Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906

Overview

• Dates: September 24-26, 1906
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Event: White mobs killed dozens of Black Atlantans and inflicted significant property damage.
• Alternative Names: Atlanta Race Riot, Atlanta Race Massacre
• Context: Part of a series of violent racial confrontations during the Jim Crow era in southern cities.

Background

• Population Growth:
  • Atlanta's population increased from 89,000 in 1900 to 150,000 in 1910.
  • Black population grew from 9,000 in 1880 to 35,000 by 1900.
  • Growth led to increased job competition and heightened class distinctions.
• Social Tensions:
  • White leadership imposed restrictions on the growing working class.
  • Expansion of Jim Crow segregation, especially in public spaces.
• Black Elite Emergence:
  • Post-Reconstruction, Black men gained voting rights and established businesses and social networks.
  • Black elite sought to distance themselves from the Black working class.
• Prohibition Campaigns:
  • Concerns about Black saloons and rising crime rates influenced white support for prohibition.

Political Climate

• 1906 Governor's Race:
  • Candidates utilized racial fears in campaigns.
  • Hoke Smith advocated for Black disenfranchisement to maintain white superiority.
  • Clark Howell argued existing measures were sufficient for limiting Black voting.
• Media Influence:
  • Newspapers, especially the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, fueled racial tensions with sensational stories.

The Massacre

• Trigger Event:
  • September 22: Newspapers reported unsubstantiated assaults on white women by Black men, inciting anger.
• Mob Formation:
  • Thousands gathered downtown, escalating to violence by evening.
  • Mobs attacked Black-owned businesses and individuals.
  • Militia intervention occurred around midnight.
• Continued Violence:
  • September 23: Reports claimed Saturday's violence had driven Blacks from public spaces.
  • Black communities armed themselves for protection against further attacks.
• Brownsville Incident:
  • African Americans met to discuss self-defense.
  • Police raid led to a shootout and further militia intervention.

Aftermath

• Social and Economic Impact:
  • Damaged Atlanta's image as a progressive city.
  • Promoted a rare biracial dialogue among civic leaders but also deepened Black social divisions.
• Casualty Estimates:
  • Estimated 25-40 African American deaths; city coroner reported 10.
  • Two white deaths reported.
• Legislative and Social Changes:
  • Contributed to prohibition and Black suffrage restrictions by 1908.
  • Discredited Booker T. Washington's accommodationist strategy.
  • Inspired more aggressive racial justice tactics led by W. E. B. Du Bois.

Cultural Impact

• Legacy: For decades, the massacre was minimized in white communities and omitted from official histories.
• Walter White: Witnessed the riot as a boy; later became NAACP secretary and recounted the event in his memoir.
• W. E. B. Du Bois: Responded with "The Litany of Atlanta," highlighting the need for racial justice.

These notes summarize the key points from the article "Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906" as featured in the New Georgia Encyclopedia. They cover the event's background, the massacre itself, and its aftermath, including social, political, and cultural impacts.