Extraordinary Pictures of the Chicago Race Riots of 1919

Flashbak

March 24, 2019 9:18 AM

A member of the state militia faces off against an African-American veteran during the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. July 27, 1919.

The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 began on a hot July day and thought to be the worst of around 25 riots during the so-called ‘Red Summer’. Some ninety years later the New York Times called it the worst race riot in the history of Illinois.

On July 27, 1919, an African-American teenager called Eugene Williams was swimming with friends in Lake Michigan when he crossed the unofficial race barrier between the ‘white’ and ‘black’ beaches. He was stoned to death by a group of white youths. The murder, and the subsequent refusal by the police to arrest the the person initially responsible began a week of rioting between black and white Chicago residents. When the riot ended on August 3, 23 African-Americans had died along with 15 whites and more than 500 injured. Over 1000 black families lost their homes after being set alight by the rioters.

During World War One, essentially being fought on the other side of the Atlantic, there had begun a great migration of African Americas from the rural south to the cities of the North. When the war came to an end thousands of servicemen, back and white, found their jobs had been taken by Southern blacks and other immigrants. According to the History website the African-American population in Chicago alone had increased in ten years from 44,000 in 1909 to more than 100,000 in 1919. This only exacerbated the already simmering racial tensions related to policing, migration, and housing. Everything came to a head in 1919.

Vandalized first floor of house

Troops gather at 47th Street and Wentworth Avenue during the Chicago race riots in 1919

The state run militia patrols the streets of Chicago during the race riot of 1919. Photo dated Aug. 1, 1919.

Police remove the body of a black man killed during the 1919 race riots

People moving from house, accompanied by policemen during race riots

Mob chasing victim during race riots

kids cheering a burning house

Illinois National Guard soldiers questioning

Heavily armed motorcycle and foot policemen stood at the ready for instant transportation to quell the rioting on Chicago’s south side on July 30, 1919.

Five policemen and one soldier with rifle standing on street corner in the Douglas Community area.

Chicago Defender

Chicago race riot of 1919.

Chicago Daily Tribune

Black residents of the south side move their belongings with a hand-pulled truck to a safety zone under police protection during the Chicago race riots of 1919.

A group of white men and boys examine the destroyed homes of black Chicago residents after the city’s 1919 riot.

A soldier tells a man to back up during the race riots in Chicago in 1919. The soldiers were in place to keep white people in their own district.

A police officer stands in front of Burke’s Lunch Room in the heart of Chicago’s business district July 30, 1919

A man armed with a machine gun sits at the Cook County Jail during the 1919 Chicago race riots.

A firefighter looks over a burned out building during the Chicago race riots of 1919.

A black resident of the south side moves his belongings to a safety zone under police protection during the Chicago race riots of 1919