Fernwood Park race riot

The Fernwood Park race riot took place in mid August 1947 in the Fernwood, Chicago neighborhood. Riots took place between 98th and 111th streets. It was one of the worst race riots in Chicago history.

In mid August, 1947, several black veterans and their families moved into the CHA Fernwood Park housing project at 104th and Halsted. Area residents viewed this as one of several attempts by the CHA to initiate racial integration into white communities.[1] A violent mob action resulted which lasted for three days and mobilized over 1,000 law enforcement officers to control.[2] During the riot, gangs of whites pulled blacks out of streetcars and automobiles and beat them. At least 35 black people were wounded.[3]

The police did little to stop the rioting, as was the case a year before at the Airport Homes race riots.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Arnold R. Hirsch, (1998) "Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago 1940-1960", pg. 54. University of Chicago Press: 1998
  2. ↑ Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1947, pg. 10. "1,000 Policemen keep order at Homes Project."
  3. ↑ Harney, N. Caroline. "The Siege on South Peoria Street". chicagoreader.com. Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Making the second ghetto: race and housing in Chicago, 1940-1960" by Arnold Richard Hirsch (1998)
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