Lynching

Lynching

By: Alec Winsor

               Lynching is a type of murder carried out by a mob by hanging, burning at the stake, or shooting,in order to punish an offender, or to intimidate, manipulate, or control a group of people. It is used more frequently in times of economic or social tension, by a politically dominant party to suppress social challengers. Though it is used in many different countries, it is known best for its use in the United States southern region, after slavery was abolished and Black Americans were given the right to vote. 

               In America, lynching was really only prominent during the 19th and 20th century, after slavery was abolished. White mobs used it to spread terror through out the Black American population. The whites did it because they feared the rise of prominence of the blacks, as far as economic power and their rights. Even living with the fear of being lynched, facing segregation, and dealing with Jim Crow laws, the Black population was able to overcome and succeed by actively protesting, creating many organizations, including The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and voting to pass anti-lynching laws and bills.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching_in_the_United_States

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/till/peopleevents/e_lynch.html