12. Lynching and Racial Violence
From the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, lynching and mob violence were horrifyingly common tools used to terrorize Black communities. These acts of brutality enforced racial hierarchies by instilling fear, punishing perceived transgressions, and suppressing demands for equality. Perpetrators of lynching often acted with complete impunity, aided by local authorities’ inaction or complicity. To learn more about this grim chapter in American history, visit the NAACP.
