On this day, 102 years ago, an event kicked off one of the worst periods of white backlash in history.
It started because of a 4th of a July parade.
A thread
It started because of a 4th of a July parade.
A thread
Every year, the town of Bisbee, AZ held a big 4th of July parade. And, as usual, the racist police officers were the stars.
White folks in Bisbee LOVED the police
White folks in Bisbee LOVED the police
Mostly because it gave them jobs. See, Bisbee had gold, silver & copper mines along with turquoise deposits. Ofin the early 1900s Mexican workers began coming to Bisbee to work in the copper mines because something happening across the US made copper really popular:
Electricity
Electricity
The town was really diverse. But then Chinese American, Black and Mexican American workers started demanding more pay. So, I’m 1917, the cops kidnapped all the workers at gunpoint loaded them on a train (not a passenger train—BOXCARS) and dropped them off in New Mexico. 
Then they declared that no white people could be in town after sundown. This was THE LAW in Bisbee, but, of course, they needed racist cops. So they hired racist officers from all around the country.
If you had ever lynched a black person or shot a Mexican, they’d hire you.
If you had ever lynched a black person or shot a Mexican, they’d hire you.
The town would celebrate its “freedom” by letting the cops lead the 4th of July parade. But in 1919, WWI had just ended so they wanted to honor the troops. So they invited soldiers from nearby Fort Huachuca
*If there’s anything white folks love more than cops, it’s “the troops.”
*If there’s anything white folks love more than cops, it’s “the troops.”
The Army sent 2 regimen—the 19th Infantry and the 10th Calvary. They arrived in Bisbee on July 3 and set up camp. There was just one problem:
The 10th Calvary was Black
EVERYONE knew the 10th (at least by their nickname) was world famous for the lack of fucks they had to give.
The 10th Calvary was Black
EVERYONE knew the 10th (at least by their nickname) was world famous for the lack of fucks they had to give.
They were so famous, someone named Robert, who ISN’T EVEN AMERICAN , wrote a song about them.
The 10th Calvary was known as the “Buffalo Soldiers
The 10th Calvary was known as the “Buffalo Soldiers
So they show up and the police asked them to give them their weapons. NOT THE ALL-WHITE 19th, just the Buffalo Soldiers
Even the white Army officer in charge told the cops: “I mean… you can ask them if they want to do it. I’m not fucking with them.”
The Black soldiers said:
Even the white Army officer in charge told the cops: “I mean… you can ask them if they want to do it. I’m not fucking with them.”
The Black soldiers said:
“GTFOH, white boy. We’re in the ARMY.”
Of course the cops were mad but they said: “well, don’t come in town until the parade then.”
Of course the black folks didn’t listen. And being a sundown town, a white man started talking shit to the Black soldiers.
Of course the cops were mad but they said: “well, don’t come in town until the parade then.”
Of course the black folks didn’t listen. And being a sundown town, a white man started talking shit to the Black soldiers.
The black soldier knocked the white man out, took his gun and then WENT TO THE COPS and told them what happened.
The cops couldn’t let it slide. So they rounded up a posse, including Deputy Joe Hardwick.
They knew Hardwick was racist AF.
The cops couldn’t let it slide. So they rounded up a posse, including Deputy Joe Hardwick.
They knew Hardwick was racist AF.
Bisbee hired him after they heard killed Mexican AFTER HE GOT OUT OF PRISON FOR KILLING SOMEONE ELSE!
In Bisbee’s police department, this was called “relevant experience” on your resumé.
They rounded up a posse, went to the 10th & demanded their guns. They didn’t ask the 19th
In Bisbee’s police department, this was called “relevant experience” on your resumé.
They rounded up a posse, went to the 10th & demanded their guns. They didn’t ask the 19th
Now you might say: “But the 19th didn’t do anything!”
Well, the white man who got knocked out, he was in the 19th.
The Buffalo soldiers said “I thought we already said ‘fuck that, white boy?’ Now kick rocks”*
*To be fair, there were a lot of rocks in Bisbee
Well, the white man who got knocked out, he was in the 19th.
The Buffalo soldiers said “I thought we already said ‘fuck that, white boy?’ Now kick rocks”*
*To be fair, there were a lot of rocks in Bisbee
Hardwick couldn’t take it. So he started shooting. 100 shots were fired and 4 Buffalo soldiers were shot. When it was over, the Buffalo Soldiers were escorted out of town but Hardwick walked up to a soldier and shot 1 man in the lung.
Doesn’t seem that bad, right?
Well it was covered all over the country. White folks were OUTRAGED that Black soldiers had disrespected fair white officers.
And remember, this was RIGHT AFTER WWI
All over the country, whites began attacking Black soldiers who acted “uppity”
Well it was covered all over the country. White folks were OUTRAGED that Black soldiers had disrespected fair white officers.
And remember, this was RIGHT AFTER WWI
All over the country, whites began attacking Black soldiers who acted “uppity”
Now what happened in Bisbee wasn’t the first incident, but it led to a wave of anti-black veteran sentiment. Which led to lynchings all over the country.
In Georgia, they lynched a veteran because he wore his uniform too much
In Georgia, they lynched a veteran because he wore his uniform too much
Again, Bisbee wasn’t the CAUSE, but it was one of the first and most famous incidents that led to a national crime wave. If you think the so-called “Ferguson Effect” was bad…
Wait until you hear about the Red Summer of 1919
Happy 4th of July
And God Bless the Troops
Wait until you hear about the Red Summer of 1919
Happy 4th of July
And God Bless the Troops
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