Race Massacres in Illinois

Black soldiers who fought in the World War were hopeful that their efforts fighting for the country would be enough to finally grant them equality, but instead they were greeted with a sweeping of racial violence and riots across the country in 1919, a period known as the Red Summer. The Red Summer included the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 — a week long time of racial unrest that started on the South Side.

To talk about these two episodes of racial horror, The 21st was joined by twin brothers whose father was living in East St. Louis at the time of the massacre and the author of Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America.

Guests:

Cameron McWhirter, author of “Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America” and Wall Street Journal Reporter

Dhati Kennedy, father was living in East St. Louis at the time of the massacre

Terry Kennedy, father was living in East St. Louis at the time of the massacre

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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