The Lynching in Duluth
1. Were you aware of the lynching in Duluth prior to reading this book? If yes, please explain where you learned of these events.
I was aware of the lynching in Duluth before reading this book. The details of the entire happenings were unclear before appreciating book. My awareness of the same was from classmates who were against bigotry practices. In their conversation, it was comprehensible that the story in this book was true. Their discussion had a new concept to me; I had not understood the Duluth killings. A notable thing is that the descriptions in the book are valuable. They reveal extremely significant aspects of the lynching that several people are unaware. The book is insightful and provides lengthy descriptions that enable its readership to understand the lynching in Duluth. Apart from two fictitious characters (Sandra Teale and Robert Walsh), all the other characters are real. This suggests that the lynching had intense negativity on African Americans of that time (Fedo 53).
2. Which people in Duluth took part in the lynching? Did they have similar characteristics or backgrounds that contributed to the choices they made on June 15, 1920?
White people in Duluth partook in the lynching. The mob responsible for lynching the three African American had similar characteristics. These characteristics include their race and the belief they had against African Americans. It is most probable that the similarity in character was a chief inspiration of their choice to lynch. These people were guilty of two other lynching in Duluth. All these people in the mob were courageous to break in the penitentiary and lynch the African American men. They were certain that no one would charge them for such a serious felony of lynching Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie. They were also confident that their choice would benefit their race. Their greatest inspiration in partaking in the lynching was defending their race from another race that was interfering (Fedo 39).
3. Which people stood up against the mob? What were their reasons for trying to stop the mob?
The media of that time was firm in its stand against the mob. There were several indications from printable articles that the mob was wrong. This was a clear display that they were against the mob responsible for the lynching. Other black citizens were also influential in campaigns against the lynching. This is evident from several significant efforts after the lynching. They did not seem to agree with the actions of the whites to kill the three African Americans. Filing numerous court cases against the lynching is proof that these people had adequate and convincing reasons to stop the mob. These reasons include such aspects as the immorality in killing other people regardless of the crimes they commit. It is not even factual that there was a genuine rape case. It was untrue that there were any rape cases from the white girl’s doctor. No one can disregard the results from the doctor; they are professional and cannot be faulty. These people were against the mob to prevent further development of bigotry issues. The mob was fighting against the African American race, not just the three men from the neighborhood circus. Their efforts were fruitful with the existence of laws that prohibit any attempts to lynch people for whatever reason (Fedo 87).
4. Why has this event been overlooked for so long?
Overlooking this event is probably because people fear to be responsible. The event was sensitive and addressing it requires intense courage. People are afraid to discuss the event for fear of unfair victimization. Only the most courageous ones display admirable responsibility in revealing the event. The author of this book is among the people who refuse to overlook the event. Overlooking this event suggests that bigotry still exists in America and several other places. It seems not to be alarming that three African Americans lost their lives while under state protection. After the event, a great number of blacks registered intense rates of relocations from Duluth. This implies that few people would continue with the quest for justice. It also explains why Another aspect of overlooking the event is evident from the insignificant punishment of the responsible mob (Fedo 64).
5. Why is this book important to read in 2012?
The significance of this book in 2012 is multifaceted. The book allows modern people to reflect on such unfair treatments that still happen. These treatments are attributable to their respective races. The book is also valuable in 2012 since it reveals historical events that several people are reluctant to discuss. It is therapeutic and helps distant relatives of the chief participants in the story to heal from the intense grief. Certain occurrences that favor some races are as rampant as they were during the creation of this book. This suggests that the book connects 2012 events to 1920 events that display bigotry treatments (Fedo 76).
Work Cited
Fedo, Michael W. The Lynchings in Duluth. St. Paul, Minn: Minnesota Historical Society Press,
2000. Print.
