Armed Resistance seventh street and florida avenue nw
shortly after midnight on July 22, 1919, James Scott, an African American Army veteran, boarded a streetcar at this corner and nearly lost his life. A few days before, a white mob, including many veterans of World War I, had terrorized Southwest DC, randomly attacking black people in retaliation for an alleged assault on a white woman. Spurred by rumors and newspaper head- lines, attackers targeted other black neighbor- hoods. But Scott didn’t know this. Boarding the streetcar here, he was stunned to hear white pas- sengers yell, “Lynch him!” As he attempted to flee, the conductor shot at him three times. That summer race relations were tense nation- wide, with rioting in many cities. African American Washingtonians who fought bravely overseas came home to a city more segregated than ever. President Woodrow Wilson’s adminis- tration had established separate facilities for black federal employees. Unemployment was high. African Americans who had been respected as soldiers vowed to fight U.S. racism. Most whites vowed to keep them “in their place.” As mobs raged, some 2,000 African Americans rallied here. Veteran sharpshooters manned the Howard Theatre’s roof; others patrolled Seventh Street. Clergymen called on President Wilson to protect the community. By the time U.S. troops quelled the violence, seven people were dead and hundreds were injured. But African Americans took pride in the successful defense of their neighborhoods. Among those decrying the violence was William A. Taylor, founding pastor of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church, 623 Florida Avenue. The original 1913 church building was replaced in 1964.
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting