The Red Summer of 1919: Crash Course Black American History #25

During the Red Summer of 1919 violence against Black people broke out across the United States. Black people and neighborhoods were attacked in Washington DC, Chicago, Tulsa, and many other cities and towns across the country. Post-war tension over jobs and civil rights and population shifts like the Great Migration led white Americans to lash out.
Clint's book, How the Word is Passed is available now! bookshop.org/a/3859/978031649...
SOURCES:
Adrianne Lentz-Smith, Freedom Struggles: African Americans & World War I. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2009.
Balto, Simon, Occupied Territory: Policing Black Chicago from Red Summer to Black Power. The University of North Carolina Press, 2019.
David Krugler, 1919, The Year of Racial Violence: How African Americans Fought Back. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Chad Williams, Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2010.
Chad Williams, “Vanguards of the New Negro: African American Veterans and Post-World War I Racial Militancy” The Journal of African American History 92, no. 3 (2007): 347-70.
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[@Oxtocoatl13]

It's disgraceful how black veterans have been treated in the aftermath of all of America's wars. Thank you once again for excellent, if bone-chilling content. I shiver every time I hear Southern Trees play. Billie Holiday's voice perfectly captures the at the time completely mundane and every day horror of lynchings.

[@idbuyanewbmx]

I keep breathing through my nose like an angry bull, hearing about atrocities that every American should have been taught already. This series is a blessing. We cannot let these crimes recess into the shadows. I can't thank you enough for making this program.

[@kairyumina6407]

I have said it before, and I will probably say it again. This series is simply the best content yet produced by Crash course.

[@NikoTheDoke]

If not the best, then the most important.

[@aaronnokaoi]

The best!

[@whychoooseausername4763]

I could not agree more

[@francis3774]

agreed!!

[@autonomic_pilot]

As a voracious consumer of CC content, I echo this resoundingly

[@raymondluxury-yacht1638]

Many Aboriginal people of Australia looked to black Americans as a model for gaining self determination. These efforts by American civil rights leaders echoed around the world.

[@kevinxu3892]

I didn't realize how ancient the "it's the communists!" excuse was in dimissing black anger at white violence, pretty sad that things haven't seemed to progress much since 1918

[@TheSelene8705]

I never learned about this in school. This series is so necessary, I’m going to have my son watch it.

[@nim3408]

I am a descendant of the East St.Louis race war in 1917. My father described it to me in as much detail as he could. Today my family honors that struggle every July 2nd.

[@jasonm1405]

I struggle to articulate the violence that my ancestors lived through. Ancestors is the wrong term because my father and grandfather lived through this. This series is so necessary

[@Sin00b]

Tough watch, but necessary. I find myself screaming at the screen "This was 100 years ago... why does it sound like TODAY?" Especially when anything relating to black lives is compared to Socialism. History is repeating itself, and I'm grateful that resources like this share important history that hopefully others will watch, learn, and empathize with so we don't do it again

[@HerbSeasoned]

I need Black American literature next. I love this series. I am using it with my high school students!

[@michellecrocker2485]

My mom read a book called “ the warmth of other suns” about the discrimination black people went through in the north. That might be worth talking about

[@brinkleymaster8118]

As soon I read the title, I say to myself, this episode is going to be very difficult to watch but also we have to understand and very important for all of us.

[@seansimms8503]

Many of us older folks had parents who grew up in the old south and heard about alot of this through them...my dads uncle was born in 1905, first free person from his maternal grandmother said of the family, he told my dad about alot of crap...and my father and other family elders passed it on to us in the 1970s.

[@CaraTheStrange]

This series is soo necessary, I’m learning so much!

[@traysexton9943]

Truly one of the best if not the best crash course series we’ve had so far. Clint is an incredible host and presents history in such a poignant and truthful manner. Calming and collective

[@Caterfree10]

I’ve heard that Strange Fruit song sung as part of a TED Talk. It’s eerie as hell.

[@jsaialexander]

There is a lot of early 20th century black history that a lot of people don’t know about. This is just one of them

[@natalietme]

Thank you Crash Course and PBS for creating a free space of quality education! Sending love from Singapore.

[@soulscanner66]

These episodes are always like a punch in the stomach. The more factual detail given, the more you realize that the situation was worse than you thought, and the more difficult it is to watch. It never ceases to amaze me how we continue to underestimate the levels of indignity human beings are able to enthusiastically inflict on each other. It seems to me that this era of institutionalized lynching seems to be a key period in the development of the structural racism in local U.S. law enforcement and the consequent distrust that black communities in the U.S. have for the police. The fact that so much of this persists makes things seem so hopeless. That being said, what I'd find interesting, instructive, and and a morale boost if there are examples of communities in this era that were integrated and managed to consciously diffuse or avoid these pogroms ('race riots' to me implies two equal sides equally to blame) and worked hard to protect their black citizens under trying circumstances. I would say that this is where the most useful lessons of American history may lie.

[@rochellebrianna]

My body trembled during this episode. Loved the quote by James Weldon Johnson before he closed out 👏🏽

[@nilshopf4881]

Why is this not known better in the international space? It is the first time I heard of those riots. As a German I will not judge because I don't want to be judged by the deeds of my grandparents. But man, at least it should not be forgotten!

[@jacobzaki9715]

Watching and learning from this series is a privilege. Thank you.

[@SodaVampire]

Wow, I did not know about these moments in history. Black history in the early 1900s before the 30s aren’t usually covered in school, or at least not in my experience.

[@KKPsientist151]

Love the last quote!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 It’s still so applicable even in 2021!!!

[@luminaryprism75]

I didn’t know enough about this. Thank you crash course, for dealing with this subject so appropriately and pushing the story farther into the mainstream.

[@tony2774]

I love this series. The amount of truth learned has been astonishing. Some I knew, but not the full picture and a lot I didn’t. Thank you so much.

[@Pheltaconto]

Yo Harlem Renaissance is getting TWO PARTS THO?? I'm hyped

[@humbulanimulaudzi7185]

Thank you for the stories. I am proud of the Black brothers who stood up for their rights.

[@austincrocker8841]

Was waiting for a video to hear the discussions about violence against black people after WW1. Thank you for sharing for everyone, and having the strength to share it.

[@Keturah-Abigail1]

Currently reading a book with the same title. I have learned so much from history and also see history repeating itself in some ways.

[@saahiliyer11]

2:45 It’s interesting how this split in views on military service parallels the similar split Indians faced during WWI and WWII when confronted with the idea of fighting for the British.

[@coldblindjack]

This series is so necessary and amazing. I love John but sometimes he talks so quickly. Clint is a spoken word poet and I hang on everything he says! My American History students love him!

[@nathnieloleary502]

It is disturbing to hear of the horrible things that people do to each other but this in vital to know. Thank you as always Clint

[@zoehudson934]

that last quote from james weldon johnson is beautiful.

[@citronm1405]

This series is outstanding! Thank you Clint Smith and thank you Crash Course.

[@x_j1]

Such an important series! It's truly painful to hear what our ancestors had to go through, but at the same time it's empowering and also necessary!

[@chintanshah8178]

I'm very, very glad you guys covered this. I hope you guys also cover the Hot Summer of 67

[@jasondavis8775]

Is this the same time the Rosewood massacre happened??

[@Electric62Kid]

Thanks for doing the talk at Sam Houston State University. It was awesome to meet you, Clint!

[@catrandle9439]

So inspiring and so tough to watch and so necessary to watch. Thank you to teaching us about so many uplifting and inspirational black people.

[@thecaveofthedead]

Extraordinarily powerful quote at the end.

[@lewtenant_k]

Great series. Timely, informative, and well done. Thank you.

[@dirkwood4544]

I live in Chicago and never knew about the massacres and bombings.

[@Epinardscaramel]

That intro was heartwrenching

[@aiaimonkey9085]

The period following WWI was the most violent period in race relations in US history. Elaine occured that year in Arkansas, and Tulsa was just 2 years away. Black WWI veterans were prime targets for lynching.

[@natstewgirl]

Thank you for this information, I also wish I learned stuff like this in school but it's better late than never and I will share these with everybody I can

[@juliegerien8438]

This is so well done! I wish the schools would use them as teaching supplements!

[@WilliamHunterII]

Thank you for this excellent series, Dr. Smith.

[@DanTheYoutubeAddict]

10:55 When I hear you say that I was literally left speechless. I know that the U.S. is still FAR from having true racial equity (and unfortunately I doubt ever will) but I had thought that there were enough sensible people at some point within the past 102 years to have passed some form of anti-lynching laws. Thank you for being unafraid to tell the harsh truth about just how bad the white people in the U.S. have been towards their fellow humans who just happen to have a different color of skin.

[@rickybullock10]

Thus is difficult to grasp but it is our history we must never forget

[@tenzin4600]

Very well explained and was totally immersed in the content. I am hearing it for the first time though I have read about the situation of the south. Thank You for sharing!

[@kenyathompson1909]

Just watched the entirety of this series today. Such a great presentation of such important history. Looking forward to the rest!

[@ajmb961]

This content adds such great understanding and depth to my life.

[@MalikBennett]

I knew most of this from a community college black history class, but this was presented better! I'll share this in light of how 2023 has been going...

[@triciahutchins5407]

Thanks for your enthusiastic recommendation of the writings of Frederick Douglass. I have finished the first volume of his biography, and it is riveting. Thanks, also, for your excellent, informative and much needed course.

[@gloriasmith7797]

Please continue to share these videos!!.

[@williamwells434]

Yet again CCBAH is superb, informative, fair, and brilliant. This series is a triumph of education

[@foxrings]

This episode was intense. Unrelated… I wonder if anyone has written a what if alternate history where Tulsa wasn't fire bombed in the Tulsa Race Massacre. What would the economic status of 20th century black Americans have been in that world?

[@marseyasfernandez3664]

So important. This series is fantastic. 🙏🏿

[@destinyraex]

Thank you for this amazing series

[@themightykyuss]

l have always loved history. In the last 5 or so years it has become increasingly apparent to me that any adequate study of American history must start and be grounded in Black American history, as well as the history of American indigenous peoples. This may seem relatively obvious now, but this was not at all obvious or commonly taught to those who went to public school in the south in the early 2000s like I did. And I’d be surprised if it’s taught near enough or at all in public schools to this day. It’s a painful look out ourselves that can definitely be uncomfortable, but I it’s think necessary to understand the world today and hopefully make it a better one both for ourselves and future generations. I appreciate the quality content!

[@mopnem]

This series is great.

[@chamilitary07]

You've made my day. Thank for the history lesson.

[@naturalphenomenon1402]

Thank you for making this!

[@lycomi]

I'm learning a lot here, thanks 🥰

[@denverbilalian]

Thanks!

[@GGRIENER]

Well Done.👍 Excellence. Keep going!

[@MrTwenty20video]

This was such an excellent sampling of American history. I so appreciate your work. I know a lot goes into such an important presentation. Thank all of you for your commitment. ❤

[@bodacioustness5054]

Glad you're here.

[@GameOnRadio1]

I have the book on the root that happened here in Chicago that year. And did my black history report in high school about 23 years ago

[@trevorwilliams8353]

Is it worth noting that the 1918 influenza pandemic was happening simultaneously as the red summer?

[@bernfran1313]

Thank you.

[@kd1s]

Thanks. Yeah we're not taught a lot about U.S. history. I wonder why. Note the dripping sarcasm when I say that.

[@MountainofInspiration]

Thanks for all these videos. Blessings

[@LSV.Delight]

This is great... Thank you for information..

[@hirammoralesgonzalez2145]

What's the name of that Billie Holiday song?

[@SexyBakanishi]

I wonder what it was like in Canada after the war for similar communities here....

[@AHGChicagoIL]

Thank-you!!

[@chrissystewart6268]

This is my first time learning this

[@estebancastellino3284]

thank you

[@Him21622]

Thank you, I’m a mixed male and never got to educate myself on my brother and sisters history. For that I apologize

[@ahobbitstail7022]

Question, because so much emphasis was put on the subject: Now, in 2023, what would Anti-lynching legislation actually accomplish?

[@joeh7465]

I would love an African history series. Mainly to fill the gaps in our world historical knowledge. But also to show black people living in the Americas or Europe that there’s more to their history than oppression and slavery.

[@ladyrain299]

Why does this series not touch on the Tulsa Massacre? Its a phenomenal series. No criticism. I was just looking forward to the break down and contextualizing the horrors.

[@joannewilson384]

I'm having my granddaughters watch your history shorts. They will be tested. Keep them coming

[@kelleymccarter1897]

“How the Word is Passed” should be mandatory reading in every high school and college basic civics class.

[@silk_milk7999]

Wow! 😢

[@manufacturedfear]

The most scary part is realizing there are people today with that racist mentality and the same thoughts this people had 100 years ago...

[@trey9775]

Never forget ✊🏾

[@ogunrindedaniel9230]

Pls post all the episodes at once 😩. I hate waiting a week to see an episode 😭

[@JamesConollyLives5353]

I dont get how such an evil mindset can arise.

[@MrMikadju]

Do a video about the Black Arts Movement!!!

[@OFarrillColon]

I learnt about the Red Summer in high school and I went to a public school in Puerto Rico. They might not teach that in the US-I can’t tell, but they do in other parts where it might not be even relevant (no offense coming from a Latino).

[@virginiathomasakaicedragon6579]

So same old song

[@unityharris1377]

The things that we don't talk about in school series

[@MichaelGarcia-me3vf]

Reading cadence is a little slow. Great sound to his voice tho.

[@pattencycling]

nice video

[@chanelwilliam9942]

And 2024 anti lynching bill isn’t federal

[@chrisf8293]

12:14 The perseverance of our ancestors in a country that at every stop was against them prospering makes all the challenges that I've ever faced seem inconsequential. These were truly a caliber of people to look up to. Able to endure hardships that would crush the average person three times over. They looked evil square in the face and refused to run from it.

[@krystalpow2491]

as of 3/29/22 there is an anti lynching law- The Emmitt Till Antilynching Act of 2022