Editing Lynching
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A major motive for lynchings, particularly in the Southern United States, was the white society's efforts to maintain [[white supremacy]] after the emancipation of the enslaved people following the [[American Civil War]]. It punished perceived violations of customs, later institutionalized as [[Jim Crow laws]], which mandated racial segregation of whites and blacks, and second-class status for blacks. A 2017 paper found that more racially segregated counties were more likely to be places where whites conducted lynchings. | A major motive for lynchings, particularly in the Southern United States, was the white society's efforts to maintain [[white supremacy]] after the emancipation of the enslaved people following the [[American Civil War]]. It punished perceived violations of customs, later institutionalized as [[Jim Crow laws]], which mandated racial segregation of whites and blacks, and second-class status for blacks. A 2017 paper found that more racially segregated counties were more likely to be places where whites conducted lynchings. | ||
Opponents of legislation often said lynchings prevented murder and [[rape]]. As documented by Ida B. Wells, the most prevalent accusation against lynching victims was murder or attempted murder. Rape charges or rumors were present in less than one-third of the lynchings; such charges were often pretexts for lynching blacks who violated Jim Crow etiquette or engaged in economic competition with whites. Other common reasons given included | Opponents of legislation often said lynchings prevented murder and [[rape]]. As documented by Ida B. Wells, the most prevalent accusation against lynching victims was murder or attempted murder. Rape charges or rumors were present in less than one-third of the lynchings; such charges were often pretexts for lynching blacks who violated Jim Crow etiquette or engaged in economic competition with whites. Other common reasons given included arson, theft, assault, and robbery; sexual transgressions (miscegenation, adultery, cohabitation); "race prejudice", "race hatred", "racial disturbance"; informing on others; "threats against whites"; and violations of the color line ("attending white girl", "proposals to white woman"). | ||
Although the rhetoric surrounding lynchings frequently suggested they were to protect the virtue and safety of white women, the actions basically arose out of white attempts to maintain domination in a rapidly changing society and their fears of social change. | Although the rhetoric surrounding lynchings frequently suggested they were to protect the virtue and safety of white women, the actions basically arose out of white attempts to maintain domination in a rapidly changing society and their fears of social change. | ||