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A review by cjeanne99
Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases by Ida B. Wells
informative
medium-paced
3.5
In May of 1892, a white owned newspaper in Memphis, TN published this editorial response to Ida B Wells’ words (in italics - not credited directly to her)
- Those negroes who are attempting to make the lynching of individuals of their race a means for arousing the worst passions of their kind are playing with a dangerous sentiment. The negroes may as well understand that there is no mercy for the negro rapist and little patience with his defenders. A negro organ printed in this city, in a recent issue publishes the following atrocious paragraph: "Nobody in this section of the country believes the old thread-bare lie that Negro men rape white women. If Southern white men are not careful they will over-reach themselves, and public sentiment will have a reaction; and a conclusion will be reached which will be very damaging to the moral reputation of their women."
- The fact that a black scoundrel is allowed to live and utter such loathsome and repulsive calumnies is a volume of evidence as to the wonderful patience of Southern whites. But we have had enough of it.
- There are some things that the Southern white man will not tolerate, and the obscene intimations of the foregoing have brought the writer to the very outermost limit of public patience. We hope we have said enough.
Wells was in New York City at the time. Her newspaper offices were seized by “creditors” and she was advised to not return to Memphis.
She then writes this essay which she self publishes and delivers as a speech to a number of audiences. She closes with this paragraph:
Nothing is more definitely settled than the African American must act for himself. I have shown how he may employ the boycott, emigration and the press, and I feel that by a combination of all these agencies can be effectually stamped out lynch law, that last relic of barbarism and slavery.
Lest we think that this horrific behavior has died out - read Selin Thomas’ short story A Haunting. (publ https://delacortereview.org/2019/06/24/a-haunting/ )
Although it’s not entirely clear when Thomas visited Alabama - references are made to events in 1987 and 1997 as if they were at least 20 years prior. But still - white people still taking the law into their own hands - carrying out “justice” similar to the lynchings of the 1890’s.
She then writes this essay which she self publishes and delivers as a speech to a number of audiences. She closes with this paragraph:
Nothing is more definitely settled than the African American must act for himself. I have shown how he may employ the boycott, emigration and the press, and I feel that by a combination of all these agencies can be effectually stamped out lynch law, that last relic of barbarism and slavery.
Lest we think that this horrific behavior has died out - read Selin Thomas’ short story A Haunting. (publ https://delacortereview.org/2019/06/24/a-haunting/ )
Although it’s not entirely clear when Thomas visited Alabama - references are made to events in 1987 and 1997 as if they were at least 20 years prior. But still - white people still taking the law into their own hands - carrying out “justice” similar to the lynchings of the 1890’s.