Curbing African American Freedom: Reconstruction Era Violence (Non-Klan Incidents)
Reconstruction was a particularly violent period in American History. Following Confederate defeat, violence, both rhetorical and real, swept across the region, state of Alabama, and even Tuscaloosa and its neighbor Northport. As evidenced by the newspaper reports below detailing the experiences of Shandy Wesley Jones and his spouse Evalina Love Jones, the violence was not limited to Ku Klux Klan and other paramilitary organizations. White Alabamians’ perceptions of emancipation and black freedom unleashed a brutal and widespread backlash targeting individuals, private homes, businesses, institutions, and the political process contributing to biracial governance.
Document 1: Targeting Shandy Jones, 1868
Published in a mainstream city newspaper, this article encourages the targeting of Shandy Jones, an African American politician.
It is strange why white men will persist in patronizing Shandy Jones’ barbershop; knowing so well, that he is undoubtedly the greatest rascals amongst the negroes in Tuskaloosa – and that is saying much. This mulatto villan said, in a speech at the Court-House last winter, that he did not see why white people should object to having their children at school with colored children, provided the parents of the latter had no objection to the arrangement.” Right-there he ought to have been Ku-Kluxed, and negro ambition squelched in its incipiency [sic].
This offensive negro, Jones, is now engaged in helping to pass social equality laws in the Mamaluke bogus Legislature; and is about to send his half-grown, stanking pickaninny to the State University! White men, do not encourage this or any other insolent negro by your patronage! Shave yourselves, if need be, or get some decent barber to put up shop, and all white men sustain him.
Source: “Gorilla Shandy Jones,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), August 11, 1868, 3.
It is strange why white men will persist in patronizing Shandy Jones’ barbershop; knowing so well, that he is undoubtedly the greatest rascals amongst the negroes in Tuskaloosa – and that is saying much. This mulatto villan said, in a speech at the Court-House last winter, that he did not see why white people should object to having their children at school with colored children, provided the parents of the latter had no objection to the arrangement.” Right-there he ought to have been Ku-Kluxed, and negro ambition squelched in its incipiency [sic].
This offensive negro, Jones, is now engaged in helping to pass social equality laws in the Mamaluke bogus Legislature; and is about to send his half-grown, stanking pickaninny to the State University! White men, do not encourage this or any other insolent negro by your patronage! Shave yourselves, if need be, or get some decent barber to put up shop, and all white men sustain him.
Source: “Gorilla Shandy Jones,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), August 11, 1868, 3.
Document 2: Murder of African American Woman, 1868
This brief article notes the racially motivated murder of an African American women and suggests that violence is result of lawlessness among African Americans and their white allies.
A negro woman, innocent of any crime, was killed in North Port on Friday night last. The accounts that reach us are so conflicting, that we forbear making any comment at present. We trust that, as Court is now in session, the Grand Jury will examine into the affair, as also, into the killing of the white man Stalnaker, and take steps to put such lawlessness down; whether emanating from whites or blacks.
Source: “Killed,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), September 15, 1868, 3.
A negro woman, innocent of any crime, was killed in North Port on Friday night last. The accounts that reach us are so conflicting, that we forbear making any comment at present. We trust that, as Court is now in session, the Grand Jury will examine into the affair, as also, into the killing of the white man Stalnaker, and take steps to put such lawlessness down; whether emanating from whites or blacks.
Source: “Killed,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), September 15, 1868, 3.
Document 3: Falsifying Perpetrators' Race in Northport Night-Riding Incident, 1868
This article suggests that African Americans and not white citizens are perpetuating night-riding in Northport. This is a common tactic of the period.
We understand that a Democratic negro, and one of good character generally, was assaulted at his home near North Port, on Saturday night and severely, though not dangerously, shot by a party of unknown men. He escaped death by running and hiding in the woods. The tracks left in the year by the gang of assailants were closely examined next morning, and all were found to have been made by bare feet, and tracks were all negro tracks. Several bad negroes living in the vicinity have been heard to threaten the wounded negro on occasions; and it is believed that they disguised themselves and made this Ku-Klux D’Afrique assault. The negroes are very anxious to have Yankee troops stationed here, and doubtless have committed this piece of outlawry with a view of securing the same. --- It was an unlucky thing for the success of their success, that they left their jay bird heels and hollow-in-the-foot-make-a-hole-in-the-ground tracks behind them, or it would be heralded forth that “another rebel outrage” had been perpetuated on a “loil” freedman. We hope the gang of black assassins may be caught yet in their Ku-Klux business. We hear of no steps taken to ferret our the would-be murderers.
Source: “Trouble Near North Port,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), October 20, 1868, 3.
We understand that a Democratic negro, and one of good character generally, was assaulted at his home near North Port, on Saturday night and severely, though not dangerously, shot by a party of unknown men. He escaped death by running and hiding in the woods. The tracks left in the year by the gang of assailants were closely examined next morning, and all were found to have been made by bare feet, and tracks were all negro tracks. Several bad negroes living in the vicinity have been heard to threaten the wounded negro on occasions; and it is believed that they disguised themselves and made this Ku-Klux D’Afrique assault. The negroes are very anxious to have Yankee troops stationed here, and doubtless have committed this piece of outlawry with a view of securing the same. --- It was an unlucky thing for the success of their success, that they left their jay bird heels and hollow-in-the-foot-make-a-hole-in-the-ground tracks behind them, or it would be heralded forth that “another rebel outrage” had been perpetuated on a “loil” freedman. We hope the gang of black assassins may be caught yet in their Ku-Klux business. We hear of no steps taken to ferret our the would-be murderers.
Source: “Trouble Near North Port,” The Independent Monitor (Tuscaloosa, AL), October 20, 1868, 3.
