Lynching is when a group kills someone or multiple people without a legal trial and often for bad reasons or out of hate. The first ever-recorded lynching was in 1882. Throughout history there were 4,743 lynchings, which occurred from 1882 – 1968. Black victims accounted for 3,446 or 72.7% of lynching incidents. White victims accounted for 1,297 or 27.3% of the 4,743 lynchings. In 1918 Republican Congressman Leonidas Dyer brought his anti-lynching law to the Congress. The Dyer anti-lynching law was passed on January 26th, 1922. However, this didn’t stop lynching from continuing all around America.
There are many different reasons why people were lynched. If you skipped a rock of a lake you could be lynched. If you were homeless or very poor you could be lynched. If you tried to vote you could be lynched. If you demanded respect you could be lynched. One of the most famous cases of lynching was in 1916 when Jesse Washington was lynched. One of the reasons this case is so famous is because it became a classic example of a racially motivated lynching. The reason Jesse was lynched was because he was convicted of raping and murdering a white women names Lucy Fryer. Jesse was dragged into the town square where around 10,000 people of all ages watched. In the square he was publically castrated, and had all of his appendages cut off. After that Jesse was hung over a fire where he was repeatedly raised and lowed for around two hours. His burned body was then dragged through the city. Later his penis and appendages were sold all around the city. A photographer took photos of this whole ordeal and turned those photos into postcards, which were also sold.
Jesse Washington
hanging from a tree
after being burned
When it came to lynching it didn’t matter your skin color, religion, age, or gender you could still be lynched. In late august of 2017 in Claremont New Hampshire, an eight year old boy was pushed off a picnic table with rope around his neck by a group of boys. The only person to see this happen besides the boys was his 11-year-old sister, who ran inside and got their grandmother. His grandmother rushed him to the local hospital, where he was airlifted to another more qualified hospital. The report shows that the boy suffered rope burns and cuts on his neck but luckily he did not suffer any internal injuries. After days of investigation the local police department released a statement saying that they believe that what happened way a hate crime. This is because the boy is half black and the teenager who started it and pushed him was white. The parents of the boy are pressing charges because they also believe that it was a hate crime.
There are many different reasons why people were lynched. If you skipped a rock of a lake you could be lynched. If you were homeless or very poor you could be lynched. If you tried to vote you could be lynched. If you demanded respect you could be lynched. One of the most famous cases of lynching was in 1916 when Jesse Washington was lynched. One of the reasons this case is so famous is because it became a classic example of a racially motivated lynching. The reason Jesse was lynched was because he was convicted of raping and murdering a white women names Lucy Fryer. Jesse was dragged into the town square where around 10,000 people of all ages watched. In the square he was publically castrated, and had all of his appendages cut off. After that Jesse was hung over a fire where he was repeatedly raised and lowed for around two hours. His burned body was then dragged through the city. Later his penis and appendages were sold all around the city. A photographer took photos of this whole ordeal and turned those photos into postcards, which were also sold.
Jesse Washington
hanging from a tree
after being burned
When it came to lynching it didn’t matter your skin color, religion, age, or gender you could still be lynched. In late august of 2017 in Claremont New Hampshire, an eight year old boy was pushed off a picnic table with rope around his neck by a group of boys. The only person to see this happen besides the boys was his 11-year-old sister, who ran inside and got their grandmother. His grandmother rushed him to the local hospital, where he was airlifted to another more qualified hospital. The report shows that the boy suffered rope burns and cuts on his neck but luckily he did not suffer any internal injuries. After days of investigation the local police department released a statement saying that they believe that what happened way a hate crime. This is because the boy is half black and the teenager who started it and pushed him was white. The parents of the boy are pressing charges because they also believe that it was a hate crime.
Congressman Leonidas Dyer
Bibliography
NAACP
http://www.naacp.org/history-of-lynchings/
NAACP
http://www.naacp.org/oldest-and-boldest/naacp-history-anti-lynching-bill/
The Washington Post
Rachel Siegel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/09/13/8-year-old-boy-was-hung-from-rope-by-n-h-teenagers-because-of-his-race-family-says/?utm_term=.d12fb924a972
Bibliography
NAACP
http://www.naacp.org/history-of-lynchings/
NAACP
http://www.naacp.org/oldest-and-boldest/naacp-history-anti-lynching-bill/
The Washington Post
Rachel Siegel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/09/13/8-year-old-boy-was-hung-from-rope-by-n-h-teenagers-because-of-his-race-family-says/?utm_term=.d12fb924a972