By History Of Racial Massacre: The War Against Black Progress
Throughout history, whenever Black communities established themselves and flourished, they became targets of white violence. These attacks were not isolated incidents but deliberate efforts to dismantle Black progress, wealth, and political power.
Here is a summary of 18 historical incidents when Africans in America were massacred.
Philadelphia MOVE Bombing (1985)
The city of Philadelphia dropped a bomb on the home of a Black radical group, killing 11 people—including children—and destroying 65 homes. A state-sanctioned assault on Black resistance.
Detroit Race Riot (1943)
White mobs, angered by Black workers gaining industrial jobs, launched violent attacks, killing 34 people—most of them Black. The government responded by sending in troops but arrested only Black residents.
Rosewood Massacre (1923)
A prosperous Black town in Florida was obliterated after a white woman falsely accused a Black man of assault. White mobs burned the town to the ground, murdering residents and forcing survivors to flee.
Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)
Known as the destruction of Black Wall Street, a thriving Black community in Tulsa was burned to the ground and bombed from the air by white mobs. Hundreds were killed, and thousands lost their homes and businesses.
Ocoee Massacre (1920)
On Election Day in Florida, Black residents who attempted to vote faced deadly white mob violence. Homes were set ablaze, activists were lynched, and the entire Black population was driven out.
Elaine Massacre (1919)
In Arkansas, Black sharecroppers organizing for fair wages were met with brutal force. White mobs and federal troops slaughtered over 200 Black residents. Survivors were falsely imprisoned.
Chicago Race Riot (1919)
Part of the “Red Summer,” this riot erupted when a Black teenager was killed for swimming in a segregated lake. White mobs retaliated by killing 38 people and destroying Black neighborhoods.
East St. Louis Massacre (1917)
White mobs, outraged by Black workers moving to the city for jobs, killed between 100-200 Black residents, burning homes and businesses in an effort to drive Black families out.
Atlanta Massacre (1906)
Fueled by false newspaper reports of Black men assaulting white women, white mobs rampaged through Black neighborhoods, killing at least 25 Black residents.
Springfield Massacre (1908)
A white mob in Springfield, Illinois, burned homes, businesses, and churches, lynching Black men. This massacre contributed to the founding of the NAACP.
Slocum Massacre (1910)
In Slocum, Texas, white mobs slaughtered dozens of Black residents without warning. Survivors were forced to flee, leaving behind their land and property.
Wilmington Massacre (1898)
In the only successful coup in U.S. history, white supremacists overthrew the legally elected Black-led government in North Carolina, killing over 60 Black residents and forcing thousands to flee.
Thibodaux Massacre (1887)
When Black sugar cane workers went on strike for fair wages, white mobs retaliated with a massacre, killing over 60 Black laborers—an attack on Black economic justice.
Colfax Massacre (1873)
One of the deadliest racial massacres in U.S. history, where over 100 Black men were slaughtered by white supremacists trying to overturn elected officials. This led to a Supreme Court ruling that weakened civil rights protections.
Eufaula Massacre (1874)
On Election Day in Alabama, a white mob ambushed Black voters, killing 70-80 people. The violence targeted those supporting Republican candidates in an effort to suppress Black political participation.
Vicksburg Massacre (1874)
After a dispute over local government, white mobs massacred 300 Black residents in Mississippi, many of whom were fleeing for their lives—a brutal suppression of Black political progress.
Clinton Massacre (1875)
A white mob attacked Black residents at a Republican rally in Mississippi, killing an estimated 50-100 people. The aim? To prevent Black people from voting and supporting Reconstruction.
Camilla Massacre (1868)
Black marchers peacefully protesting for voting rights were ambushed by white mobs. At least 15 Black people were killed, and dozens were injured—another calculated effort to suppress Black political power.
Black Resilience Endures
These massacres were not random acts of violence—they were strategic attacks aimed at erasing Black progress. Yet, despite the destruction, Black communities have always rebuilt.
From the ashes of Tulsa, Rosewood, and Wilmington, Black people continued to create, innovate, and rise.
We built HBCUs, businesses, music, culture, movements, and communities—even when everything was stolen from us.
We are still here. We are still building. We are still thriving.
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