East St. Louis riots facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East St. Louis Riots |
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| Part of the Nadir of American race relations | |
| Date | May 28 and July 1–3, 1917 |
| Location |
38°37′20″N 90°09′30″W / 38.62222°N 90.15833°W |
| Caused by | White mobs angered by the increasing numbers of Southern African-Americans working at East St. Louis plants. |
| Methods | African Americans beaten to death, shot, lynched, and driven into burning buildings by whites |
| Casualties | |
| Death(s) | 39–150 African Americans, 9 whites |
The East St. Louis Riots were terrible acts of violence in 1917. White mobs attacked and killed many African Americans. These events happened in East St. Louis, Illinois, a busy industrial city. It is located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri.
The violence happened in late May and early July 1917. Between 39 and 150 African Americans were killed. About 6,000 black people lost their homes. The damage from burning and vandalism cost about $400,000. This would be $9.14 million today. This riot is known as one of the worst race riots in U.S. history.
After the riots, many black people left East St. Louis for good. School enrollment for black students dropped by 35%. In New York City, about 10,000 black citizens marched silently to protest the riot.
Contents
Why the Riots Happened
In 1917, the United States economy was growing fast because of World War I. Many workers joined the military, creating a shortage of labor. At the same time, many African Americans began moving from the Southern U.S. to the North. This movement is called the Great Migration. They sought better jobs and education. They also wanted to escape unfair Jim Crow laws and violence like lynchings.
East St. Louis became a popular place for these new workers. In the spring of 1917, about 2,000 black people arrived in the St. Louis area each week.
East St. Louis: A Growing City
East St. Louis was a busy industrial city. It had large companies like Aluminum Ore Company and American Steel Foundry. Many factories were just outside the city limits to avoid taxes. Nearby National City had stockyards and meatpacking plants. These places attracted even more workers.
In 1910, about 6,000 African Americans lived in East St. Louis. The total population was 58,000. By 1917, the black population grew to 10,000. This was about one-sixth of the city's total population of 60,000.
Job Competition and Tensions
This time was full of labor problems in U.S. cities. Workers wanted better pay and conditions. Employers often used force to stop strikes. White labor unions sometimes tried to keep black workers out. Company owners often hired black workers as strikebreakers. This made the tension between black and white workers even worse.
White workers often felt angry about black newcomers. They worried about losing their jobs or housing. They also feared black workers would accept lower wages. In East St. Louis, local leaders and union officials made these feelings worse. The police and National Guard were later seen as helping the riots get out of control.
In 1916, 2,500 white meatpacking workers went on strike. The companies hired black workers to replace them. The strike ended, and workers got a raise. But the companies kept nearly 800 black workers. This made the racial tension much higher.
In the spring of 1917, white workers at the Aluminum Ore Company went on strike. The company hired hundreds of black workers to replace them. This made tensions even worse. On May 28, a meeting of mostly white workers was held. Rumors spread about black men and white women.
The Violence Begins
After the May 28 meeting, a large group of white men, about 1,000 to 3,000, marched into downtown East St. Louis. They started attacking African Americans on the streets and in streetcars. They also burned some buildings. The governor of Illinois, Frank Orren Lowden, called in the National Guard. This helped calm things down for a few weeks.
However, the problems between black and white workers were not solved. On July 1, a car with white men drove through a black neighborhood. They fired shots into a group of people. An hour later, another car passed through the same area. This car had a journalist and two police officers. Black residents might have thought this was the first car. They fired at it, killing one officer and badly wounding another.
The next day, thousands of white people gathered. They saw the police officers' bloody car. Then they rushed into the black parts of the city. They began attacking black people on the street, including women and children. They cut the fire department's water hoses. White rioters then burned entire sections of the city. They shot black residents as they tried to escape the fires.
On July 3, 1917, a reporter wrote about what he saw. He said, "For an hour and a half last evening I saw the massacre of helpless negroes... where black skin was death warrant."
What Happened Next
How Many Died?
After the riot, it was hard to know exactly how many people died. The police chief thought 100 African Americans were killed. Journalist Ida B. Wells reported 40 to 150 African Americans died. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) estimated 100 to 200 deaths. About 6,000 African Americans lost their homes.
A government committee later said at least 8 white people and 39 African Americans died. But many believed the true number of black deaths was much higher. Many black bodies were never found or counted.
Black Community's Response
The terrible violence and the lack of protection from authorities made many black people very angry. Marcus Garvey, a black leader from Jamaica, spoke out. He said the riot showed that the U.S. was not truly a "dispenser of democracy." He called the violence "one of the bloodiest outrages against mankind."
On July 28, 1917, ten thousand black people marched in New York City. This was called the Silent Parade. They marched down Fifth Avenue to protest the East St. Louis Riot. The NAACP organized the march. Women and children wore white, and men wore black. The NAACP also published photos of the destruction in East St. Louis.
Business Community's Response
On July 6, local business leaders met with the mayor. They were very angry about the riots. They demanded that the police chief resign. The riot caused a lot of damage to businesses and homes. A railway warehouse was burned, losing over $525,000 worth of goods. Many freight cars and 312 houses were also burned. A white-owned theater, worth over $100,000, was destroyed. The total property damage was about $400,000.
Government's Response
Some leaders asked for a federal investigation into the riots. President Woodrow Wilson said that federal agents could not find enough evidence for federal action. He said state officials were handling the prosecutions.
In October, trials were held. Twenty-five black people and ten white people were charged. This included murder and causing a riot. A black dentist and leader, Dr. LeRoy Bundy, was charged with causing a riot. He and 34 other people, including 10 white people, were found guilty and sent to prison. Another report says nine white people and twelve black people were convicted of serious crimes.
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