Rage in the Gate City: The Story of the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot

by Rebecca Burns, June Dobbs Butts (Foreword)

During the hot summer of 1906, anger simmered in Atlanta, a city that outwardly savored its reputation as the Gate City of the New South, a place where the races lived peacefully, if apart, and everyone focused more on prosperity than prejudice. But racial hatred came to the forefront during a heated political campaign, and the city's newspapers fanned its flames with sensational reports alleging assaults on white women by black men. The rage erupted in late September, and, during one of the most brutal race riots in the history of America, roving groups of whites attacked and killed at least twenty-five blacks. After four days of violence, black and white civic leaders came together in unprecedented meetings that can be viewed either as concerted public relations efforts to downplay the events or as setting the stage for Atlanta's civil rights leadership half a century later.

Rage in the Gate City focuses on the events of August and September 1906, offering readers a tightly woven narrative account of those eventful days. Fast-paced and vividly detailed, it brings history to life. As June Dobbs Butts writes in her foreword, "For too long, this chapter of Atlanta's history was covered up, or was explained away. . . . Rebecca Burns casts the bright light of truth upon those events."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, American History

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Author and journalist who focuses on Southern history and the intersection or race, religion, and politics.

Reviews

[Nick Black]

Hrmmm, I've decided I need to become an expert on Atlanta's history. Let's start here.

[Christopher Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent journey through America’s macabre history by way of Atlanta, Georgia. The veil was pulled back on this true to life “horror story” for Black Atlantans; a common occurrence throughout early 20th century America.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up in Atlanta and, while I have learned (as an adult) that there was a lot of racial tension at the turn of the century, I never learned about this. Just shameful. I will never understand how people can be so bigoted; they grew up with it, but who taught it to the first generation?

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a "must read" for anyone unfamiliar with the 1906 Atlanta race riots. Rebecca Burns is a respected journalist...and that might be why this book reads more like a newspaper article than a novel. I wish she had chosen a more story-telling-like style, but the impact of the events can still be felt with her straightforward approach.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This attempt at a narrative nonfiction is at times choppy and leaves you wanting more. But the journalistic style keeps the facts of Atlanta's troubled racial past at the forefront and is an important contribution to telling the full story of American history.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a ton about Atlanta's history. These riots still influence current race relations and segregation of the city.