communities resorted to self-defense, demonstrating their refusal to passively accept racial violence.
The Great Migration
The mass movement of approximately six million African Americans from the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West between 1916 and 1970.
Example:
The Great Migration led to significant demographic shifts in Northern cities, creating new Black communities and increasing competition for resources.
Tulsa Race Massacre
A devastating attack in 1921 by a white mob on the prosperous Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.
Example:
The Tulsa Race Massacre stands as a stark example of the destruction of Black wealth and community by white supremacist violence.
Washington D.C. Race Riot
A racial disturbance in Washington D.C. in July 1919, triggered by false rumors of a Black man attacking a white woman, leading to mob violence.
Example:
The Washington D.C. Race Riot highlighted the danger of misinformation and racial prejudice in inciting mob action.
White Supremacist Violence
Systematic acts of terror and aggression perpetrated by white individuals or groups against African Americans, often aimed at maintaining racial hierarchy.
Example:
During the Red Summer, widespread white supremacist violence aimed to suppress Black progress and instill fear in communities.