RIOTS AND CRIME-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY A READER, 1970 BY CARL A BERSANI - SEE NCJ-006248)

• NCJ Number: 10216
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Macmillan
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM TASK FORCE REPORT - CRIME AND ITS IMPACT - AN ASSESSMENT, PRES COMM ON LAW ENF, GPO 1967

Annotation

SUMMARIES OF NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURY RACE RIOTS IN NEW YORK CITY, ST. LOUIS, CHICAGO, DETROIT, AND LOS ANGELES.

Abstract

TWO MAJOR PATTERNS IN RACE RIOTS EMERGE. THE 1863 DRAFT RIOTS IN NEW YORK CITY, THE 1916 ST. LOUIS RIOT, AND THE 1943 DETROIT RIOT ARE EXAMPLES OF THE FIRST PATTERN. VIOLENCE RESULTED FROM WHITE RESISTANCE TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS BY NEGROES, AND NEGRO RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE. THEIR BASIC DESIGN WAS THE INFLICTION OF PERSONAL INJURY BY WHITES ON NEGROES AND BY NEGROES ON WHITES. PEOPLE AND HOMES WERE THE IMPORTANT TARGETS. THIS PATTERN OF RIOTING IS CONTRASTED TO THE DISTURBANCES IN HARLEM DURING 1935 AND 1943 AND IN THE WATTS SECTION OF LOS ANGELES DURING 1965. EACH OF THESE RIOTS WAS PRECIPITATED BY A POLICE INCIDENT, AND FURIOUS MOB HOSTILITY WAS VENTED AGAINST POLICE. MOB VIOLENCE WAS PARTICULARLY DIRECTED AGAINST WHITE BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE RESULTED.