Omaha erupts in race riots

The closing of the second decade of the 20th century coincided with the crest of a wave of violence that had been plaguing race relations since the Civil War. While there was no more slavery, a great many devoted their time and energy to discriminating against the descendants of the former slaves. Perpetuated by pure racism — a consideration of the black people as inferior — their actions at times spawned incredible acts of cruelty.

On this day, September 8, in 1919, after a Nebraska woman reported being assaulted by a black man, the suspect — a 41 year-old farmhand — was snatched up by a rioting mob numbering in the thousands, and killed.

Omaha’s mayor, to his credit, attempted to keep the suspect, Will Brown, safe. An extra squad of police was dispatched to secure the courthouse, but were overwhelmed by the crazed mob. In that dark moment, the mayor valiantly tried to hold back the crowd himself, and was taken up and beaten into unconsciousness himself. Even at that low in the relations between white and African Americans there were some people unafraid to challenge conventional thinking — and risked life and limb for it.