Race Riot: Chicago In the Red Summer of 1919

by William M. Tuttle Jr.

"The origins of the Chicago race riot of 1919 are to be found, not in high-level policy, but in gut-level animosities between black and white people who were generally inarticulate and presentist-oriented, and who did not record their motivations or feelings for posterity. . . To explain the Chicago riot, this evidence has to be found; and though such evidence is not abundant by any means, it does exist."--From the preface
 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Race, Social Science, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1972

About the author

A professor of history and American studies at the University of Kansas, Bill Tuttle specializes in twentieth-century American history and African-American history.

Reviews

[Randall Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The New Orleans States Newspaper boldly proclaimed, “3,000 will burn Negro” in bold red type. But the article in The States also said the whites were in a moral quandary about the lynching – half wanted him burned, while the other half really wanted him lynched. Hotter heads prevailed of course and the negro in question was both hanged and burned – after first being brutally stabbed and shot multiple times. In South Carolina, an injured black boy asks, “What are you shooting me for? I was not doing anything?” Came the white reply, “Hush your mouth or we’ll give you some more.” In Louisiana, teachers were paid $.87 per black pupil and a whopping $28.89 per white pupil. Ah, real American History. The greatest stimulation for the Great Migration came from the black newspaper, The Defender, especially beginning in 1917 when it’s headlines shouted, “MILLIONS TO LEAVE SOUTH”. The black population in Chicago tripled from 1917-1919, bringing the city to a housing/jobs boiling point as Blacks also returned from WWI in uniform. Between July 1917 and July 1919 in Chicago, there were 26 bombings of black homes and realtor’s offices, if they sold to blacks.

But Chicago in 1919, is also where blacks demonstrated to the country they weren’t going to passively continue to be abused – they would fight back over jobs and for a place to live. Booker T. Washington had merely demanded self-control, the New Negro demanded self-defense. These were men and women who no longer “wanted to imitate white America”, they wanted to be themselves. Sometimes the white motive for violence wasn’t just racial hatred but also simple greed – for black watches, cash, and rings. An innocent black man on his bicycle is grabbed by an Italian mob, shot, stabbed and set on fire in Chicago. During the Chicago Riot, the Chicago police “shot to death seven blacks but no whites.” The was the age of the New Negro – the days of non-resistance were over. In response, the U.S. government leapt into action – by comically assuming blacks could only be rebellious due to communism. But white violence in Chicago would prove more extreme, and more vicious than black violence. Complicating matters also was that both the white and black press (the Defender) wrote some wildly fabricated stories that wrongly inflamed tensions on both sides. After the 1919 Chicago Riot, officer Callahan invents the Right Wing no-evidence needed talking point with, “the black people have since history began despised the white people”. One of the toughest white street gangs in Chicago at the time were the Ragen’s Colt’s. What is interesting is that the anger of the Colt’s wasn’t directed at the blacks of Chicago, but was first directed at the KKK. Strange, right? It was because the KKK were so anti-Catholic. I’ve read over five books on this subject of the Chicago 1919 Race Riots and this was a good book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I picked up as part of Yale's open course on African American History from Emancipation to Present: https://oyc.yale.edu/african-american... . It was surprisingly readable despite the obviously serious topic and extremely informative. It starts right off with a description of the main events that triggered the the Chicago race riot of 1919 and the main events of the riot itself, but then spends most of its chapters explaining and dissecting the reasons for why the city (and many other cities) were so on edge in 1919. Very well written and despite being about a 100 year old topic and having been written about 50 years ago, it feels extremely relevant to current events.

[Jeni VW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this well-researched book was published in the early 1970s, it should be required reading for everyone who wants to truly understand the history of race relations in our nation and why we are not moving forward. Tuttle covers the events of the Chicago 1919 race riot in sufficient depth to see the unequal treatment and political impotence that added fuel to the fire, and he also digs into the factors that created the perfect firestorm set off on that fateful July day in 1919. At the end, he connects the 1919 sociopolitical climate to the Civil Rights era; if he were to do an update for the 21st century, it would reflect many of the same challenges plaguing our nation, nearly a hundred years after Chicago's riot. When will we ever learn?

[Michael Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book after reading about the summer riots of 1919 to understand more about Chicago and its state of today. I didn't gain much insight of today in terms of conditions, etc. but it did a great job of bringing the riots up from the 60's. Since this was written in 1970, well, it's obvious as to why it was written. What's also interesting in comparing the 2 time periods is that the cities in which the riots occurred in 1919 wasn't always the same for those in the 60's. Some examples are the ones that happened in 1919: Omaha, Austin, and Longview.

[Maribeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book as a text for an online class I'm auditing, and it was so incredibly informative. There's an American History that we learned nothing about, and it's so important to know - especially because the same things continue to happen because we haven't dismantled the systems that caused them.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply researched account of the riot and its multiple causes. You get a vivid picture of Chicago in the early 20th century as Tuttle follows the tensions in politics, labor, and housing that made Chicago such a tense place in 1919.

[Justin Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting this book to be an account of what happened during the riots. I was pleased to find out that it is more about the causes of the riots. It is well researched, and made me feel like I was being informed rather than persuaded.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Bryan Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this was written over 30 years ago, the book holds up. It's a fascinating account of the race riot in Chicago, and it is still relevant today.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, well researched analysis of race relations in America and why our racial dynamics have and will lead to violence.

[Peter Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and the best single-volume history of this pivotal event in Chicago history!

[Maggie Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough for me to get through. The author obviously did a lot of great research but it's just so academic. Lots of names and dates and other minutiae.

[Hannah Bollman · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent and informative and connective and as relevant as ever. and i love local history

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense but not intimidatingly so. Not at all shy about pointing out how the very foundations of American society fed into these events. Though this was written much closer to the widespread unrest of the 60s than to now, its analysis is still extremely relevant in understanding the continuing history of oppression and racial violence in this country.

[Sarah Spector]

THis is information everyone should know. I reread this for a Newberry seminar and each time I read it I get more out of it. The racism in Chicago's history is truly ugly.

[LA · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent job by Tuttle. This, his first work out of the gate at KU in 1971, shows his excellent mind. It's as relevant now as it was almost 50 years ago.