Notes What factors led to the Omaha Race Riot of 1919? Why/how
did the riot occur? Who were the main figures of the riot? Who
participated/was involved? What actions were taken by the mob? What
did authorities do to try and stop the riot?
Slide 3
Background: The Great Migration (Late 1800s-World War I) Shift
in African American population to the North Why? 1860: 93% of
African Americans lived in the South 1930: 80% of African Americans
lived in the South Was the North necessarily better?
Slide 4
Increasing Racial Tensions Increased African American
population in the North led to increased racial tensions Why? Red
Summer of 1919 Violence erupts in 25 cities (including Omaha) Great
Migration article from Omaha Newspaper "Migration Brings Race
Problem, this Woman so Asserts," Cleveland advocate, March 6, 1920.
Source: LOC, via Nebraska Studies.org
Slide 5
Chicago Race Riot of 1919 July 1919 Erupted with the death of a
17 year old African American boy Lasted several days 23 blacks and
15 whites killed 537 people wounded Hundreds left homeless
Slide 6
Race Relations in Omaha Arrival of blacks Stockyards jobs in
South Omaha Filled during wartime Competed with immigrants Black
men assaulting white women? Boss Dennisons role
Causes Agnes Loebeck Will Brown Omaha Bee Sensationalized Press
Competition for Jobs End of World War I
Slide 10
Omaha Bee Headline "Black Beast First Sticks-up Couple: The
most daring attack on a white woman ever perpetrated in Omaha
occurred one block south of Bancroft street near Scenic avenue in
Gibson (Omaha neighborhood) last night." -Omaha Bee, September
1919
Slide 11
Omaha World-Herald Headline "Pretty little Agnes Loebeck... was
assaulted... by an unidentified negro at twelve O'clock last night,
while she was returning to her home in company with Millard [sic]
Hoffman, a cripple."
Slide 12
The Mob at the Courthouse
Slide 13
Storming the Courthouse
Slide 14
Hanging of Mayor Edward Smith "If you must hang somebody, then
let it be me-Mayor Smith (after trying to reason with the mob)
Three attempted hangings Rescue at 16 th and Harney St Saved by
four men in a car "They shall not get him. Mob rule will not
prevail in Omaha"
Slide 15
Fire Rages up the Courthouse "Bring Brown with you and you can
come down Situation becomes desperate for police and prisoners (121
of them) Prisoners attempts to throw Brown off the roof foiled by
Deputy Sheriffs "I am innocent, I never did it, my God I am
innocent." - Will Brown Slips of paper thrown from the
building
Slide 16
The Slips of Paper "The judge says he will give up Negro Brown.
He is in dungeon. There are 100 white prisoners on the roof. Save
them. "Come to the fourth floor of the building and we will hand
the negro over to you."
Slide 17
The Lynching of Will Brown Handed over to the mob Hung from a
telephone post Body dragged through the streets and burnt
Slide 18
Slide 19
Slide 20
Casualties Omaha World Herald, September 1919
Slide 21
Aftermath 1600 soldiers deployed in Omaha 100 people arrested
on charges ranging from arson to murder Assigning blame for the
riot Omaha Bee Boss Dennison Police and Mayor Smith Army for not
arriving quickly ... the yellow journalism of a certain Omaha
newspaper' created the conditions for an outbreak of violence....
It is the belief of many that the entire responsibility for the
outrage can be placed at the feet of a few men and one Omaha paper.
-Reverend Charles E. Cobbey
Slide 22
Reaction? Write on a separate sheet of paper: What are your
reactions to the events that occurred during the Omaha Race Riot of
1919? Do you think an event like this could happen today? Why or
why not? How can we learn from history to help insure that another
event like this does not occur?
Slide 23
Rodney King and the LA Riots of 1992
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLBEfyyL_vw&feature =related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLBEfyyL_vw&feature =related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdl8ziKU3Jw&feature =related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdl8ziKU3Jw&feature
=related
