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The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot and the Reshaping of American Race Relations

Salman Rushdie

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Published in Veiled Visions: The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot And The Reshaping Of American Race Relations

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The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot was a four-day period of racial violence that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, from September 22 to 25, 1906. The riot was sparked by the rape and murder of a white woman, Mary Phagan, by an African American janitor, Leo Frank. The riot resulted in the deaths of at least 25 African Americans and the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses.

Veiled Visions: The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot and the Reshaping of American Race Relations
by David Fort Godshalk
4.4 out of 5
Language : English
File size : 4099 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 377 pages

The Causes of the Riot

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot was caused by a number of factors, including:

The racial tensions that had been building up in Atlanta for years
The sensationalist reporting of the Phagan case by the Atlanta newspapers
The failure of the city government to take steps to prevent the riot

The racial tensions in Atlanta had been building up for years. The city had a long history of racial segregation, and African Americans were subject to discrimination in all aspects of life. In the years leading up to the riot, there had been a number of incidents of racial violence in Atlanta, including the lynching of an African American man in 1905.

The sensationalist reporting of the Phagan case by the Atlanta newspapers helped to inflame racial tensions in the city. The newspapers published lurid details of the crime, and they played up the fact that the suspect was an African American man. This reporting helped to create a climate of fear and suspicion among white Atlantans.

The failure of the city government to take steps to prevent the riot was also a contributing factor. The city government knew that there was a risk of violence, but it did not take any steps to prevent it. The police force was understaffed and unprepared to deal with a riot, and the mayor did not call in the National Guard until it was too late.

The Course of the Riot

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot began on September 22, 1906, when a mob of white men gathered outside the courthouse where Leo Frank was being held. The mob was angry that Frank had not yet been convicted of the murder of Mary Phagan, and they began to riot. The mob attacked African Americans and their businesses, and they burned down homes and churches.

The riot lasted for four days, and it resulted in the deaths of at least 25 African Americans. The riot also caused extensive damage to property, and it destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

The Aftermath of the Riot

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot had a profound impact on the city and the nation. The riot led to the formation of the NAACP, and it helped to galvanize the civil rights movement. The riot also led to a new wave of racial violence in the South, and it helped to shape the course of race relations in the United States for the next century.

The Formation of the NAACP

The NAACP was founded in 1909 in response to the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot. The NAACP is a civil rights organization that fights for the rights of African Americans. The NAACP has been a major force in the civil rights movement, and it has helped to achieve a number of important victories for African Americans.

The Galvanization of the Civil Rights Movement

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot helped to galvanize the civil rights movement. The riot showed that there was a need for a national organization to fight for the rights of African Americans. The NAACP was founded in response to the riot, and it has been a major force in the civil rights movement ever since.

The New Wave of Racial Violence in the South

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot was followed by a new wave of racial violence in the South. The violence was often directed against African Americans who were trying to exercise their rights. The violence continued for decades, and it helped to keep African Americans in a state of fear and oppression.

The Shaping of Race Relations in the United States

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot had a profound impact on race relations in the United States. The riot showed that racial tensions were running high in the country, and it helped to set the stage for the civil rights movement. The riot also helped to shape the course of race relations in the United States for the next century.

The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot was a watershed moment in American history. It marked the beginning of a new era of racial violence in the South, and it helped to shape the course of race relations in the United States for the next century. The riot led to the formation of the NAACP, and it helped to galvanize the civil rights movement. The riot also led to a new wave of racial violence in the South, and it helped to shape the course of race relations in the United States for the next century.

Veiled Visions: The 1906 Atlanta Race Riot and the Reshaping of American Race Relations

by David Fort Godshalk

4.4 out of 5