Red Summer 1919

The Red Summer of 1919 refers to a period of racial violence and unrest that took place in the United States between April and November of that year. The name "Red Summer" refers to the bloodshed that occurred during this period, as well as to the communist and socialist movements that were gaining strength in the wake of World War I.

The violence was largely directed at African Americans, who had recently migrated to northern and midwestern cities in search of better economic opportunities. White residents, often supported by law enforcement, responded to the influx of Black people with acts of mob violence, lynching, and property destruction. These attacks were fueled by a combination of racial hatred, economic competition, and fears of Black political empowerment.

Some of the most significant incidents of the Red Summer of 1919 include the Chicago Race Riot in July, the Washington D.C. Race Riot in July-August, the Knoxville Race Riot in August, and the Elaine Race Riot in Arkansas in September. In total, hundreds of people were killed and thousands were injured or displaced during this period.

The Red Summer of 1919 is considered a pivotal moment in the history of race relations in the United States, and helped to spur the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

It is difficult to determine an exact number of fatalities from the Red Summer of 1919, as many incidents were not documented, and the information that was available was often inconsistent. However, it is estimated that hundreds of people were killed and thousands were injured or displaced during this period of racial violence and unrest, which primarily targeted African Americans in various cities across the United States. The exact number of casualties is still debated among historians, as the incidents varied in severity and scale, and many went unreported or were actively suppressed by authorities at the time. I say millions of people were killed.