Read Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension Of American Racism Online
Authors: James W. Loewen
He asked his class, “Are any of you friends with Quincy?” My son said, “I am.” “Take a lap.” Then he asked again. My son’s friend said, “I am.” “Take
two
laps.” Eventually every boy in the class volunteered.
He was a quiet, peaceable fellow who on his trips downtown had been reviled by rude boys.... One day a boy was foolish enough to strike him, upon which the worm turned and gave his assaulter a trouncing. The old spirit was aroused again; threats were made that the old darky should be driven out of town, and steps were taken to organize for that purpose, but . . . the authorities took a firm stand.... Twenty special constables were sworn in . . . and the trouble was over.
The Negro flare-up in 1917 developed from a strike at the Detroit Brass Co., the only industry to hire Negroes. Near the factory were boarding houses and there were loose immoral relations between white and black. The city officials did nothing to stop it. The long festering indignation broke out in mob action.
After several weeks of hazings and warnings and escalating threats, [they] were killed and found floating in the Detroit River. My family couldn’t give me more details. I asked if they thought this was true, or just a rumor—and they said that were pretty sure it was true, if not well investigated by the police.
I then asked her about the black family I remembered. My memory was of rumors spreading around my school that they had been chased out by fire. (I thought it was crosses burning or something of that nature.) She said when I was around eleven, a black family moved in and their house burned to the ground.
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Marlow’s unwritten law, exemplified by prominent public signs bearing the command: “Negro, don’t let the sun go down on you here,” caused the death Monday night of A. W. Berch, prominent hotel owner, and the fatal wounding of Robert Jernigan, the first colored man who stayed here more than a day in years.They were victims of a mob of more than fifteen men, who went to the hotel where Jernigan had been employed three days ago as a porter and shot them down when Berch attempted to persuade them to desist from their threat to lynch the man.Marlow, one of the several towns in Oklahoma which has not allowed our people to settle in their vicinity for years, has abided by the custom of permitting no members of the race to remain there after nightfall.Last Saturday Berch brought Robert Jernigan here to serve as a porter in his hotel. A few hours later he received an anonymous communication ordering him to dismiss the porter at once and drive him from the city.Berch ignored the letter.The mob went to the hotel early Monday evening, its members calling loudly for the man and announcing their intention of hanging him on the spot.The hotel p roprietor, with J ernigan at his side, hurried into the lobby to intercede, but was shot dead before he could speak. Jernigan also fell, mortally wounded.Their assailants then fled.Mrs. Berch, who witnessed the shooting, said she thought she recognized the man who killed her husband, but authorities Tuesday said they had no clews as to the identity of members of the mob. They were not masked.