RIOTING DUE TO RACISM REPEATINGDanielle SwissHonors American History 2Period 3May 20, 2015

BACKGROUNDDue to industrialization, many factories were popping up all over the northern part of the country. Many Americans wanted more and more personal belongings, so there was a large need for bulk production. In Chicago, many car factories were being built to keep up with the demands of the American people to have luxury possessions. Many freed African American slaves moved up north to escape the discrimination and inequality in the southern states. Even though there were many open positions, people believed that there was competition.

BELIEVED COMPETITIONMore and more freed African Americans were moving to Chicago and getting simple jobs in car factories. Many white men were worried for their jobs however. White men believed that African American men were trying to steal their jobs and show off to the boss. Tension not only grew in the workplace, but in the city.

SEPARATIONEven though African American slaves were freed, white people still treated them poorly. Many public places, including the beach became unofficially segregated to keep the two races apart from each other. Even with the separation, tension became even worse.

SUMMER HEATAs the year went farther into the summer months, the weather became too humid and unbearable for people to stay at home. Many people went to the beach to cool off and just relax when they were not at work. Many people would even not go to church on Sunday to go and enjoy the summer breeze and refreshing water at the beach.

JULY 27, 1919During an especially warm summer day, many people were enjoying their Sunday at the beach and not at church where their families were. A group of four African American teenage boys decided to take a raft out into the water and mess around in the water by jumping off and splashing around. Their raft, however, was floating towards the unofficial “white only” section of the beach.

ONE GROUP CROSSED THE LINE

Meanwhile, a group of about five African American men were walking on the beach when they walked over to the “white only” section. One angered white man got up from his chair and started yelling and arguing with the group of African American men. After a couple minutes of fighting, the group of African American men walked away. Then, one guy blew.

ONE ROCKThat one angered white guy decided to begin throwing rocks at the group of African American teenage boys playing in the water. At first, the boys thought that the guy was just messing around with them, until one rock ignited a fire. One rock that was thrown hit Eugene Williams in the head. By the time Eugene made it back to the shore with the help of his friends, it was too late. Eugene died from a fatal head injury.

POLICE ARRIVE TO “HELP”Arguing began between African Americans and whites at the beach after Eugene was pronounced dead. Police officers arrived to help solve the problem, but not fairly. The police began beating and arresting the African Americans involved in the arguing. As word of this even spread, so did rioting. Riots began all over the state regarding discrimination and police brutality. The fire had spread.

CONNECT TO ZIMMERMANHistory truly repeats itself when people are not educated and warned. On February 26, 2012, an African American teenage boy named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claims that Martin was suspicious looking and was walking on Zimmerman’s private property. Protesting occurred during the court case and George Zimmerman was recently shot at. People all over the country responded in different ways to this event.

CONNECT TO FERGUSONIn Ferguson, Missouri on April 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an eighteen year old African American boy was shot and killed by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, a white man. The day after Brown was killed, multiple video tapes were released by witnesses and rioting began. All over the city, violent rioting has been occurring. Buildings were being looted and burned to the ground by protestors. Currently, the city is attempting to re-build from the ground up. There is still tension, but there is no violence at this point.

CONNECT TO BALTIMOREOn April 15, 2015, a twenty-five year old African American named Freddie Grey was arrested by police officers, but sustained fatal injuries and later died in the hospital. Many videos were taken during the arrest that show that the only injury that occurred to Grey was an injured leg, no head injuries or spine injuries. There is still currently confusion about how Grey suddenly became gravely injured and passed away. Protests have occurred throughout the city of Baltimore. A curfew has been put in place to reduce the protests and violence at night, but rioting still occurs during the day. Protestors have been known to throw rocks and set buildings on fire.

IMPACT OF CHICAGO RACE RIOTS OF 1919 HISTORICALLYEver since the Chicago Race Riots of 1919, there has been a large amount of mistrust towards the police. Police officers have been seen as corrupt men who do what they want, even if it is not right. Police officers have also been targeted by people and have been killed. The Chicago Race Riots of 1919 also created more tension and hatred. This event is one of many that led to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. There had been inequality, but once the Civil Rights Movement occurred, equality had been reached between different races. All of the riots were investigated as to why they occurred.

WORKS CITED "As Curfew Goes Into Effect, Baltimore Police Clear Defiant Crowds." By Jackie Northam and

Christopher Dean Hopkins. npr. npr. 28 Apr. 2015. Print. Transcript. "The Chicago Race Riot of 1919." History. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 24 May 2015.

<http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/chicago-race-riot-of-1919>. "Chicago's Past Wilson bathing beach ,Lake Michigan, rowboats and people in water." Loyola

University Chicago. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.loyolachicagotps.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=82299466>.

Chuck, Elizabeth. "The Killing of an Unarmed Teen: What We Know About Brown's Death." NBC News: n. pag. Print.

"Civil rights demonstration at Fort Lauderdale's segregated public beach." Florida Memory. Institute of Museum and Library Services, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/4524>.

Dionisopoulos, Timothy. "Providence College names 'combating' racism award after slain youth, Trayvon Martin." Campus Reform. Leadership Institute, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=4604>.

"Early Views of Catalina." Water and Power Associates. Water and Power Associates, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_Catalina.html>.

WORKS CITED "EVEN THE BEACHES WERE SEGREGATED -- BEACH WADE-IN AND POLICE RIOT." Clean Up City of St.

Augustine, Florida. Blogger, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2009/05/lets-welcome-steven-spielberg-and.html>.

"The interior of Léon Bollée’s automobile factory shows the assembly of his cars at Le Mans, France, August 1908." the Henry Ford. the Henry Ford, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/pic/2008/august/leonBollee.asp>.

"Justice for Michael Brown." Build People's Power. Building People's Power, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://peoplespowerassemblies.org/justice-for-michael-brown/>.

Lewis, Taylor. "Baltimore Man Dies One Week After Sustaining Injuries in Police Custody." Essence. Essence Communications, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.essence.com/2015/04/20/baltimore-man-dies-one-week-after-sustaining-injuries-police-custody/>.

McWhirter, Cameron. "The Chicago Race Riot of 1919." Mr. Jensen's U.S. History Website. weebly, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://waverlyhs.weebly.com/us-history-blog-may-2014---may-2015/the-chicago-race-riot-of-1919>.

"Ringing Rocks." David's Photographic Tour of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.davidhanauer.com/buckscounty/ringingrocks/>.