The Knoxville Race Riot

In 1919 a wave of riots and lynchings occurred across America, fueled in part by a fear of communism and communist agitation among minorites and in part by fear of battle-hardened African-American soldiers returning from service in World War I not complying with Jim Crow laws in the south.Appalachia was not immune to this wave.In the summer of 1919 a mob swept through downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, after the arrest of a prominent African-American resident named Maurice Mays in the assault and murder of a white woman in the city. The riot only ended after the intervention of the Tennessee National Guard.Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories.Thanks for listening and thanks for sharing our stories with your friends...