The Greenwood Atrocity of 1898: A Black History Lesson on Voter Suppression and White Supremacy

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Introduction: Today, we will explore a significant and tragic event in Black history that took place in Greenwood, South Carolina, in 1898. This story is not just a history lesson; it is crucial to understanding many issues we see today. I encourage you to watch this video to the end to grasp the full impact of these events.

Historical Context: To fully understand the Greenwood atrocity, we must first delve into the post-Civil War Reconstruction era in South Carolina. After the Civil War, Reconstruction brought significant changes, including new citizenship rights for African Americans. This period saw a biracial government, with Black citizens holding roles in local and state governments. In 1868, Black delegates made up two-thirds of the participants at a state convention that rewrote the constitution and expanded voting rights for all South Carolinian males. These reforms aimed to end poverty, establish public education, rebuild infrastructure, and implement criminal justice reforms and land commissions to help small farmers, including white people.

The Rise of Jim Crow Laws: However, by 1890, former Confederates regained control of Southern states, including South Carolina. They implemented Jim Crow laws to enforce segregation and disenfranchise Black citizens. Landmark cases like Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) legitimized “separate but equal” facilities, and Williams vs. Mississippi (1898) upheld laws disenfranchising Black voters. These actions paved the way for white supremacist politicians to maintain power.

Pitchfork Ben Tillman: One notable figure was Ben Tillman, a South Carolina politician who exploited racial tensions to gain power. In 1895, he led a state constitutional convention explicitly aimed at disenfranchising Black voters through mechanisms like literacy tests and poll taxes. Tillman’s advocacy for white supremacy extended beyond legislation; he openly encouraged violence to maintain social order.

The Greenwood Atrocity: On November 8, 1898, the tension in Greenwood County reached a boiling point. A white mob attacked Black voters and their allies, leading to a violent confrontation. Prominent Republican John R. Tolbert, a former federal veteran who supported Black citizenship, and his family became targets. Tolbert set up a wooden box to collect affidavits from Black voters denied the right to vote. A white man named J.I. Etheridge kicked the box over, sparking a violent clash where several people, including Black farmer Joe Circuit, were killed.

The Aftermath: The violence escalated the next day when hundreds of armed white men, many Klan members, attacked a church where Black people gathered. The mob killed several Black men, demonstrating their brutal enforcement of white supremacy. This massacre and the subsequent seizure of Black-owned land were meant to intimidate and suppress Black political activism.

Conclusion: The Greenwood atrocity serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which white supremacists went to maintain power and suppress Black voices. It highlights the importance of voting rights and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. This history is crucial for everyone to know, as it shapes our understanding of the systemic issues we face today.

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