The Summer of 1919: The Awakening of Black America

Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America

by Cameron McWhirter

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	970 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	366 pages

FREE

The summer of 1919 was a watershed moment in the history of Black America. In the wake of World War I, Black soldiers returned home to find that they were still second-class citizens in their own country. They faced discrimination in housing, employment, and education. They were denied the right to vote. And they were subjected to violence and terror at the hands of white supremacists.

In the summer of 1919, this simmering anger boiled over into a series of riots that swept across the United States. Over 100 Black communities were attacked by white mobs. Homes were burned, businesses were looted, and people were killed.

The riots of 1919 were a turning point in the history of Black America. They marked the end of the era of Reconstruction and the beginning of a new era of Black activism. The riots led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Urban League. They also helped to inspire the Harlem Renaissance, a flowering of Black culture that took place in the 1920s.

The events of the summer of 1919 are a reminder of the long and difficult struggle for Black equality in America. But they are also a testament to the resilience and determination of the Black community. The riots of 1919 helped to awaken Black America and to lay the foundation for the civil rights movement that would eventually achieve great victories.

The Events of the Summer of 1919

The summer of 1919 was a time of great tension and violence in the United States. The country was still reeling from the effects of World War I, and there was a growing sense of unrest among African Americans. Black soldiers had returned home from the war expecting to be treated as equals, but they were instead met with discrimination and violence.

On July 19, 1919, a race riot broke out in Chicago after a white teenager was killed by a Black man. The riot lasted for two days and resulted in the deaths of 38 people, 23 of whom were Black. The Chicago riot was followed by a series of other riots in cities across the United States, including Washington, D.C., Detroit, and Omaha.

The riots of 1919 were a turning point in the history of Black America. They marked the end of the era of Reconstruction and the beginning of a new era of Black activism. The riots led to the formation of the NAACP and the Urban League. They also helped to inspire the Harlem Renaissance, a flowering of Black culture that took place in the 1920s.

The Legacy of the Summer of 1919

The events of the summer of 1919 had a profound impact on the history of Black America. The riots helped to awaken Black America and to lay the foundation for the civil rights movement that would eventually achieve great victories. However, the legacy of the riots is still felt today. The riots are a reminder of the long and difficult struggle for Black equality in America.

Today, there are still many challenges facing Black America. However, the progress that has been made since the summer of 1919 is undeniable. Black Americans have made great strides in education, employment, and politics. They have also made significant contributions to American culture. The riots of 1919 were a dark chapter in American history, but they also helped to inspire a movement that has made great strides towards achieving equality for all Americans.

Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America

by Cameron McWhirter

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	970 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	366 pages

FREE