Book Report On East St. Louis Race Riot

East St. Louis Race Riot on July 2, 1917

On Sunday evening, July 1, a black Ford, filled with whites, drives into the “black quarters” of East St. Louis. The armed whites fire shots into African American homes. The second time this Ford passes through their neighborhood several black people, now armed, fire back. The police are called and unwittingly drive to the neighborhood in a black unmarked Ford. Armed African Americans, thinking it is the same car that earlier had fired shots into their homes, begin firing shots at the car. One detective dies instantly and the other dies the next day. On Monday morning, July 2, white laborers gather around the bullet-riddled blood-stained Ford parked in front of the police station in downtown East

Jerry had gone to work that morning, but did not return until late that evening. She relates to this author in the late 1960’s that she has always wondered about the whereabouts of her father on that day. She adds that she would love to know where he was and what he saw. As the morning progresses, the mob begins moving into black neighborhoods burning and shooting up their homes. Hundreds of homes are torched as blacks are lynched from telephone poles. When the police and the National Guard are called out to stop the riot, most of them stand by and watch and some even join the mobs. Most of the rioters are laborers who are filled with hatred and resentment toward the blacks over the fierce job competition as thousands have been brought up from the South by large companies to replace white workers who have left the assembly line for a picket line. This race riot is the worst incidence of labor-related violence in 20th century America. It is also one of the worst race riots in American history. Accounts vary from 40 to 150 as to the number killed. Approximately 6,000 blacks are left homeless after their neighborhoods are burned. As for Kate, this day is vividly

Newspapers are filled with outlandish theories of the epidemic’s cause and long lists of the dead. St. Louis, as well as nearby East St. Louis, pretty much shuts down. On October 7, St. Louis Mayor Henry Kiel issues a proclamation banning public gatherings, and closing schools and businesses. In his proclamation he states, “I hereby order that all theaters, moving picture shows, schools, pool and billiard halls, Sunday schools, lodges, societies, public funerals, open air meetings, dance halls and conventions to be at once closed and discontinued until further notice.” Although an imposition on the activities of the Flynn family, they are lucky that the mayor of East St. Louis follows Mayor Kiel’s lead and imposes a similar closing order. Because of these drastic measures, the flu epidemic is not as lethal in these two cities as it is in many others. Jerry and Nora Flynn, as parents who have already lost one child, most assuredly are feeling anxieties over the possibility of either their spouse or any of their children contracting this deadly disease. Sacred Heart Grade School closes their doors from Tuesday, October 8 until Monday, November 18. Jerry and Nora’s daughters, 15-year-old Nellie (Helen), 11-year-old Mary and 8-year-old Ann, are kept home for six weeks while fear grips the city. (Ann and Mary Flynn on the