In the late 19th century, Memphis, Tennessee, was a city rife with racial tension, where economic success for African Americans was often met with hostility. At the heart of this disturbance was Peoples Grocery, a thriving Black-owned store that became a symbol of self-sufficiency and hope. Tragically, it also became the trigger for one of the most heinous acts of racial violence in American history.
People’s Grocery
Opened in 1889 in the “Curve” neighborhood of Memphis, People’s Grocery was a cooperative venture owned by Thomas Moss and ten other prominent African Americans. The store quickly became a pillar of the community, offering quality goods at competitive prices. Its success disrupted the local market, particularly affecting William Barrett, a white grocer whose store had previously monopolized the area.
Unlike Barrett’s store, which was notorious for its bad reputation as a hub for illegal liquor sales and gambling, Peoples Grocery stood for progress and community support. Its rise represented more than just economic success; it was proof of the determination of Black entrepreneurs in the face of systemic racism.
As Peoples Grocery flourished, so did the animosity from its competitors. William Barrett, whose business began to suffer due to the competition, viewed Moss’s store as a direct threat to his livelihood. This economic rivalry was made worse by the racial bias of the time, which saw Black success as a challenge to the status quo.
The Initial Conflict
The chain of events began with a seemingly minor altercation on March 2, 1892, when a young Black boy, Armour Harris, and a young white boy, Cornelius Hurst, got into a fight over a game of marbles outside Peoples Grocery. When Cornelius’s father intervened and began assaulting Armour, two employees from Peoples Grocery, Will Stewart and Calvin McDowell, came to the boy’s defense. This defense of a Black child against a white aggressor was seen as a direct challenge to the racial hierarchy, further igniting existing tensions.
The fight quickly escalated into a larger conflict. Barrett, who had been losing business to Peoples Grocery, saw this incident as an opportunity to do something about his competitor. The following day, Barrett returned to Peoples Grocery with a police officer, to arrest Stewart, the clerk, for his involvement in the fight. When McDowell denied that Stewart was in the store, The frustrated Barrett hit McDowell with his revolver and knocked him down, dropping the gun in the process. McDowell picked it up and fired a warning shot at Barrett. McDowell was subsequently arrested but released on bond on March 4. This act of self-defense was painted by Barrett and sympathetic white authorities as an unprovoked attack, adding fuel to the fire. Warrants were then issued for Will Stewart and the young boy, Armour Harris.
News of the altercation spread rapidly, and the Black community in the Curve became increasingly concerned about potential attacks. With racial tensions already high, Black residents feared that the conflict could escalate into a violent attack on their neighbourhood. A meeting was called, during which local Black leaders vowed to defend their community against further aggression. This was reported to the authorities by Barrett as evidence of a Black conspiracy against whites, further criminalizing the community in the eyes of the law.
On March 5, 1892, Judge Julius DuBose, a former Confederate soldier, publicly declared his intention to form a posse to rid the neighborhood of the so-called “rowdies.” This statement, reported in local newspapers, was essentially a call to arms, signaling to the white community that violent action against the Black residents of the Curve would be sanctioned, if not outright encouraged, by the authorities.
The tension reached a boiling point later that day when John Mosby, a Black painter, was fatally shot by a clerk in a white-owned grocery store after being denied credit. This incident further heightened fears among the Black residents of the Curve, who now faced the dual threats of mob violence and legal persecution. With little hope for protection from the police, Moss, Stewart, and McDowell, along with other members of the community, armed themselves in anticipation of an attack.
The Raid on Peoples Grocery
On the evening of March 5, a group of armed white men, including a county sheriff and deputized civilians, approached Peoples Grocery dressed in plain clothes and positioned themselves at the front and back entrances. Believing they were about to face a violent mob, the men inside the store opened fire when the white men entered. Several of the attackers were wounded, and McDowell was captured at the scene.
After the shooting incident, the local authorities, quickly moved to arrest those involved. Despite the fact that the shooting was an act of self-defense, the narrative presented by white authorities framed the incident as a deliberate and calculated ambush by Black men.
Thomas Moss, Will Stewart, and Calvin McDowell were among the over 40 people who were arrested. Moss, the owner of People’s Grocery, was known as a respectable businessman and a friend of civil rights activist Ida B. Wells. Despite his standing in the community, Moss was targeted due to his leadership role and the perceived threat his successful business posed to white competitors like William Barrett.
The three men were taken into police custody and held in the Shelby County Jail. On the surface, this was to protect them from mob violence, but in reality, it placed them in grave danger.
The Lynching
In the early hours of March 9, 1892, a mob of about 75 masked white men surrounded the Shelby County Jail. They overpowered the guards and forcibly removed Thomas Moss, the owner of People’s Grocery, along with his employees, Will Stewart and Calvin McDowell, from their cells. The mob took them to a secluded area near a Chesapeake & Ohio railroad yard, about a mile from Memphis, where they met their tragic end.
The lynching was brutal and calculated. Despite knowing his fate was sealed, Calvin McDowell fought back as the mob tortured him to death. Will Stewart, on the other hand, maintained his composure throughout, showing no fear or regret as the mob carried out his execution.
Thomas Moss, the last to be killed, left behind a message. His final words, “Tell my people to go West, there is no justice for them here.” These words showed the sadness and hopelessness many African Americans felt in the South. His execution was a clear message from the white community: Black success and disobedience would be met with deadly force.
Economic Motive and Aftermath
The economic implications of the lynching were clear. After the deaths of Moss and his associates, Peoples Grocery was looted by a gang of armed white men and eventually sold at a fraction of its value to none other than William Barrett, the same man who led the witch hunt against Moss. This transaction revealed the true purpose of the violence—eliminating Black competition to restore white economic dominance.
As was common during this era, no one was held accountable for the brutal murders of Moss, Stewart, and McDowell. The authorities refused to pursue justice, and the perpetrators of the lynching were never prosecuted. The lynching not only symbolized the destruction of Black success but also reinforced the racial power structures that continued to oppress Black communities.
The news of the lynching sparked outrage across the nation. Ida B. Wells, a close friend of Moss, wrote a powerful editorial condemning the violence and calling for action. Her words encouraged Black people to leave Memphis, and over 6,000 did, migrating westward in search of safety and opportunity. In the aftermath of the killings, the broader Black community began to unite against the violence, with Wells becoming a leading voice in the anti-lynching movement.
Sources:
https://historic-memphis.com/biographies/peoples-grocery/peoples-grocery.html
https://lynchingsitesmem.org/archives/peoples-grocery-historical-marker
