The media are rightfully bringing to our attention the horrific Tulsa massacre almost a century ago. But, what has never been brought to the attention of the public is that such actions were not uncommon at time. In the period from 1900 to the mid 1920s. extreme racism was the order of the day in the American south. Angry at (1) losing the Civil War (2) having to tolerate Union occupation during the Reconstruction period, and (3) having suffered the ultimate indignity of having Black men elected to public office in the South.
As a consequence, many southerners were chafing at the bit to "set things right.:

Southern states blocked attempts to provide attempts to provide any economic and educational opportunity for Blacks. They passed ? Black Code: laws which actually forbid Black people from serving in lucrative occupations and relegated them to segregation.

But for the most rabid In many small, rural southern towns, violent racists of the era that was not enough. They formed violent brutal gangs which sought to strip away any property owned by Blacks and force them to leave the area. They brutalized and intimidated Blacks into leaving and abandoning any property. Those who resisted were killed.

You will not find this information about these gangs in any history book or public records, but it is factual. It happened in he very small town in which I grew up. I could even tell you the name of the man who the gang in our area. And, it is a fact that there were no Blacks in he own for some 35 - 45 years.

If you find a small rural southern town or county in the rural south which has very few or no Blacks, I will guarantee you that there is a not very pretty story behind that.