Racial tensions explode on Chicago beach

Chicago has long been considered one of the most integrated and at the same time the most segregated of northern cities in the United States.

July 27, 2019, marks the anniversary of a most shameful and unfortunate event that has left a deep scar in the history of Chicago.

This event that took place one hundred years ago, but unfortunately, sounds all too modern and has set the tone for race relations in the city that resonates even today.

In summary, one hundred years ago an African American teen named Eugene Williams was killed after being struck on the head by a rock thrown at him because he and his friends drifted into a portion of a southside beach near 29th Street that was considered to be “whites only.”

The situation got worse when a white police officer, on duty at the beach, arrested a black man while refusing to arrest the white man allegedly responsible for throwing the rock.

This set off an argument that escalated into a city-wide race riot.

Listen to the entire story presented here by CURIOUS CITY, the radio program that allows you to ask questions, and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ Radio.

Learn more about the 1919 Race Riots at WTTW Chicago.

There is also a small section at the Chicago History Musem with photos dedicated to this incident.

The racial riot of this period is an historical element included in the Chicago scify time travel novel The Chronocar.

You can listen to an exclusive interview with the book’s author Steve Bellinger produced and recorded by our sister channel AuthorsBroadCast.com and presented here at Chicago Broadcasting Network.

Newspaper cover photo credit: Timothy Huges Rare and Early Newspapers.