1. Anti-Lynching Movement in America
AIM: Why was the lynching of African Americans allowed to continue through the 20th century?

3. History of Lynching
Dates back to Revolutionary War when Charles Lynch hung Loyalist supporters
End of Reconstruction created an environment that allowed lynchings

4. Segregation and Lynchings
Southern Whites Expectations of Blacks
Blacks could never look a white person in the eye
Accept being addressed as boy or girl, auntie or uncle rather than sir or madam
Not walk on the same side of street as whites
Never involve themselves sexually with whites.
Know your “Proper Place”

5. Consequences
Rounded up by angry mobs, strung up on the nearest tree, bridge or light pole
Then shot, burned castrated and mutilated
Police often aided by releasing them from jail to the angry mob

6. Results
4,700 people lynched between

7. SOAP your assigned document and answer the question.

8. Action Taken
Ida B. Wells – born into slavery, educated at Fisk University, teacher and journalist

9. Ida B Wells Focused on the inhumanity of lynchings
Proved statistically that the Southern defense of lynchings (that punishment was meant to protect white women from African American rapists) was FALSE.
Lynchings was un-American and un-Christian

11. She correctly concluded the real problem was Racism and could also be supported by America’s imperialist actions toward the Philippines and Cuba.

12. National Attention
1909 – Bi-racial organization focused on eliminating lynchings

13. Dyer-Anti-Lynching Bill
Make Lynching a Capital crime, fines/jail time for law enforcement officers who did nothing to stop a mob and for releasing prisonsers to the mob.
Victims could sue for monetary damage.
Supported by 24 state governors, 39 mayors, 29 college presidents
Passes in the House 230 to 119
Fails in the Senate – Southern Democrats filibuster it an claim it promoted “rape”

14. Anti-Lynching Legislation in the Future
Never able to get a law passed

15. 954 Hate Groups are currently operating in the US.