The History of Racial Terror: What the Data Reveals (1865–1965): Lynching in America

Added: 2026-06-04

[00:00:00]The history of lynching in America is a story that may not be wellnown. Because these acts were often carried out by lawless mobs and frequently condoned or ignored by those sworn to uphold the law. We may never have a single definitive list of every victim. Through decades of painstaking research, historians have worked to document this violence, ensuring it is not forgotten.

[00:00:26]Their research clarifies that these were not random acts. They were public spectacles designed to enforce racial hierarchy.

[00:00:36]The Tuskiggee Institute recorded 3,446 lynchings of black people between 1882 and 1968.

[00:00:45]Historians widely regard these as conservative estimates as countless cases went unreported or were actively covered up by local communities.

[00:00:55]To truly understand this history, we have to look past the numbers at the purpose behind them. These were acts of domestic terrorisms.

[00:01:05]They were used to instill paralyzing fear in black communities, enforce the brutal reality of Jim Crow laws.

[00:01:15]Victims were routinely murdered by mobs without a trial, often based on nothing more than fabricated accusations. His death date. Strike him up.

[00:01:25]In a chilling display of cruelty, these moments were sometimes photographed and turned into postcards, sold as souvenirs.

[00:01:36]This brutal history shaped the social, political, and economic landscape of the United States in ways that persist today.

[00:01:43]>> To confront this legacy, the Equal Justice Initiative created an interactive resource, Wenting in America, which provides detailed reports, maps, and the voices of survivors.

[00:02:03]How we got here? So very clear.

[00:02:08]People creating havoc with so much fear.

[00:02:13]Bloodlines infected if you carry a spear.

[00:02:18]Manipulating religion in another gear. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:02:24]American struggle does it again.

[00:02:29]>> Sharing information >> without a spin.

[00:02:34]>> Learning what happened >> so I can forget about the sin.

[00:02:44]>> Yeah.