Harlem riot of 1935

Harlem riot of 1935. The Harlem riot of 1935 was a major civil disturbance that occurred in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, on March 19, 1935. This event was sparked by the arrest of a Puerto Rican teenager, Lino Rivera, at the S.H. Kress store, and it involved African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and other ethnic groups, including Italians and Jews. The riot drew attention to the social and economic conditions faced by African Americans in Harlem, including unemployment, poverty, and racial segregation, as highlighted by W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Background

The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s had brought attention to the cultural and artistic achievements of African Americans in Harlem, with notable figures such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Bessie Smith. However, despite this cultural flourishing, Harlem was also plagued by poverty, unemployment, and racial tension, as documented by Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. The Great Depression had exacerbated these conditions, with many African Americans facing discrimination in employment, housing, and education, as reported by The Crisis and The Negro Digest. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), led by Walter White and Roy Wilkins, had been working to address these issues, along with other organizations such as the Urban League and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

The Riot

On March 19, 1935, a Puerto Rican teenager, Lino Rivera, was arrested at the S.H. Kress store in Harlem for allegedly stealing a penknife. A crowd of African Americans and Puerto Ricans gathered outside the store, and the situation quickly escalated into a riot, with looting and vandalism reported at stores such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. and F.W. Woolworth Company. The New York City Police Department (NYPD), led by Police Commissioner John F. O'Ryan, responded to the riot, but their actions were criticized by many in the African American community, including Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and A. Philip Randolph. The riot resulted in significant property damage and injuries, with reports of National Guard troops being deployed to restore order, as noted by The New York Times and The Chicago Defender.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the riot, there were widespread calls for reform and investigation, with many African American leaders, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes, arguing that the riot was a symptom of deeper social and economic problems, such as those highlighted by The Scottsboro Boys case and the Bonus Army march. The Mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, established a commission to investigate the riot, which was led by Mayor's Commission on Conditions in Harlem and included representatives from organizations such as the National Urban League and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The commission's report highlighted the need for improved housing, employment opportunities, and social services in Harlem, as well as greater community engagement and police accountability, as advocated by Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Causes and Consequences

The Harlem riot of 1935 was caused by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and racial tension, as well as police brutality and discrimination, as documented by The Negro Digest and The Crisis. The riot had significant consequences, including the establishment of the Mayor's Commission on Conditions in Harlem and the implementation of reforms aimed at addressing the social and economic conditions in Harlem, such as the New Deal programs and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The riot also drew attention to the need for greater community engagement and police accountability, as highlighted by The New York Times and The Chicago Defender, and led to increased activism and organizing in the African American community, including the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Investigation and Legacy

The investigation into the Harlem riot of 1935 was led by the Mayor's Commission on Conditions in Harlem, which included representatives from organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The commission's report highlighted the need for reform and investment in Harlem, and led to the implementation of programs aimed at addressing the social and economic conditions in the community, such as the New Deal programs and the GI Bill. The legacy of the Harlem riot of 1935 can be seen in the continued struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, led by figures such as Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and Lyndon B. Johnson. The riot also highlighted the importance of community engagement and police accountability, as advocated by The National Urban League and The Sentencing Project, and led to increased activism and organizing in the African American community, including the work of Black Lives Matter and The NAACP.

Category:Riots in the United States