1866
Memphis, Tennessee, TN · On map
From May 1–3, 1866, a white riot in Memphis targeted Black residents, especially freedmen and Black Union soldiers, resulting in 46 deaths, including five women, and numerous injuries and sexual assaults. The violence destroyed Black homes, churches, and schools, and was fueled by racial resentment and political tensions over Reconstruction. Federal troops eventually restored order, but the event highlighted the vulnerability of Black communities.
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