Southern Lynchings -- June 15, 2024

Indianapolis Times, 22-June-1924

Educator Booker T Washington was very influential in the African American community and in the wider culture in the early 20th Century. When I was growing up, his reputation had diminished, but I believe that he did a lot of good things for America.

SOUTHERN LYNCHINGS

NOTABLE STATEMENT BY BOOKER T.

WASHINGTON, OF TUSKEGEE.

He Shows that Mob Justice Has Not

Decreased the Number of Crimes

Charged Against Negroes.

AN APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY

FOR CREATION OF A SENTIMENT

THAT WILL MAKE LIFE SAFE.

He Also Urges the Arousing of Such a

Sentiment Against Criminal Assault

as Will Prevent the Crime.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 21. -- Booker T. Washington, president of the Industrial and Normal School at Tuskegee, to-day furnished the Associated Press with an elaborate discussion of the race question in the form of a paper. Professor Washington begins his paper by saying that, while it is true there are cases of lynching and outrages in the Northern and Western States, candor compels him to admit that by far the most lynchings take place In the Southern States and most of the persons lynched are negroes.

"With all the earnestness of my heart," he pays, "I want to appeal not to the President of the United States, Mr. McKlnley, not to the people of New York nor New England, but to the citizens of our Northern States, to assist in creating such a public sentiment as will make human life here just as safe and sacred as it is anywhere else in the world."

The paper then offers a review of the appeal that has been made through tho press by prominent men that the negro problem be left to the South. He recites that the whole country, from the President down, has been inclined to do this. "By the policy of non-interference the South has been given a sacred trust," he says. I fear but few people in the South realize to what an extent the habit of lynching or the taking of life without due process of law has taken hold of us and to what an extent it is not only hurting us in the eyes of the world, but injuring our own moral and material growth. Many good people in the South, and also out of the South, have got the Idea that lynching is resorted to for one crime only. I have the facts from an authoritative source.

"During the last year 127 rersons were lynched in the United States; of this number 115 were executed in the South and none in the North and West; of the total number lynched 102 were negroes, 23 whites and 2 Indians. Now let every one interested in the South, his country and the cause of humanity note this fact, that only 21 of the entire number were charged in any way with the crime of rape; that is, 24 out of 127 cases of lynching; 61 of the remaining cases were for murder, 12 for being suspected of murder, 6 for theft. During one week last spring, when I kept a careful record, 13 negroes were lynched in three of our Southern States and none was even charged with rape. Let us take another year, that of 1892, for example. During this year, 1892, 241 persons were lynched in the whole United States: of this number were lynched in Northern and Western States and 186 in our Southern States. Of the 241 lynched in the whole country 160 were negroes and 5 of these women. The facts show that out of 241 lynchings in the entire country in 1892 but 57 were even charged with attempted rape, leaving in that year alone 184 persons who were lynched for other causes than that of rape. Within a period of six years about 900 persons have been lyncned in our Southern States. This Is but a few hundred short of the total number of soldiers who lost their lives in Cuba during the war.

CLASSES OF CRIME.

"If we would realize still more fully how far this unfortunate habit Is leading us, note the classes of crime during a few months which the local papers and the Associated Press say that lynching has been inflicted for they include, murder, rioting, incendiarism, robbery, larceny, self-defense, insuiting women, alleged stock poisoning, malpractice, alleged barn burning, suspected robbery, race prejudice, attempted murder and horse stealing, mistaken identity, etc. The practice has grown until we are now at the point where not only blacks are lynched in the South, but white men as well. Not only this, but within the last six years at least a half dozen colored women have been lynched and there are a few cases where negroes have lynched members of their own race. What Is to be the end of this? Besides this, every lynching drives hundreds of negroes from the farming districts of the South, where they make the best living and where their services are of greatest value to the country, into the already crowded cities.

"I know that some will argue that the crime of lynching negroes is not confined to the South. This is true, and no one can excuse such a crime as the shooting of innocent black men in Illinois who were guilty or no crime except seeking labor, but my words just now are to the South, where my home is, and a part of which I am. Let other sections act as they will; I want to see our beautiful Southland free from this terrible evil of lynching. Lynching does not stop crime.

"In the Immediate section of the South where a colored man recently committed the most terrible crime ever charged against members of my race, but a few weeks previous to this five colored men had been lynched for supposed incendiarism. If the lynching was a cure for crime surely the lynching of five would have prevented another negro from committing a most heinous crime a few weeks later.

"We might as well meet the facts bravely and wisely. Since the beginning of the world crime has been committed in all civilized and uncivilized countries and a certain amount of crime will always be committed both in the North and South, but I believe that the crime of rape can be stopped. In proportion to the news and intelligence of the South there exists a little more crime than in several other sections of the country, but by the lynching habit we are constantly advertising ourselves to the world as a lawless people. We cannot disregard the teachings of the civlized world for 1,800 years -- that the only way to punish crime is by law. When we leave this dictum chaos begins.

NOT FOR NEGROES ALONE.

"I am not pleading for the negro alone. Lynching injures, hinders and blunts the moral sensibilities of the young and tender manhood of the South. Never shall I forget the remark made by a little nine-year-old white boy, with blue eyes and flaxen hair. The little fellow said to his mother, after he had returned from a lynching: 'I have seen a man hanged; now I wish I could see one burned.' Rather than hear such a remark from one of my little boys I would rather see him dead. This is not all; every community guilty of lynching says in so many words to the Governor, to the Legislature, to the sheriff, to the jury and to the Judge: I have no faith In you and no respect for yon. We have no respect for the law which we helped to make.

"In the South, and at the present time, there is less excuse for not permitting the law to take its course where a negro is to be tried than anywhere else in the world, for, almost without exception, the Governors, the sheriffs, the Judges, the juries and the lawyers are all white men, and they can be trusted as a rule to do their duty, otherwise it is needless to tax the people to support these officers. If our present laws are not sufficient to properly punish crime, let the law be changed, but let the punishment be by lawfully constituted authorities, is the plea I beg to make.

"There is too much crime among us. The figures for a given period show that in the United States 30 per cent, of the crime committed is by negroes, while we constitute only about 12 per cent, of the entire population. This proportion holds good not only in the South, but also in Northern States and cities. No race that is so largely ignorant and so recently out of slavery could perhaps show a better record, but we must face these plain facts. He is most kind to the negro who tells him of his faults as well as of his virtues. A large amount of the crime among us grows out of the idleness of our young men and women. It is for this reason that I have tried to insist upon some industry, being taught our young people in connection with their course of literary training."

Professor Washington concludes his paper by appealing to school teachers, ministers and the press to arouse such a sentiment regarding the committing of crime against women that, no such crime will be charged against any member of the race. He says the negro has among the Southern whites as good friends as he has anywhere in the world, and advises him to stay here and work out his salvation.

Booker T Washington 100 Years -- November 14, 2015

Washington Evening Star, 15-November-1915

Educator Booker T Washington was very influential in the African American community and in the wider culture in the early 20th Century.  When I was growing up, his reputation had diminished, but I believe that he did a lot of good things for America.  

NOTED EDUCATOR DIES AT TUSKEGEE

Dr. Booker T. Washington Founder of Institute for Colored Race, Succumbs.
THOUSANDS WILL ATTEND FINAL RITES WEDNESDAY
Man Who Was Born in Slavery Achieves Fame as Leader of Thought and Endeavor. 

TUSKEGEE, Ala., November 15.  -- Funeral arrangements were being completed today for Booker T. Washington, the noted negro educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute, who died here, yesterday of a nervous breakdown. Services will be held at the institute Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, followed by internment in the institute grounds. The body will lie in state all day tomorrow.

Thousands of Alabamians, in addition to prominent educators and others from various parts of the country, are expected to attend the funeral. A special train will be run from Montgomery to bring state officials and others.

Messages of condolence reached the Washington home here today from throughout the country. They came from leaders of thought and endeavor in all walks of life.

While it is officially announced that the question of a successor will not be considered until after the funeral, the names of Emmett J. Scott, confidential secretary to Dr. Washington ; Warren Logan, treasurer and Dr. Ainsworth. business manager of the institute, are being mentioned in this connection. Scott, who for eighteen years has been closely identified with Dr. Washington in his work, is said to be the most likely successor.

Fatal Illness Develops.

The negro leader had been in failing health for several months, but his condition became serious only last week, while he was in the east. He realized the end was near, but was determined to make the long trip south to bear out his oft-expressed statement that he had been "born in the south," had "lived all my life in the south and expect to die and be buried in the south."

Accompanied by his wife, his secretary and a physician, Washington left New York for Tuskegee at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon. He reached his home Saturday midnight and died at 4:40 o'clock yesterday morning.

Specialists who had examined Washington said he was suffering from nervous breakdown and hardening of the arteries. His last public appearance was at the National Conference of Congregational Churches, where he delivered a lecture October 25.

He is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren. His brother, John H. Washington, is superintendent of industries at Tuskegee Institute.

Was Born a Slave.
Booker T. Washington was born in slavery near Hales Ford, Va., in 1857 or 1858. After the emancipation of his race he moved with his family to West Virginia. He was an ambitious boy and saved his money for an education.  When he was able to scrape together sufficient funds to pay his stage coach fare to Hampton. Va.. he entered Gen. Armstrong's school for negroes there and worked his way through an academic course, graduating in 1875.  Later he became a teacher in the Hampton Institute, where he remained until 1881. when he organized an industrial school for negroes at Tuskegee.  He remained principal of this school up to the time of his death.

The institute started in a rented shanty church and today it owns 3,500 acres of land in Alabama and has nearly 100 buildings valued at half a million dollars.

Washington won the sympathy and support of leading southerners by a speech in behalf of his race at the cotton states exposition in Atlanta in 1895. Of undoubted ability and breadth of vision, his sane leadership enabled him to accomplish more for and among the negroes of the United States than any other negro of his time.

Gains Fame as Author.

In addition to his prominence as an educator, Washington gained considerable fame as an author. He received an honorary degree of master of arts from Harvard University in 1896 and was given an honorary degree of doctor of laws by Dartmouth College in 1901.

An incident of Washington's career made him a figure of national prominence during the administration of President Roosevelt. He sat down to lunch with the President at the White House, either by formal or informal Invitation. There was a storm of protest, particularly from the south, but in spite of the resulting hostility shown toward him by many white persons, Dr. Washington continued to exert a widespread influence toward the betterment of his people.

Col. Roosevelt's Tribute.

OYSTER BAY. N. Y.. November 15 Col. Theodore Roosevelt made the following statement on the death of Booker T. Washington:

"I am deeply shocked and grieved at the death of Dr. Booker T. Washington.  He was one of the distinguished citizens of the United States, a man who rendered greater service to his own race than had ever been rendered by any one else and who, in so doing also rendered great service to the whole country. I mourn his loss and feel that one of the most useful citizens of our land has gone."

Suggestion to Negro Business Man

MOUND BAYOU, Miss., November l5 -- Charles Banks, vice president of the National Negro Business League, of which Booker T. Washington was president. has sent telegrams to member of the league urging that all business enterprises conducted by negroes in the United States be closed for an
hour Wednesday as a mark of respect to Dr. Washington.

Memorial Services at Charleston.

CHARLESTON. W. Va.. November 15 -- Memorial services for the late Booker T. Washington will be held Wednesday morning at the hour set for the funeral at Tuskegee. Leading negro citizens from all parts of the state, where Dr. Washington resided after being freed from slavery, are expected to be present.

True Story Told at Last of Booker Washington's Luncheon at White House

The death of Booker T. Washington, the noted colored educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute, at Tuskegee, Ala., yesterday recalls the nation-wide comment that followed Washington luncheon with President Roosevelt In the White House in the summer of 1902. Many stories of how the colored educator came to be the President's guest at luncheon have been printed, and most of them, it is asserted, have been largely guesswork.

The true version of the affair was related today by a lifelong friend of Washington, who lives here.

The account of the incident given by this relator follows:

"While Vice President, Col. Roosevelt had become interested in the colored man and the great work he was conducting among the negroes of the south. Early in the summer of 1902 a vacancy occurred on the federal bench in Alabama.  One morning Booker T. Washington arrived in the National Capital and immediately called on a friend here, a white man, with whom he had been in the habit of taking council, and remarked that he a had. received an invitation to come to Washington immediately for a conference with President Roosevelt. He added that he had no idea of what was wanted of him, but he felt that the invitation was in the nature of a command, and that he should come.

Asked to Recommend Judge.
"That night about 10 o'clock he returned to the office of this friend and related the following story: The President had explained to him that there was a vacancy on the federal bench in Alabama and that he (the President) wanted Washington to recommend a man for the place. The President explained that if Washington would make a recommendation the President would look no further. 1 "Washington then remarked that he knew of a man who would make a good judge and would certainly be acceptable to the colored people of the state.

The man he mentioned was Thomas G. Jones, who had been Governor of Alabama and who resided at Montgomery,

"The President then said to Washington in substance: 'I will offer this place to Jones provided you will act as my messenger. I want you to go to him and say to him that you are authorized to offer the place to him and to say to him that if he is appointed, it will be solely on your recommendation.

"Washington undertook the mission. He left the National Capital that night for Alabama, and three days later returned here early one morning.

"About luncheon-time he went to the White House to report that former Gov. Jones had accepted.

"He found the President at luncheon, however, the White House attendants (the executive offices were then in the White House proper) informed the President that Mr. Washington was here. Mr. Roosevelt immediately asked the colored man to come into he dining room. According to the story, as told by Washington to his friend here, the President was lunching alone.

President Roosevelt Insisted.

"'Sit down and have lunch with me,' said the President.

"'No thank you: I have been to luncheon,' was the response the colored man made.

"The President, however, insisted that Mr. Washington should take a seat at the table and have a bite with him. while the message from Mr. Jones was being delivered. Reluctantly, as Mr. Washington afterward said, he did sit down, and participated in the luncheon while he made his report.

"This version of the luncheon story disposes of the popular impression that President Roosevelt in a formal way invited the colored educator to luncheon at the White House. After the country began to discuss the luncheon some of the friends of Mr. Washington advised him to make public the true story of the affair, but he never did, and Mr. Roosevelt also left the public free to draw its own conclusions."

Booker T Washington -- February 9, 2012

Educator Booker T Washington was very influential in the African American community and in the wider culture in the early 20th Century.

Doctor Peter Henri Van Der Weyde wrote the series of articles which gave this blog its name. Among his many accomplishments was taking some of the first Daguerreotypes in the United States. PH's grandson, William Manley Van der Weyde, took this photo of Booker T Washington, which was published in Putnam's Monthly Magazine, October, 1907.