Being born into this present society of mixed races and acceptance of Black people, I have always been used to the modern day sense of equality in America. This is why, before recently, I have neglected to understand the density and seriousness of the efforts Black people had to give to become the recognized citizens they are today, and the crimes of white people resisting so harshly in many states to accept them as equals. Although there were countless numbers of misleading headlines, and extreme exaggerations in media, the American impression of the level of cruelty that the blacks had to face in the early nineteen hundreds was not far from the truth. The Chicago race riots of 1919 had notorious examples of the peak of racial tensions in American history.

http://www.tahg.org/module_display.php?mod_id=113&review=yes This picture shows the amount of force that was needed to break up these mobs and control the crowds.

     Before the early nineteen hundreds, Chicago had strangely always been known for their fair racial attitudes. However, tension grew after more and more black people began to migrate to the North after World War One. As black people moved to Chicago, in spite of segregation laws, white people refused to conform to black acceptance. Anger and tension in the city grew as whites continued to deny blacks equal rights in employment, housing, and any sort of political representation. I have begun to understand that white people in this time period were raised as superiors to blacks. My grandfather, Jim Caudle Sr. tells me stories of when he used to work in the family meat market at the early age of 7 years old, until halfway through high school. When he stood behind the counter and took orders in from costumers, he says that fully adult grown black men had to call him sir. It's hard for me to imagine life that way, but my grandad says that it was regular old common courtesy that was accepted and expected, and that's just the way it was.

     After living in this way that white people were taught to for so long, they became angry when they were suddenly told that they had to change their traditions, and welcome black people as equals. And they did not accept these new ways without quarrel. As tensions were reaching boiling point in Chicago in 1919, it was the tragic event of the drowning of a little black boy that started the outbreaks of the Chicago race riots. Many versions of this story are told, but the most common tells that a black child was swimming in an area that whites established as off limits to black people. People threw rocks at the child, and caused him to drown. When on looking policeman refused to arrest the white man who was the instigator, chaos broke loose on the beach. 



  Madness soon spread throughout Chicago mainly on the south side of town. For seven days the city was streaming with shooting and beating between white and blacks. "Many African Americans became victims of white mobs when they had to pass through white neighborhoods in order to reach their workplaces.  Others were attacked on streetcars or in city parks and other public venues."  Militia were sent in, but only interfered slowly. They were understaffed, and had sympathy for the whites. 

 1 http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/chicago-race-riot-1919- This picture shows the reality of the cruelty and unreasonable punishment on the blacks.



Eventually, the militia gained control and stopped the violence. 15 whites and 23 blacks were killed in the riots. 537 were injured badly. (342 black, 195 white).

      The shock of the riot in Chicago helped shake the nation and understand that segregation was wrong, and that Black people were only trying to make a living. President Wilson took action and declared whites as the instigators in the riots. Laws were passed to help harmonize the races, and bring peace to the city and the country. This period was also marked in history as one of the first times for black men to stand up and fight for their rights.

      Although the level of cruelty and the crimes that were committed are somewhat unspeakable, the riots did give the country a sense of realization. It made many whites stop and think about their rights and wrongs, and eventually to accept black people into the communities. Although it took way longer than it should have, all the fighting and protests eventually paid off for the blacks, in that they are equally accepted today. In my research, I have gained immense respect for black people that stood up for their rights in Chicago, and the rest of the country. Even though Blacks did many things they shouldn't have in these riots, it takes extreme bravery to fight against the system and society. 

http://www.semp.us/_images/biots/Biot521PhotoE.jpg This picture from a newspaper shows the rare occurrence of the militia stepping in to help this black person, escorting him away from a mob.