1901-1920

Atlanta Riot

In Atlanta, the white man lived with the black man more peacefully than any other city in the North or South. Black businesses were springing up and six black colleges were available. Despite the accomplishments of the African American community, Atlanta was one of the most segregated cities in the South. On September 22, some 10,000 white men began to search for African Americans. Whenever the mob spotted a black, they would kill or beat them senseless. The aftermath was 25 blacks and one white killed. Unofficially, over 100 may have died.

NAACP Founded

The country was still stunned from a race riot in Springfield, Illinois. This was the city in which Lincoln had lived. During this race riot, 8 blacks were killed and dozens injured. William English felt that racial prejudice was to common in the North so he created the Advancement in Colored People. This group protested against a famous film glorifying the KKK. Two attorneys who helped the NAACP were Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall. Houston created a strategy that forced the Supreme Court to put an end to segregation.