Johnson, was a 34-year-old African American farmer and World War I veteran, who was tortured and killed by a white mob after being falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. His tragic death sent a clear message that, even after sacrificing for the nation, black veterans were not safe from the violent grip of white supremacy.
Bud Johnson’s murder occurred during the “Red Summer” of 1919, a period of intense racial violence throughout the United States. Black veterans returning from World War I were often seen as threats by white supremacists. The tensions were driven by fears of African Americans demanding more rights and challenging the racial status quo. White supremacists, including groups like the Ku Klux Klan, saw black veterans as a threat to their racial hierarchy, and many veterans were lynched for asserting their rights.
The Events Leading to His Lynching
Bud Johnson, a 34-year-old farmer from Wilcox County, Alabama, had recently returned from serving in World War I, where he had been stationed in Germany. According to a deposition from the NAACP, the events leading to Johnson’s lynching began when he learned that his father, who owned 27 acres of land in Jay, Florida, was gravely ill. By the time Johnson arrived in Jay, his father had already passed away and been buried. Johnson was then allegedly pressured by local white men to sign over his father’s land to pay off his late father’s supposed debts.
When Johnson refused and attempted to leave town, a white man reportedly shot at him, later claiming that Johnson had fired first. This altercation set off a chain of events that resulted in a violent mob forming against Johnson.
As the mob grew, they placed a noose around Johnson’s neck and repeatedly hoisted him up and down from a tree, torturing him. According to the NAACP report, some in the crowd suggested accusing Johnson of assaulting a white woman as a way to justify their actions. The accusation of rape was a common tactic used during lynchings to both inflame white communities and excuse mob violence.
A witness reported that Johnson boldly challenged the mob’s patriotism, reminding them that he had fought for their safety. He said, “Would that I had died in Germany rather than come back here and die by the hands of the people I was protecting.” However, his desperate pleas for mercy were met with mocking laughter from the crowd.
Eventually, the mob tied Johnson to a tree stump, poured gasoline on him, and set him on fire. Reports also suggest that his skull was split with a hatchet, and pieces of his skull were taken by members of the mob as souvenirs.
Despite the seriousness of the crime, no one was ever held accountable for Bud Johnson’s murder. This was a common occurrence during the period, as local authorities were either complicit in the violence or unwilling to prosecute white citizens involved in the killing of African Americans.
Sources:
PSC takes lead role in documenting Santa Rosa County lynching victims
https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/07/30/amid-racial-reckonings-milton-confronts-its-dark-history-lynching/5442639002/
