The 1908 Springfield Race Riot: A History in Pictures

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This picture gallery of history features both brutal language, as well as descriptions and pictures of human brutality; much of the work – as vital as it is – is of a decidedly disturbing nature and quality.  

WMAY would like it understood that reader discretion is advised at this juncture; however, the following is historically accurate, well documented, and essential to know and become better educated concerning – no matter one’s age.

The history of the United States of America is not even 300 years old. Yet in the time that has passed, the nation has gone through vast changes. It has become, it has expanded several times after becoming, it has fought – with others and with itself – it has separated from itself, it has morphed and changed variously.

And through all of that, it remains – still growing, learning, changing and evolving all the while – today, tomorrow, and for as long as it does still remain.

History teaches us this – all of this. In this way, as in so many others, therefore, recorded history and the study of it is truly invaluable – which is why it is a consistent topic of debate amongst those who wish for knowledge of the past to be more difficult to clearly obtain in the present.

But by understanding history better, the present can be made better, and can be more clearly deciphered and understood; the future too, can be better shaped and navigated by understanding what has already occurred – good, bad, and in between.

Springfield is a vital, historic part of the history of Illinois, as well as of the United States. It is, after all, the hometown of Mr. Lincoln.

Yet it is like the rest of the country and – to be clear – the world, in having historical blemishes that must be learned and understood from – no matter how uncomfortable the material and inevitable lessons might be for a time.

However, as Mr. Lincoln famously noted during his lifetime, “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”

The Springfield Race Riot of 1908 is one such event that must be learned of, learned from, and remembered as a community remembers all of the other wonderful and terrible things that befall it.

It is a story not wholly peculiar to Springfield, but Springfield’s version of this classic American tragedy is Springfield’s alone to tell. Lies provoked by racism leading to violence, leading in turn to lawlessness, leading in turn to the deaths of innocents for rage’s sake alone; there are many stories that bear striking resemblances to it throughout the 20th century.

This story – not any of the others – is one of the stories being told at the Central Illinois and Springfield African American History Museum on the north side of Springfield – right by the Oak Ridge Cemetary.

To that effect, it must be said that their curator and staff perform their collective tasks quite well – such that one walks away from their time at the museum profoundly moved by the education one has received.

And sometimes, after experiences like that, pictures say that which words can simply do no justice concerning.

When WMAY recently visited The Central Illinois and Springfield African American History Museum to discuss its Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr exhibit, we were also able to take the tour of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 exhibit; below is the history in pictures – as brought to life by the AAHM and their dedicated staff.

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