One aspect of the Atlanta Race Riots that distinguishes itself from other prominent race riots in American history is the role that gender played in initiating the riots. Although, like other race riots, socioeconomic factors played a key part, Atlanta was unique in how gender, and the alleged rape of four white women by African American men, was used to further inflame tensions between whites and blacks. By accusing black men of raping them, the white women became symbols of “white victimhood.” White men felt compelled to defend the honor of the their women and started rioting. Though the issue of gender was not the root cause of the riots, it served as the kindling that ignited the riots. The riot's destructiveness prompted a rising generation
