July 10 - A City Torn Apart

Story topics

On July 10, 1903, an article about race by Paul Laurence Dunbar was published in the Chicago Tribune.  Paul wrote the bitter essay in response to recent riots in Evansville, Indiana.  The unrest began on July 3, when a Black man shot a white police officer.

Two negroes, Lee Brown and Tom Berry, had trouble, and Brown armed himself with the avowed determination of killing his enemy.  Patrolman Louis Massey was notified of the impending killing, and meeting Brown in a hallway, he placed his hand on his shoulder, telling him he was under arrest.  Brown jerked away and fired at close range, the bullet striking Massey in the bowels.  The wounded policeman was removed to the Deaconess Hospital, where he underwent an operation, but no hope is expressed of recovery.  There was some talk of lynching Brown, but the police kept him carefully guarded.
 

"Evansville Officer was Shot by a Negro."  The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana).  July 4, 1903.  Page 11.

Had it not been for the courage displayed by about twenty patrolmen early yesterday morning, Lee Brown, the negro murderer of patrolman Louis Massey, would have doubtless been lynched.  Between seventy-five and one hundred men and boys, some of whom were under the influence of liquor, attacked the jail.  They had a large telephone pole and this pole was used as a battering-ram.  The iron gate of the jail was broken in.  The police did not offer to use their guns, but in one solid column forced the mob into the street.
 

"Evansville Mob Bluffed by Squad of Twenty Police."  The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana).  July 6, 1903.  Page 8.

Two negroes have been killed in the race riot, which is rampant.  The crowd around the jail, incensed at the murder of a patrolman by a negro, Lee Brown, is shouting death to all negroes.  While the crowd was gathering at the jail a number of negro men gathered their weapons and began an attack upon the rear of the mob.  Several men were wounded but it is not known that any were killed.  A white boy named Logan has been shot by a negro.  An unknown negro woman has been killed and several negroes have been severely injured.  A company of negroes armed with rifles is marching through the streets threatening to kill all white people.  They have just broken into a hardware store and secured all the arms and ammunition.  Three business men have just been fired on and are now organizing and arming a party to exterminate the negroes.  A mob of 200 white men, heavily armed, is now marching through the streets of the city where negroes are likely to be found.  Shots are heard constantly.  It is reported that another negro has been shot at First Street.  The whites have vowed they will kill all negroes indiscriminately.
 

"Mobs of Whites and Blacks Rule Town in Indiana."  The Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois).  July 6, 1903.  Page 1.

Seven persons were killed and many wounded here tonight as a result of the race rioting which began early Sunday morning and has been growing worse ever since.  Troops were called out and fired into the mob, while the individual firing was almost incessant.  The mob lynched a negro shortly after 11 o'clock tonight.
 

"7 Victims of Race Riot."  The Sun (Baltimore, Maryland).  July 6, 1903.  Page 1.

Paul was 31 years old, in poor health and living with his mother on Dearborn Street in Chicago.  His essay in the Chicago Tribune pointed out the irony that African Americans celebrate Independence Day in a country where their rights are often violated.

Contemplating with placid eyes the destruction of all the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution stood for, we celebrate the thing which our own action proclaims we do not believe in.  But it is over and done. The fourth is come and gone.  Yes, and we black folks have celebrated.  Dearborn Street and Armour Avenue have been all life and light.  And we have done it all because we have not stopped to think just how little it means to us.  For the sake of re-enslaving the negro, the constitution has been trampled underfoot, the rights of man have been laughed out of court, and the justice of God has been made a jest -- and we celebrate.
 

Every wire, no longer from the south alone, brings us news of a new hanging or a new burning -- some recent outrage against a helpless people, some fresh degradation of an already degraded race.  One man sins and a whole nation suffers.  And we celebrate.  With citizenship discredited and scorned, with violated homes and long unheeded prayers, with bleeding hands uplifted, still sore and smarting from long beating at the door of opportunity, we raise our voices and sing, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."  We shout and sing, while from the four points of the compass comes our brothers' unavailing cry.  And so we celebrate.

"Negro Author Voices Protest."  The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois).  July 10, 1903.  Page 5.