Chicago-ch



The worst race riot took place in July 1919. Some African Americans went to an all-white beach which made all the rest of the beach residents angry. Things soon escalated as both sides began to throw rock at each other. It got to the point where they began to throw rocks at an African American swimmer to stop him from swimming to shore and he drowned because of it. Soon African Americans were storming through the white neighborhoods and causing much panic and chaos throughout the city. This riot didn't end quickly however, it lasted a long two weeks. By that time the government had to send in the National Guard to restore order. In the end 38 people had been killed;23 black and 15 white. Not only that but 500 other people had been injured in process. Weldon Johnson called it the "red summer" because of all the blood shed.