Chicago Race Riots of 1919 connection to race riots today

1. Danielle Swiss
Honors American History 2
Period 3
May 20, 2015

2. Due to industrialization, many factories were popping up
all over the northern part of the country. Many Americans
wanted more and more personal belongings, so there was a
large need for bulk production. In Chicago, many car
factories were being built to keep up with the demands of
the American people to have luxury possessions. Many
freed African American slaves moved up north to escape the
discrimination and inequality in the southern states. Even
though there were many open positions, people believed
that there was competition.

3. More and more freed African
Americans were moving to
Chicago and getting simple jobs
in car factories. Many white men
were worried for their jobs
however. White men believed
that African American men were
trying to steal their jobs and
show off to the boss. Tension not
only grew in the workplace, but
in the city.

4. Even though African American slaves were freed, white
people still treated them poorly. Many public places,
including the beach became unofficially segregated to keep
the two races apart from each other. Even with the
separation, tension became even worse.

5. As the year went farther into
the summer months, the
weather became too humid and
unbearable for people to stay
at home. Many people went to
the beach to cool off and just
relax when they were not at
work. Many people would even
not go to church on Sunday to
go and enjoy the summer
breeze and refreshing water at
the beach.

6. During an especially warm
summer day, many people were
enjoying their Sunday at the
beach and not at church where
their families were. A group of
four African American teenage
boys decided to take a raft out
into the water and mess around
in the water by jumping off and
splashing around. Their raft,
however, was floating towards the
unofficial “white only” section of
the beach.

7. Meanwhile, a group of about
five African American men
were walking on the beach
when they walked over to the
“white only” section. One
angered white man got up from
his chair and started yelling
and arguing with the group of
African American men. After a
couple minutes of fighting, the
group of African American men
walked away. Then, one guy
blew.

8. That one angered white guy
decided to begin throwing rocks
at the group of African
American teenage boys playing
in the water. At first, the boys
thought that the guy was just
messing around with them,
until one rock ignited a fire.
One rock that was thrown hit
Eugene Williams in the head.
By the time Eugene made it
back to the shore with the help
of his friends, it was too late.
Eugene died from a fatal head
injury.

9. Arguing began between African
Americans and whites at the
beach after Eugene was
pronounced dead. Police officers
arrived to help solve the problem,
but not fairly. The police began
beating and arresting the African
Americans involved in the
arguing. As word of this even
spread, so did rioting. Riots began
all over the state regarding
discrimination and police
brutality. The fire had spread.

10. History truly repeats itself when people are
not educated and warned. On February 26,
2012, an African American teenage boy
named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed
by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claims
that Martin was suspicious looking and was
walking on Zimmerman’s private property.
Protesting occurred during the court case
and George Zimmerman was recently shot
at. People all over the country responded in
different ways to this event.

11. In Ferguson, Missouri on April 9, 2014, Michael
Brown, an eighteen year old African American
boy was shot and killed by a white police officer,
Darren Wilson, a white man. The day after
Brown was killed, multiple video tapes were
released by witnesses and rioting began. All
over the city, violent rioting has been occurring.
Buildings were being looted and burned to the
ground by protestors. Currently, the city is
attempting to re-build from the ground up.
There is still tension, but there is no violence at
this point.

12. On April 15, 2015, a twenty-five year old African
American named Freddie Grey was arrested by police
officers, but sustained fatal injuries and later died in
the hospital. Many videos were taken during the
arrest that show that the only injury that occurred to
Grey was an injured leg, no head injuries or spine
injuries. There is still currently confusion about how
Grey suddenly became gravely injured and passed
away. Protests have occurred throughout the city of
Baltimore. A curfew has been put in place to reduce
the protests and violence at night, but rioting still
occurs during the day. Protestors have been known to
throw rocks and set buildings on fire.

13. Ever since the Chicago Race Riots of 1919, there has been a large
amount of mistrust towards the police. Police officers have been seen
as corrupt men who do what they want, even if it is not right. Police
officers have also been targeted by people and have been killed.
The Chicago Race Riots of 1919 also created more tension and hatred.
This event is one of many that led to the Civil Rights Movement in
the 1960s and 1970s. There had been inequality, but once the Civil
Rights Movement occurred, equality had been reached between
different races.
All of the riots were investigated as to why they occurred.

14.  "As Curfew Goes Into Effect, Baltimore Police Clear Defiant Crowds." By Jackie Northam and
Christopher Dean Hopkins. npr. npr. 28 Apr. 2015. Print. Transcript.
 "The Chicago Race Riot of 1919." History. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 24 May 2015.
<http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/chicago-race-riot-of-1919>.
 "Chicago's Past Wilson bathing beach ,Lake Michigan, rowboats and people in water." Loyola
University Chicago. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<http://www.loyolachicagotps.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=82299466>.
 Chuck, Elizabeth. "The Killing of an Unarmed Teen: What We Know About Brown's Death."
NBC News: n. pag. Print.
 "Civil rights demonstration at Fort Lauderdale's segregated public beach." Florida Memory.
Institute of Museum and Library Services, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/4524>.
 Dionisopoulos, Timothy. "Providence College names 'combating' racism award after slain youth,
Trayvon Martin." Campus Reform. Leadership Institute, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=4604>.
 "Early Views of Catalina." Water and Power Associates. Water and Power Associates, n.d. Web.
24 May 2015. <http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_Catalina.html>.

15.  "EVEN THE BEACHES WERE SEGREGATED -- BEACH WADE-IN AND POLICE RIOT." Clean Up
City of St. Augustine, Florida. Blogger, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2009/05/lets-welcome-steven-spielberg-and.html>.
 "The interior of Léon Bollée’s automobile factory shows the assembly of his cars at Le Mans, France,
August 1908." the Henry Ford. the Henry Ford, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<https://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/pic/2008/august/leonBollee.asp>.
 "Justice for Michael Brown." Build People's Power. Building People's Power, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015.
<http://peoplespowerassemblies.org/justice-for-michael-brown/>.
 Lewis, Taylor. "Baltimore Man Dies One Week After Sustaining Injuries in Police Custody." Essence.
Essence Communications, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.essence.com/2015/04/20/baltimore-
man-dies-one-week-after-sustaining-injuries-police-custody/>.
 McWhirter, Cameron. "The Chicago Race Riot of 1919." Mr. Jensen's U.S. History Website. weebly, n.d.
Web. 24 May 2015. <http://waverlyhs.weebly.com/us-history-blog-may-2014---may-2015/the-chicago-
race-riot-of-1919>.
 "Ringing Rocks." David's Photographic Tour of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
2015. <http://www.davidhanauer.com/buckscounty/ringingrocks/>.