Charleston riot of 1919 facts for kids
| Part of the Red Summer | |
News coverage of the Charleston riot of 1919
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| Date | May 10, 1919 |
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| Location | United States |
| Outcome | Racial riots by white Americans against black Americans across the United States. |
| Deaths | 6 |
The Charleston riot of 1919 was a serious event that happened on the night of Saturday, May 10, 1919. It involved members of the United States Navy and local Black residents in Charleston, South Carolina. During the riot, white sailors and some white civilians attacked Black individuals, businesses, and homes. Six Black people died, and many others were hurt.
What Happened During the Charleston Riot?
The Charleston riot began around 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 1919, and lasted until after midnight. It started when five white sailors believed they had been tricked by a Black man. When they couldn't find him, they began attacking other African Americans without reason. A Black man named Isaac Doctor fired a shot and was then killed.
Within an hour, news of the street fights and shooting reached the Charleston Naval Yard. Soon, many sailors arrived in cars and entered the Black neighborhoods.
The fighting first broke out near Beaufain Street and Charles Street. It quickly spread across a large part of King Street, which was a busy shopping area. More than 1,000 sailors were involved, and some white civilians joined them. Police reported that sailors broke into two shooting galleries on Beaufain Street. They took small rifles from these places and used them during the riot.
The rioters attacked Black people, their businesses, and their homes. For a while, they controlled the downtown streets. A Black barber shop on King Street was badly damaged. In several cases, streetcars were stopped by pulling down their power poles, and Black people on the cars were beaten. One Black man was shot after being pulled off a streetcar.
Admiral Frank Edmund Beatty, who was in charge of the Navy's southern headquarters, ordered Marines to help. Naval police, also called "bluejackets," were also sent in. The Marines worked closely with the city police from a shared command center. The armed Marines arrived shortly after midnight. By 2:30 a.m., things were calm again, and the riot was over.
This event was the worst violence Charleston had seen since the American Civil War. Five Black people died during the riot, and another died later from injuries. Seventeen Black men, seven white sailors, and one police officer were seriously hurt. Thirty-five Black people and eight sailors were taken to hospitals. Stores were robbed, and Black businesses and homes were damaged, some very badly.
After the riot, the Navy placed rules on sailors visiting Charleston. Naval troops also patrolled the streets. Three sailors faced a military trial called a court-martial. One was found not guilty. The other two were sent to a naval prison for a year and then removed from the Navy in a way that showed they had done something wrong.
Forty-nine people, mostly white, were accused of various actions, from serious crimes to disturbing the peace. Two Black men and one white man were found not guilty of starting the riot. The accusations against most others were dropped. Police were very busy that night and had little time to gather statements or evidence. Eight men were fined $50 for carrying a hidden weapon.
Aftermath of the Riot
The Charleston riot was one of many similar events that happened during the "Red Summer" of 1919. This period saw many attacks on Black communities and unfair actions by white groups in over three dozen cities and counties across the United States. In most cases, white mobs attacked African American neighborhoods.
However, in some places like Chicago and Washington, D.C., Black community groups fought back against the attacks. Most deaths during the Red Summer happened in rural areas. For example, in the Elaine massacre in Arkansas, it's believed that between 100 and 240 Black people were killed, along with 5 white people. Other major events in 1919 included the Chicago Race Riot and the Washington D.C. race riot. These riots caused many deaths, injuries, and a lot of property damage.
See also
In Spanish: Disturbio de Charleston de 1919 para niños
