Experiences of Black Americans

Question 1

What were the main forms of intolerance against Black Americans in the 1920s?

Answer 1

• Race riots
• Lynching
• Job discrimination
• Segregation under Jim Crow laws

Question 2

What were the common causes and elements of race riots in the 1920s?

Answer 2

• Whites initiated attacks on Black communities
• Took place in context of economic struggles, job competition
• Fears about Black veterans
• False accusations against actions or black men

Question 3

What made the Tulsa race riot unique compared to other race riots?

Answer 3

• Economic jealousy towards Black neighbourhood, Greenwood
• Sparked by a false accusation
• Led to widespread destruction

Question 4

What happened in the Tulsa race riot?

Answer 4

• White mobs
• Looted and burned down 35 blocks of homes and businesses
• Destroyed community wealth and infrastructure

Question 5

How did the Tulsa race riot begin?

Answer 5

Accusation of young black man allegedly assaulting a white woman in an elevator

Question 6

Describe two features of the Tulsa race riot in 1921

Answer 6

• Economic Envy: targeted destruction of ‘Black Wall Street’ (in the Greenwood district), prosperous businesses and residents, attracted envy and resentment from whites, fuelled violent attack
• Violence sparked by false accusation: small accusation, exaggerated by newspapers, white mob gathered to lynch him, armed Black residents went to the courthouse to protect him, tensions rose, violence erupted, many deaths and the destruction of the whole Greenwood district

Question 7

Who were typically targeted in lynchings?

Answer 7

• In the South
• Black civilians and veterans
• Often based on false accusations

Question 8

What role did job discrimination play in the lives of Black Americans?

Answer 8

• Limited skilled job access due to the effect of lack of education at a young age
• ‘Great migration’ to cities of the North due to wartime labour shortages (gave them jobs)
• Made it very hard for them to find jobs in labour market in peacetime

Question 9

What did Jim Crow laws enforce and how did they impact Black voting rights?

Answer 9

• Racial segregation in public spaces and education
• Barriers such as literacy tests to prevent blacks from voting

Question 10

How did blacks respond to violence and discrimination?

Answer 10

• Armed self-defence during riots
• Peaceful, organised protest through the NAACP

Question 10

What were the NAACP’s main goals in the 1920s?

Answer 10

• Passing anti-lynching laws
• Securing due process rights
• Increasing black voter registration
• More employment opportunities
• Improving education

Question 11

To what extent were the NAACP successful in achieving their goals?

Answer 11

• Anti-lynching bill passed in Congress (1922) - one thing to pass a law, another to enforce it (requires changing mentalities)
• Supreme court rulings in favour of racial injustice - overturning 12 death sentences
• Limited success in education efforts