The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 happened on July 27, 1919. This was one of the deadliest race riots in American history. It began in Chicago, marking a dark and pivotal chapter in the fight for racial justice.
It started when a 17-year-old Black teenager named Eugene Williams unknowingly drifted into the whites-only area of Lake Michigan. White men on the shore began throwing rocks, striking Williams and causing him to drown. When Black witnesses pointed out the attackers, police refused to arrest them. Instead, they arrested a Black man for allegedly enraging the community.
What followed was five days of racial violence between white and Black residents. White mobs attacked Black neighborhoods, and Black residents fought back in self-defense. By the time the violence subsided:
- 38 people had been killed (23 Black, 15 white),
- Over 500 were injured,
- Thousands of Black families were left homeless after their homes were burned.
This riot was part of the “Red Summer” of 1919. This is a period of racial terror and civil unrest that swept across more than three dozen U.S. cities.
✊🏾 Why It Matters
The Chicago Race Riot exposed deep-rooted racial inequalities in the North. A clear reminder to the country that racism wasn’t just a Southern issue. It galvanized Black communities and spurred the growth of the NAACP. It also laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement that would unfold over the next few decades.
🕊️ We remember July 27 not just for the violence. We recognize the resilience and resistance of a community.