Chapter 7: African American Violence Exposure: An Emerging Health Issue

On May 30, 1921, a young Black male was riding on an elevator with a White female elevator operator, who without evidence subsequently accused him of physically assaulting her. He was arrested the next day and ultimately a street confrontation emerged between armed Blacks and Whites. During the 24-hour riot, more than 35 blocks of property were destroyed, more than 800 people incurred injury, and more than 300 lives were lost. In a similar expression of community discontent and frustration, violence and riots were widespread particularly on the West and South sides of Chicago in the early days of April 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Lack of social change and responsiveness to the needs of the American community were addressed in a public arena manifested in violence.