Macon, Mississippi, race riot

The Macon, Mississippi, race riot took place on June 7, 1919, in Macon, Mississippi. White members who were angry that black people were organizing to attain better work conditions beat, whipped and then forced them into exile.

Macon, Mississippi, race riot

Part of Red Summer
Topographical and political map of the state of Mississippi around Macon, 1921
Date	June 7, 1919
Location	Macon, Mississippi, United States

Background

Macon has a long history of its white community lynching members of its black community.

Riot

After hearing reports of black workers wanting to get better pay and work conditions a city marshal, a deputy sheriff, and a banker, accompanied by a white mob, attacked and beat several prominent black townspeople, including a school principal.^[1] After looting stores, the mob ordered the victims to leave Macon and never return.^[2] The News Scimitar reported it as black people being "taken across the river."^[1] The Columbus Dispatch reported that white mobs had whipped and beaten the black people who they then forced to leave town.^[3]

Aftermath

The Macon race riot was one of many 1919 Red Summer riots and is mentioned in Charles E. Haynes's influential report to Congress on them.^[4]