LYNCHINGJulia West and Jacob Campbell

WHAT IS LYNCHING?

• 1.V. To punish (a person) without legal process or authority, especially by hanging, for a perceived offense or as an act of bigotry.

• 2 .N. Putting a person to death by mob action without due process of law.

• The term “Lynching” is derived from the name of Revolutionary War Officer and land owner Charles Lynch of Bedford County in Virginia, 1790.

• Lynch was known for performing illegal/ informal trials, to which most of the accused were supposedly proven to be guilty by Lynch. The primary crime of the accused was acting as a Loyalist to the British.

• When “proven” guilty, Lynch would then proceed to punish them by tar and feathering, burning, whipping and or, in extreme cases, he would hang them from the walnut trees in his front yard.

Charles Lynch

ORIGINATION

• “Lynching” is a relatively new term for America. Although the hate crimes associated with lynching have been prevalent globally for centuries, it was not until the 1880’s that the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and The Chicago Defender (the black newspaper) began recording the acts of lynching in America.

• Lynching in America began to discourage runaway slaves and to show power of white supremacy over slaves through sever punishments such as whipping, branding or execution.

• After the civil war and the abolition of slavery, lynching grew into acts of vigilantism to which people assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner when the judicial system was performing unsatisfactory, in the public eye, against supposed criminals. The peak time era of lynching in America was from 1880 to the late 1960s.

• Although Lynching in America is most popularly known towards African Americans many other minorities (Latinos, Chinese, Indians, ect.) and white persons (Jews/ Italians) were victims as well.

WHY WAS SOCIETY OK WITH LYNCHING?

• Used to eradicate alleged criminals in the name of justice

• Maintained white class structure and preserved white supremacy

• Ensured political, economic, and social domination of white Americans over minorities. (Namely African Americans)

• Society was still in the mindset that black people were a separate species

• Entertainment

ANTI-LYNCHING BILL

• Congressman Leonidas Dyer of Missouri introduced his anti-lynching bill (commonly known as the Dyer Bill) in 1918 in an attempt to outlaw lynching and all its affiliations.

• Bill was passed by House of Representatives on January 26th 1922.

• Sent to Senate in July of 1922 but was stopped by a filibuster from southern white democrats.

• Next attempt at passing similar anti- lynching legislation was not until 1930s with the Wagner Bill.

• 1933 lynching became at a record high and the Costigan- Wagner Act was introduced, hoping to pass based on lack of trials for lynchers or punishment of officials who did nothing to. This Bill did not pass either.

• Over 200 anti lynching bills were introduced in Congress, three passed the House and Seven presidents between 1890 and 1952 petitioned Congress to pass federal law.

Common Practices

Hangings- Most CommonRemoving AppendagesWhippingCastration while aliveBurned aliveBeaten to deathDismemberment

Founded in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan was one of many

organizations derived by the peak of the lynching era.

UNJUSTIFIED JUSTIFICATIONS

If someone was perceived to have the “wrong”: Race (Ethnicity), Religion, Sexual Orientation, Disabilities, Physical Appearance, etc. Then the following list of

Excuses were used as justifications for lynching.

If you have: Attempted Murder, Committed Adultery, Committed Theft, Raped, Argued with a white man, thrown stones, courted a white Woman, Entered white woman’s room, demanding respect, were unpopular, perceived as obnoxious, spread disease, practiced

voodoo etc.

STATISTICS

Black73%

White27%

Recorded Lynchings 1882 - 1968

According to archives at Tuskegee Institute

• Total people lynched: 4,743

• Black persons: 3,446

• White persons: 1,297

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Idah

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Illin

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Indi

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Kans

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Kent

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Loui

siana

Maine

Mar

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Michi

gan

Min

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Miss

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Miss

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Mon

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Nebra

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Nevad

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New Je

rsey

New M

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New Y

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North

Car

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North

Dak

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Ohio

Oklah

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Orego

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Penn

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100

200

300

400

500

600

700

White Black

Lynchings: By State and Race, 1882 to 1968

NEW ORLEANS MARCH 14,1891

• Largest mass lynching in American history.

• 11 Sicilians suspected for the murder of police superintendent David Hennessy but proven innocent.

• 25 men broke into jail where the Italians were being held and shot them.

• Hung some of the corpses on lamp post for public display.

• Cheers were nearly deafening by crowd of thousands outside jail.

MARY PHAGEN AND LEO FRANK• Leo Frank, Jewish man, accused of raping and murdering 13 year old Mary

Phagen

• Frank was a superintendent/ part-owner of the factory Phagen worked at. Her body was found in the basement by Watchman Newt Lee (black man)

• 2 days after body was found Frank was charged with murder April 29, 1913. Lee was held in jail under suspicion without charges for months.

• Jim Conley was main witness/ alleged accomplice.

• Found guilty even though evidence was inconclusive and based of hearsay.

• Jim Slaton, governor of Georgia, converted Frank’s death sentence and lowered it to life in prison, which did not sit well with the public.

• Drove 100 miles to Mary Phagan’s hometown, there he was hung.

Mary Phagan Leo Frank

Murder note found by body

THE DEATH NOTES OF MARY

Note 1

Mam that negro hire down here did this I went to make water and he

push me down that hole a long tall negro black that hoo it sase long

sleam tall negro I wright while play with me

Note 2

He said he wood love me land down play like the night witch did it but

that long tall black negro did buy his slef.

JESSE WASHINGTON

• 17 yr. old Jesse Washington was arrested for raping and beating to death wife of a white farmer in Robinson, Texas.

• Confessed to both in hopes of protection

• May 15, 1916 trial began and ended in Waco, Texas. Total of 4 minute trial within which all white jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death.

• Before he even got out of court room angry mob got ahold of him.

• Hung and burned to death. Charcoal remains dragged behind car and hung in front of blacksmith’s shop.

• 15,000 people witnessed the “spectacle.”

• Over 50,000 post cards and souvenirs were sold and traded after the lynching of Washington.

Jesse Washington BBQ Postcard

Post card invitations were common social practices to invite friends and family to join in the lynching “festivities.”

Little Mary PhaganShe left her home one day;She went to the pencil-factoryTo see the big parade.

She left her home at elevenShe kissed her mother good-by;Not one time did the poor child thinkThat she was a-going to die.

Leo Frank he met herWith a brutish heart, we know;He smiled, and said, "Little Mary,You won't go home no more."

--- as reproduced by F.B. Snyder in The Journal of American Folk-Lore, 1918