Slocum Massacre: The Forgotten Texas Race Massacre of 1910

The Slocum Massacre was a violent incident that took place in the small town of Slocum, Texas, on July 29, 1910. During this event, a group of white mobs attacked and killed African American residents in the area. The devastating impact of the massacre led many black Americans to flee the area, leaving their homes and businesses behind in fear for their safety..

Long before the Slocum Massacre took place, racial tensions had been an integral part of Texas’ history. The region saw an influx of enslaved Africans brought in by planters and traders to work on cotton plantations before the American Civil War. After the war, the emancipation and enfranchisement of former slaves sparked resentment among the white population.

The Slocum Massacre was believed to have been triggered by several incidents, each contributing to the escalating violence. One of the incidents involved a dispute over a promissory note between a black businessman, and a disabled white farmer. Rumors of cheating and threats distorted the situation, further fueling animosity in the hearts of the whites.

Additionally, tensions rose when a black farmer, was involved in road maintenance duties, which irked a white farmer, who saw it as a challenge to white supremacy. The misunderstanding and misinformation further fanned the flames of hatred.

Reports also pointed to the impact of national events on the local atmosphere. The defeat of white boxer James J. Jeffries by black boxer Jack Johnson in the “Fight of the Century” in 1910 incited race riots and added to the already simmering tensions in the area.

In addition to these incidents, local white people in Anderson County believed rumors of a planned black uprising in retaliation for a recent lynching of a black man in the area. Seeking aid, they called upon white men from nearby counties. As a precaution, the whites hid their women and children in schools and churches before embarking on a mission to hunt down blacks.

The tragic events of the Slocum Massacre began on July 29, when six white men confronted a group of black teenagers. The confrontation resulted in the murder of one teenager. Soon after, mobs of up to 2″” white men were formed throughout Anderson County; these groups raided black neighborhoods and attempted to kill any black person they encountered.

The mobs showed no mercy, shooting fleeing African Americans as they attempted to escape through the forests. The death toll remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 18 to as high as 200 African American casualties.

According to the sheriff, “Men were going about killing Negroes as fast as they could find them, and, so far as I was able to ascertain, without any real cause”. He also described it as “There was just a hot-headed gang hunting them down and killing them.…They were just hunting the negroes down like sheep.”

After the bloodshed ended, Sheriffs from the neighboring areas arrived in the County to confront and probe the killings. Upon their arrival, they observed a climate of fear, with all white males carrying weapons. After conducting their investigation into the tragic events, the Sheriffs reached a verdict: the white attackers lacked a valid reason for their killings, as they initiated aggression even when the black community did not pose a threat.

Among the survivors was Jack Holley, a black resident who managed to escape the massacre with his family. In their desperate flight, they were forced to abandon the granary, dairy, and general store that Jack had painstakingly built as a freedman.

Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, justice was never fully served. Investigations into the massacre were inadequate, and the perpetrators mostly escaped punishment. The incident also received limited media coverage, and the story was largely suppressed, contributing to the historical silence surrounding the event. Efforts by African Americans to shed light on the tragedy often went unnoticed, leaving a void in the nation’s collective memory.

It wasn’t until January 16, 2016, that a Slocum Massacre historical marker was finally dedicated. Located south of Slocum on FM 2022, the marker lists the names of several men killed during the riot, serving as a solemn reminder of the dark history that unfolded in that area.

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