Historical Event
Post-Reconstruction racial terror in the South
Post-Reconstruction racial terror in the South refers to a period following the end of Reconstruction in the late 19th century, particularly in the 1870s to the 1890s, when African Americans faced increased violence, lynching, and systemic discrimination as white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan sought to restore racial hierarchy. In locations such as Sumner County, Kansas, the Exoduster movement saw thousands of African Americans migrating from the South to establish settlements in the West, creating communities that emphasized education, entrepreneurship, and faith amidst the pervasive threats of violence and oppression.
Why This Matters
This event is significant as it highlights the resilience and resistance of the African American community during a time of intense racial violence, illustrating their quest for freedom and agency. It serves as a crucial link in understanding the continuous fight against colonial and post-colonial oppression, bridging the experiences of those in continental Africa with their diasporic counterparts in the United States.
Timeline Context
Black Cowboys & the Western Frontier
See journey timeline
Related People
Related Heritage Sites
Related Lessons
How Do We Know What We Know? An Introduction to the Curriculum's Questions
Unit 1
Black Reconstruction: The Congressmen, the Legislation, and the Collapse
Unit 4
Ida B. Wells: The Science of Lynching & the Architecture of Anti-Black Terror
Unit 4.5
Black Political Representation: From Reconstruction to the Senate Floor
Unit 7
From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter
Unit 7