Changes

Lynching is often described as a form of extralegal, vigilante violence or justice; however, its meaning has evolved over time—from the tarring and feathering of individuals in the Colonial period to the lethal, racial violence that proliferated in the South. According to Digital History, "Lynching received its name from Judge Charles Lynch, a Virginia farmer who punished outlaws and Tories with "rough" justice during the American Revolution."<ref name="Digital History">[http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3178], Digital History.</ref> The United States has a long history of vigilance committees whose purposes were to protect the community. According to Linda Gordon, “vigilantism generally means bypassing the legal procedures of the state and substituting direct, usually punitive and coercive action by self-appointed groups of citizens.".<ref name="Linda Gordon">Linda Gordon, ''The Great Arizona Orphan Abduction'', p. 255.</ref> In some instances, vigilantism is romanticized—like in the west—as a form of outspoken, American democracy. While lynching has existed, historically, in many forms, it is most commonly associated with the form it took in the South in the late 19th century.

According to the group Monroe Work Today, by 1835, lynchings were more common and more leathal. In the middle of the 19th century lynchings were “a crude form of frontier justice done by vigilantes ‘keeping the peace,’” and approximately 40% of lynchings in this period were done to white men.<ref name="Monroe Work Today">[http://www.monroeworktoday.org/lynching.html], Monroe Work Today, The Rise of Lynchings.</ref> Contrary to popular belief, lynchings frequently occurred in places where there were courthouses. ===Lynchings were not a symptom of lawlessness. Rather, as lynchings began to occur more frequently in the west, they were tools of violence used against non-white groups to challenge the slow pace of the legal system, in favor of immediate action. Before 1877 (the end of Reconstruction), most lynchings happened in the West. Lynching victims also varied by region. Those that occurred in the North typically targeted Italians, Jews, or other immigrants, while those in the west targeted Mexicans or Chinese. Nevertheless, beginning in the 1880s, approximately 90% of lynchings occurred in the South and happened to black men.social control====

Lynchings began According to be used the group Monroe Work Today, by 1835, lynchings were more systematically in common and more leathal. In the South in middle of the late 19th century. The late 19th century witnessed a social transformation for African Americans in lynchings were “a crude form of frontier justice done by vigilantes ‘keeping the South. Newly-enfranchisedpeace, many African Americans began ’” and approximately 40% of lynchings in this period were done to exercise their legal and social rightswhite men.<ref>[http://www.monroeworktoday.org/lynching. In the absence html Monroe Work Today], <i>The Rise of system of legal subjugation that ensured white supremacy (Lynchings</i>.e. slavery)</ref> Contrary to popular belief, lynchings frequently occurred in places where there were a constant and imminent threat that prevented African Americans in the South from truly being freecourthouses. Lynchings served as were not a system symptom of terror designed around reinforcing African-Americans’ second-class statuslawlessness.

The Afro-American is not a bestial beastly race. If this work can contribute in any way toward proving this, and at the same time arouse the conscience of the American people to a demand for justice to every citizen, and punishment by law for the lawless, I shall feel I have done my race a service...".<ref name="Southern Horrors">[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14975/14975-h/14975-h.htm], Ida B. Wells, ''Southern Horrors''</ref>Wells wrote these because one of the most common assertions—or justifications for lynchings—was rape. Fears about miscegenation, or race mixing, shrouded criticisms against the Republican party during the Civil War, and after, many Southern whites feared that black equality was simply a way to legalize miscegenation. Other white Southerners believed that slavery had tamed African-Americans’ bestial, animal nature by introducing them to white civilization. Outside of the institution of slavery, blacks were reverting to their savage tendencies.<ref>Gail Bederman, ''Manliness & Civilization: A Cultural History of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917'' p. 46-53.</ref>[[File:1200px-Postcard of the lynched Jesse Washington, front and back.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Postcard of the Jesse Washington lynching. Note the back. Sender refers to the "barbecue."]]Wells found that African-Americans were lynching for a host of reasons—for competing economically with whites (like her friends), for being drunk in public, or for failing to respect whites. Nevertheless, the rape justification seemed to reverberate the most, and seemed to inspire the greatest reactions. Wells attempted to make the lynching issue known to Americans outside of the South. Before her pamphlet (and even shortly after), lynching was not widely discussed in Northern Newspapers. In 1893 and 1894, Wells went to England as part of her anti-lynching campaign. She believed that British journalists could help bring awareness of the lynching issue to Northern newspapers. Southern Horrors impugned white American civilization. She portrayed black men as innocent victims of white female seductresses, and she personified the lynch mob as uncivilized and brute. The only way for Americans to assert their civilization, would be by stopping the practice of lynching.

Wells wrote these because one of the most common assertions—or justifications for lynchings—was rape. Fears about miscegenationwas correct, or race mixing, shrouded criticisms against and when she returned to the Republican party during the Civil War, and US afterher 1894 tour, many Southern whites feared that black equality “she returned to a country where lynching was simply widely discussed as a way to legalize miscegenation. Other white Southerners believed that slavery had tamed African-Americans’ bestial, animal nature by introducing them to white stain on American civilization. Outside of the institution of slavery, blacks were reverting to their savage tendencies.”<ref name"Manliness & Civilization">Gail Bederman, ''Manliness & Civilization: A Cultural History of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917'' p. 46-5345".</ref>

Wells found that ====20th Century====Northern and British distaste, however, did very little for African-Americans in the South as lynchings continued to occur. According to some estimates, some 2,400 African Americans were lynched between 1889 and 1918. These events were community sanctioned, and the victims were lynching for a host of reasons—for competing economically with whites (like her friends)often beaten, for being drunk in publictortured, or for failing to respect whitesand mutilated before death. NeverthelessAfter death, the rape justification seemed photographs were sold as souvenirs to reverberate the mostcommemorate attendance or participation, and body parts—teeth, fingers, ashes, and seemed to inspire the greatest reactionsclothes—were sold or taken as tokens.

Wells attempted to make Lynchings were not private events performed under the lynching issue known to Americans outside cover of the Southdarkness. Before her pamphlet (and even shortly after), lynching was not widely discussed They were frequently publicized in Northern Newspapersadvance. In 1893 and 1894As lynchings moved into the 20th century, Wells went to England as part of her antithey became modern carnival-lynching campaignesque spectacles. She believed that British journalists could help bring awareness of Sheriffs, clergymen, and the lynching issue city’s best businessmen participated. Railroads sometimes advertised upcoming events—allowing individuals to Northern newspaperswatch or participate at a lowered excursion rate. Southern Horrors impugned white American civilization. She portrayed black men as innocent victims of white female seductressesIn some instances, tickets were sold, and she personified the lynch mob as uncivilized and brutecrowds swelled to 15,000 people.<ref name="Digital History">[http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook. The only way for Americans to assert their civilizationcfm?smtid=2&psid=3178], would be by stopping the practice of lynchingDigital History.</ref>

Wells was correctLynchings remained an unfortunate reality for many African-Americans through the first half of the 20th century. In 1955, and when she returned to the US after her 1894 tour14-year-old Emmett Till, “she returned to a country where lynching Chicago boy, was widely discussed as lynched in Mississippi after purportedly flirting with a stain on American civilizationwhite woman (Recently, journalist Timothy Tyson has released an interview with Carolyn Bryant--the women who accused Till of acting inappropriately with her.”<ref name"Manliness & Civilization">Gail BedermanAccording to her own admission, ''Manliness & Civilization: A Cultural History she fabricated the parts of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917'' p. 45"story where she said he got physical with her).</ref>

Northern and British distasteSeveral days after the incident, Till was abducted, mutilated, howevermurdered, did very little for African-Americans in and thrown into a river. His mother demanded a public funeral with an open casket to show the South as lynchings continued world what had happened to occurher son. According to some estimates, some 2An all-white jury acquitted the men involved,400 African Americans were lynched between 1889 and 1918even though they later admitted their involvement. These events were community sanctioned This case generated widespread attention because of Till’s young age, and the victims were often beaten, torturedbrutality of the crime, and mutilated before deathhis attackers’ acquittal. After death, photographs were sold as souvenirs It also helped to commemorate attendance or participationstart a new phase of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. The last official lynching was recorded in 1968, and body parts—teeth, fingers, ashes, and clothes—were sold or taken though many would argue that James Byrd’s murder in 1998 at the hands of three white men was a lynching as tokenswell.

Lynchings were not private events performed under the cover of darkness. They were frequently publicized in advance. As lynchings moved into the 20th century, they became modern carnival-esque spectacles. Sheriffs, clergymen, and the city’s best businessmen participated. Railroads sometimes advertised upcoming events—allowing individuals to watch or participate at a lowered excursion rate. In some instances, tickets were sold, and crowds swelled to 15,000 people.<ref name="Digital History">[http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3178], Digital History.=References====<references/ref>

Lynchings remained an unfortunate reality for many [[Category:African-Americans through the first half of the American History]][[Category:United States History]][[Category:20th century. In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Chicago boy, was lynched in Mississippi after purportedly flirting with a white woman (Recently, journalist Timothy Tyson has released an interview with Carolyn Bryant--the women who accused Till of acting inappropriately with her. According to her own admission, she fabricated the parts of the story where she said he got physical with her). Several days after the incident, Till was abducted, mutilated, murdered, and thrown into a river. His mother demanded a public funeral with an open casket to show the world what had happened to her son. An all-white jury acquitted the men involved, even though they later admitted their involvement. This case generated widespread attention because of Till’s young age, the brutality of the crime, and his attackers’ acquittal. It also helped to start a new phase of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. The last official lynching was recorded in 1968, though many would argue that James Byrd’s murder in 1998 at the hands of three white men was a lynching as well.Century History]][[Category:19th Century History]][[Category:Ethnic History]] [[Category:Wikis]]{{Contributors}}