I need to share history from my hometown, Longview, TX. Long thread.
The population of Longview in 1919 was 5,700, of which 1/3rd were black. Before the Texas oil boom, it was a historical cotton town where slavery shaped the economy. In 1919, it erupted in a race riot.
The population of Longview in 1919 was 5,700, of which 1/3rd were black. Before the Texas oil boom, it was a historical cotton town where slavery shaped the economy. In 1919, it erupted in a race riot.
The incident starts with a (possible) love story. Two white men from Kilgore object to "indecent advances" on their sister by Longview black man Lemuel Walters. Some accounts say they found him in her bedroom.
A lynch mob of 10 white men abduct and kill Lemuel on June 17th.
A lynch mob of 10 white men abduct and kill Lemuel on June 17th.
The lynching is reported in July 5th 'Chicago Defender', an African-American newspaper, along with commentary suggesting the woman he was "making advances on" deeply loved him & was distraught by his death.
Whites felt this cast aspersions on honor of local white women.
Whites felt this cast aspersions on honor of local white women.
Longview black community leader Samuel L Jones was known to have written articles for the Defender, so brothers from Kilgore ambush and severely beat him in broad daylight in front of the county courthouse.
He is taken to black physician Dr. Calvin P Davis.
He is taken to black physician Dr. Calvin P Davis.
The beating incident is spark that ignites tensions: group of 25 white men gather at Bodie Park, plotting to kill Jones for possibly writing an article saying a white woman loved a black man who was murdered.
Black physician Davis appeals to Mayor Bodenheim for protection. He advises all black men should leave town.
Jones refuses. He gathers friends, armed for defense. White men assault his home that night, intent on lynching him. Four attackers are injured, attackers retreat.
Jones refuses. He gathers friends, armed for defense. White men assault his home that night, intent on lynching him. Four attackers are injured, attackers retreat.
Attackers reform at Bodie Park. They loot nearby Welch Hardware store for more weapons, ammunition, flammables.
They ring the fire bell at the fire station to summon more whites for the mob. Reports are the crowd reaches size of hundreds, possibly 1000.
They ring the fire bell at the fire station to summon more whites for the mob. Reports are the crowd reaches size of hundreds, possibly 1000.
The enormous mob returns to Jones house, finding it empty, they burn it and several nearby homes owned by black residents.
Then they went to Quick Hall, a black dance hall, burned it down, then Dr. Davis's home and set it on fire after allowing wife and children to leave.
Then they went to Quick Hall, a black dance hall, burned it down, then Dr. Davis's home and set it on fire after allowing wife and children to leave.
Then they begin burning cars nearby, belonging to black residents, and Dr. Davis's medical clinic. Local black leaders Ben Sanders and Charlie Medlock were assaulted when the mob reached their houses and they tried to defend them. So was Ben's wife Belle Sanders.
Fearing black reprisal and further lynchings/arson by whites, Gregg County Sheriff D.S. Meredith appealed to TX Governor William P Hobby for military support. Instead, Hobby sent 8 Texas Rangers, due to arrive in 2 days.
In the meantime, the sheriff went to the home of Marion Bush, a 60 yr old black man, and father in law of Dr. Davis. Reports are he was to offer protective custody, but Bush fired at him and fled. Sheriff asks local white farmer to "stop him" which results in Bush's murder.
With Bush incident, local whites feared reprisal even more. The mayor appealed again to Gov., receiving 160 soldiers under Brig.General McDill. They disarm the local citizens at courthouse (7,000 guns!), enforce curfew, form committee (exclusively white) to draft grievances.
Committee "expressed disapproval" of article written by Jones & his home defense.
"We will not permit the negroes of this community & county to in any way interfere with our social affairs or to write or circulate articles about the white people of our city or county...."
"We will not permit the negroes of this community & county to in any way interfere with our social affairs or to write or circulate articles about the white people of our city or county...."
The ending is fairly predictable. 16 white men were arrested for arson/attempted murder, but immediately released on $1000 bond.
21 black men were arrested for attempted murder and relocated to Austin for "protective custody". They were told never to return to Longview.
21 black men were arrested for attempted murder and relocated to Austin for "protective custody". They were told never to return to Longview.
Dr. Davis & Samuel Jones both escaped the riots & moved to Chicago with their families. They published their story in the NAACP newspaper, the Crisis.
Martial law lifted in Longview on July 18th, with all the "black troublemakers" relocated or in jail.
Martial law lifted in Longview on July 18th, with all the "black troublemakers" relocated or in jail.
I see the current situation erupting around the country, and I try to put into perspective of history.
A white mob rioted over a newspaper article about the possibility a white woman could love a black man (who they had murdered).
They burned homes, cars, businesses, clinics.
A white mob rioted over a newspaper article about the possibility a white woman could love a black man (who they had murdered).
They burned homes, cars, businesses, clinics.
I don't know a path forward for justice.
I don't like what I see on the news.
But I know the protesters could be doing a lot worse. They could be doing what white people did to black people throughout most of American history.
The time for justice is now.
I don't like what I see on the news.
But I know the protesters could be doing a lot worse. They could be doing what white people did to black people throughout most of American history.
The time for justice is now.
