Anthony Landis: Historian discusses black resistance in Springfield riot
Much of the 1908 Springfield race riot story still remains untold, including how many of the city's black residents repelled white rioters by organizing armed fronts, according to a historian who spoke at a downtown history symposium Saturday.
"Generally, in a lot of race-riot stories, when resistance is present, oftentimes black resistance is viewed as black retaliation," said Anthony Landis, during a presentation he gave in the auditorium of the Howlett Building as part of the Illinois Historical Society's symposium on "The African-American Experience in Illinois."
It may have been easier for the white establishment to resume the status quo after a race riot because it believed black residents had retaliated and sought revenge against their attackers.
But black residents were merely defending themselves, Landis said. Justice still needed to be served.
Typically, said Landis, a 1990 Southeast High School graduate who is now an assistant director for the Ohio Board of Regents, race-riot scholarship examines the causes and participants of race riots.
But Landis, who contributed a 5,000-word essay on the riot for the 2006 "Encyclopedia of American Race Riots," said he is trying to plot new ground by focusing on targets of race riots.
"Who were these black people who wanted to defend their lives, their property? What kind of lives did they lead with-_in the city? What were their values? Who was this (black) community?" Landis said.
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"Generally, in a lot of race-riot stories, when resistance is present, oftentimes black resistance is viewed as black retaliation," said Anthony Landis, during a presentation he gave in the auditorium of the Howlett Building as part of the Illinois Historical Society's symposium on "The African-American Experience in Illinois."
It may have been easier for the white establishment to resume the status quo after a race riot because it believed black residents had retaliated and sought revenge against their attackers.
But black residents were merely defending themselves, Landis said. Justice still needed to be served.
Typically, said Landis, a 1990 Southeast High School graduate who is now an assistant director for the Ohio Board of Regents, race-riot scholarship examines the causes and participants of race riots.
But Landis, who contributed a 5,000-word essay on the riot for the 2006 "Encyclopedia of American Race Riots," said he is trying to plot new ground by focusing on targets of race riots.
"Who were these black people who wanted to defend their lives, their property? What kind of lives did they lead with-_in the city? What were their values? Who was this (black) community?" Landis said.