Timeline Events
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Early 1900s
Economic Growth and Racial Tensions Rise
Atlanta experiences significant economic growth, attracting both Black and white Southerners. Despite opportunities, racial tensions and segregation policies intensify.
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Pre-1906
Alonzo Herndon's Success
Alonzo Herndon emerges as a leading Black businessman, exemplifying the potential for African American success in a segregated society.
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1906
Gubernatorial Campaigns
Hoke Smith and Clark Howell compete for the governorship of Georgia, both employing white supremacist rhetoric that inflames racial tensions.
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Summer 1906
Inflammatory Media Coverage
Atlanta newspapers publish sensational stories about alleged assaults by Black men on white women, stoking racial fears and hostility.
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September 22, 1906
Atlanta Race Massacre Begins
A mob of white Atlantans, incited by inflammatory news articles, attacks Black residents and businesses, leading to days of violence.
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September 23-24, 1906
Immediate Aftermath
Violence continues, with the police and state militia struggling to restore order. The Black community suffers numerous casualties and property damage.
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Post-1906
Community Response and Rebuilding
Atlanta’s Black community begins to rebuild despite the lasting scars of the massacre. Initiatives to promote economic and social recovery are launched.
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February 12, 1909
NAACP Founded
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded in response to the ongoing racial violence and discrimination, including events like the Atlanta Race Massacre.
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20th Century Onward
Reflection and Historical Analysis
Scholars and activists continue to study the Atlanta Race Massacre, reflecting on its causes, consequences, and the lessons it holds for America’s racial dynamics and history.
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