Corbin, Kentucky race riot of 1919 facts for kids
| Part of Red Summer | |
News Coverage of the Expulsion
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| Date | October 31, 1919 |
|---|---|
| Location | Corbin, Kentucky, United States |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2 |
The Corbin, Kentucky race riot of 1919 was a sad event that happened in October 1919. During this time, a large group of white people in Corbin, Kentucky, forced almost all of the town's 200 Black residents to leave. They made them get on a freight train and sent them out of town. After this, Corbin became known as a "sundown town." This meant that Black people were not allowed to live or even stay in the town after sunset for many years.
The Corbin Expulsion
On October 29, 1919, a man named A.F. Thompson was robbed and hurt. He couldn't clearly see who attacked him. Word quickly spread that two Black men were supposedly responsible.
Two days later, on October 31, 1919, a large group of angry white townspeople gathered. They went from house to house, gathering all the Black residents they could find.
When they believed they had found everyone, the mob marched about 200 Black men, women, and children to the train station. They forced them onto crowded train cars.
The train then left, carrying these people south to the town of Knoxville. One resident, John Turner, later said, "They swore at us and said: 'By God we are going to run all Negroes out of this town tonight.'"
Impact of the Event
The events in Corbin were part of a difficult period in American history known as the Red Summer. This was a time in 1919 when many communities across the United States experienced racial conflict.
During the Red Summer, white groups often attacked Black neighborhoods. In some places, like Chicago and Washington D.C., Black communities bravely fought back. However, many people were hurt or lost their lives during these events.
The Elaine massacre in Arkansas was another serious event during this time. Many Black people were killed there. Other major conflicts included the Chicago race riot of 1919 and the Washington race riot of 1919. These events also caused many injuries and a lot of property damage.
Corbin's Story in Media
The story of the Corbin expulsion was later explored in a documentary film. Trouble Behind (1991), made by Robby Henson, looks at the history of racism in Corbin, Kentucky.
Corbin is also famous as the home of Colonel Sanders and his Kentucky Fried Chicken. The film talks about the 1919 events, where over two hundred Black people were forced onto trains and sent away.
The documentary was shown at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival. It was even nominated for a special award called the Grand Jury Prize.
