In October 1909, a black wagon driver “who did not drive as far to the right as a white man thought he should” was shot dead in Montgomery, Alabama. According to an article in Colored Alabamian magazine, the white man avoided punishment “as if he had only shot a common dog.”
The article asserted that white people’s evasion of capital punishment was not a rare occurrence in the city. Weeks after the death of the wagon driver, “[a] Negro walked into a Loan office where he was somewhat involved. His statement was not satisfactory to the white men who followed him into the street and shot him to death.”
The report described the story as a common narrative in the community. “White men who shoot and kill Negroes are not adjudged guilty of murder by the law.” The magazine called for white officials to bring all murderers, regardless of color, to the “bar of justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is proud to present A History of Racial Injustice – 2018 Calendar. America’s history of racial inequality continues to undermine fair treatment, equal justice, and opportunity for many Americans. The genocide of Native people, the legacy of slavery and racial terror, and the legally supported abuse of racial minorities are not well understood. EJI believes that a deeper engagement with our nation’s history of racial injustice is important to addressing present-day questions of social justice and equality.
Easy Waters 