Knoxville riot of 1919

Knoxville riot of 1919. The Knoxville riot of 1919 was a violent clash between African Americans and White Americans in Knoxville, Tennessee, involving the National Guard and the Knoxville Police Department. This event was one of several Red Summer riots that occurred across the United States in 1919, including the Chicago race riot of 1919 and the Washington, D.C. race riot of 1919. The riot was sparked by a lynching attempt and resulted in significant damage to African American-owned businesses and homes in the Vine Avenue area, with connections to the Tennessee State Legislature and the University of Tennessee.

● Introduction

The Knoxville riot of 1919 was a pivotal event in the history of Tennessee, marked by racial tension and violence against African Americans. The riot drew attention from prominent figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Marcus Garvey, who were involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The event also had connections to the Harlem Renaissance, with writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston addressing issues of racial inequality in their works, including The Crisis and Opportunity. Furthermore, the riot was influenced by the Great Migration of African Americans from the Southern United States to the Northern United States, including cities like Chicago, Illinois, and New York City, with many settling in Harlem.

● Background

The Knoxville riot of 1919 was preceded by a series of events that contributed to the escalating tensions between African Americans and White Americans in Knoxville, Tennessee. The city was home to a significant African American population, with many living in the Vine Avenue area, which was also a hub for African American-owned businesses, including those owned by Madam C.J. Walker and John Merrick. The Ku Klux Klan was also active in the region, with connections to the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and figures like Nathan Bedford Forrest and David Duke. Additionally, the Tennessee State Legislature had passed laws that restricted the rights of African Americans, including the Jim Crow laws and the Voting Rights Act precursor, the 15th Amendment. The University of Tennessee and the Tennessee A&I State College (now Tennessee State University) also played a role in the events leading up to the riot, with connections to the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the National Council of Negro Women.

● The Riot

The Knoxville riot of 1919 began on August 30, 1919, when a White American woman accused an African American man, Maurice Mays, of rape. A mob of White Americans formed and attempted to lynch Mays, but he was rescued by the Knoxville Police Department and taken to the Knox County Jail. However, the mob continued to grow and eventually broke into the jail, sparking a violent confrontation between African Americans and White Americans. The National Guard was called in to restore order, but not before significant damage had been done to African American-owned businesses and homes in the Vine Avenue area, with connections to the Tulsa riot and the Rosewood massacre. The riot resulted in the deaths of several people, including African Americans and White Americans, and the destruction of many businesses and homes, with ties to the Fisk University and the Meharry Medical College.

● Aftermath

The aftermath of the Knoxville riot of 1919 saw a significant increase in tensions between African Americans and White Americans in Knoxville, Tennessee. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Universal Negro Improvement Association became involved in the aftermath, with figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey speaking out against the violence and advocating for the rights of African Americans. The Tennessee State Legislature also took action, passing laws aimed at reducing racial tensions and promoting equality, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Additionally, the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee A&I State College (now Tennessee State University) increased their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, with connections to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The riot also had a lasting impact on the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, with many African Americans leaving the city in the years that followed, including those who moved to Chicago, Illinois, and New York City, with many settling in Harlem.

● Legacy

The Knoxville riot of 1919 is remembered as a significant event in the history of Tennessee and the United States. The riot drew attention to the issues of racial inequality and violence against African Americans, and it played a role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, with connections to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and the Selma to Montgomery marches. The riot also led to increased efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in Knoxville, Tennessee, with the establishment of organizations like the Knoxville Area Urban League and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Today, the Knoxville riot of 1919 is remembered as a tragic event that highlights the need for continued efforts to promote equality and justice for all, with ties to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Category:Riots and civil unrest in the United States