2 Equals 12

2 Equals 12

Topic: Racial Violence

Racial violence has been a pervasive and devastating aspect of Black history in the United States. From the institution of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, Black communities have been targeted with violence, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

One of the most infamous examples of racial violence in Black history is the era of lynchings that occurred predominantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lynchings were extrajudicial killings carried out by white mobs, often in the South, as a means of terrorizing and controlling Black communities. Thousands of Black Americans, primarily men but also women and children, were lynched during this period, with many of the perpetrators never held accountable for their heinous crimes.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s also saw significant racial violence, with Black activists and community members facing brutal attacks from white supremacist groups and law enforcement. The murders of Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham are just a few examples of the deadly violence that targeted Black individuals and institutions during this time.

More recently, the Black Lives Matter movement has brought attention to ongoing racial violence and police brutality against Black people in the United States. Cases like the killings of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have sparked nationwide protests and calls for justice and accountability.

Racial violence in Black history is a deeply troubling and complex issue that continues to have far-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. It is important to acknowledge and confront this history in order to work towards a more just and equitable society for all.