African American
Related: About this forumNever Forget: America’s Forgotten Mass Lynching: When 237 Black Sharecroppers Were Murdered In AR
In 1919, after the end of World War I, Black sharecroppers in Arkansas began to unionize. This attempt to form unions, triggered white vigilantism and mass killings, that left 237 Blacks dead.
Towards the end of 1918, attorney Ulysses S. Bratton of Little Rock, Arkansas listened to Black sharecroppers tell stories of theft, exploitation, and never ending debt. One man by the name of Carter, explained how he cultivated 90 acres of cotton and then had his landlord confiscate the crop and all of his possessions. Another Black farmer, from Ratio, Arkansas said a plantation manager would not give sharecroppers an itemized record of their crop. No one realized that within a year of meeting with Mr. Bratton, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. would take place. In a report released by the Equal Justice Initiative, white people in the Delta region of the South, started a massacre that left 237 Black people dead. Even though the one-time death toll was unusually high, it was not uncommon for whites to use racial violence to intimidate Blacks.
Mr. Bratton represented the deprived sharecroppers who became members of a new union, the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America. The new union was founded by a Black Delta native named Robert Hill. With no prior organizing experience, all Robert Hill had going for him was ambition. Mr. Hill said the union wants to know why it is that the laborers cannot control their just earnings which they work for, as he asked Black sharecroppers to each persuade 25 new members to join a lodge.
http://blackmainstreet.net/never-forget-americas-forgotten-mass-lynching-237-black-sharecroppers-murdered-arkansas/
FraDon
(518 posts)Thnx for the post.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,007 posts)Listen to the Billie Holliday version and the Siouxsie & the Banshees version. Originally a poem.
It is part of your USA and African-American cultural heritage. Great tragedy inspired great art.
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.
madamvlb
(495 posts)I've never heard the poem/song.
Liz_Estrada
(56 posts)Duppers
(28,125 posts)Last edited Mon May 16, 2016, 01:56 AM - Edit history (1)
Billie was very moving singing it.
Edited to change wrong modifier.
yellerpup
(12,253 posts)and especially in this region. Why do they call them 'race riot' when it's always the white race rioting?
Quayblue
(1,045 posts)I've noticed language like this is used to maximize the concept of black folks supposedly "antagonistic" participation in tragedies such as these.
In less language: dog-whistling.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Jitter65
(3,089 posts)terrible, horrible time for black people in this nations.
packman
(16,296 posts)were in the early 1900's. No work for blacks, violence (such as above), repression and Jim Crow laws led to a large part of the Southern black population relocating to Northern cities - Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, etc. Eventually lack of economic mobility and educational opportunities - though not as severe or restrictive in the South - led to riots and demands for equality.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Its public record that they all came to Michigan after being threatened with lynching by the Klan.
felix_numinous
(5,198 posts)instead of being required in your face requirement complete with all the photos. Americans have been raised on fairy tales.
Thank you for posting this.
Vogon_Glory
(9,118 posts)I turned five in 1960 and remember my public school history books well enough to remember the absence of any references to mass lynchings or even Jim Crow.
Number23
(24,544 posts)This is an amazing find and it will be a great contribution to that thread. Thanks so much.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Number23
(24,544 posts)brush
(53,791 posts)The Gullah Wars link also revealed more hidden history of racial conflicts in history.
I would also like to hear your views on the reparations movement.
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)If this is okay.
He thinks we shouldn't be 'talking of such things' that happened 100 years ago.
Wonder if this was a Bernie Marched 60 Years Ago cheerleader?
C Moon
(12,213 posts)Can't believe they can just stand around and watch that. Fuck!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Herman4747
(1,825 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Union organizer photos and links from 100 years ago . . .
Like seriously - get over it - right?
Right? Get over it.
People need to get over factory fires and slave wages from 100 years ago. I wish people would stop trying to bring up what happened 100 years ago like it mattered. Those people are all dead so who cares - right?
**** Posted to African American Group by a Group Host In Response to Habitual Intruder****
Intruder - please leave.
Herman4747
(1,825 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)Last chance before you get blocked. I'll do the block around Noon.
In the meantime have fun! You played yourself when you responded.
Herman4747
(1,825 posts)We change people through conversation, not through censorship.
―Jay-Z, Decoded
JustAnotherGen
(31,828 posts)I was censored by my parents, teachers, etc. etc. for being a disruptive and petulant brat.
As misguided children should be.
This was your third strike. Anything else you want to tell us black folk - let us know what's what ?
Your posts from April 15th let us know precisely your purpose.
Motley Crue - Enslaved -
Higher higher it's where we want to be in our minds
It will mesmerize
It's pleasure power that's what we devour
You can have it crystalize
brush
(53,791 posts)Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Things like this must not be forgotten.