Chicago Riot Of 1919 Essay

The “Chicago Race Riot of 1919” was a major racial conflict that began in Chicago, Illinois on July 27, 1919 and ended on August 3, 1919. The “Chicago Race Riot” was not the result of one incident alone they were the results of several factors. These factors, including the economic, the social and political differences between blacks and whites, and the post-war atmosphere of a society and the thinking of different race relations in1919 combined to make Chicago one of the prime targets for this event. Although the riots were noted as a catalyst for several short-term solutions to the racial tensions, these riots did little to improve race relations between blacks and whites in the long run. Through my readings I understand that it took many years before the nation truly addressed the underlying conflicts that sparked the riot of 1919. The violence of the “Chicago Race Riots” shocked the nation and divided many Americans. Americans especially blacks believed that this riot was necessary to eliminate the racial inequalities of two cultures in order to prevent racial conflicts. Many also believed that this riot was necessary to create or maintain a racial ladder in which each race would know and accept its place in …show more content…
Following the Chicago riot, many Americans came to believe that democracy itself was becoming endangered by black militancy. They believed that a challenge to white supremacy was a radical opposition to the government. Following the riot, white supremacists jumped to the conclusion that radical influences had encouraged African Americans to take up arms. This radical behavior became one of the most frightening aspects of the Chicago riot in the eyes of the white population which created police indifference because blacks actually fought back. This police indifference which was viewed by most blacks as racial bias again played a major role in enraging the black