turn of the 20th century was a time of terror for African Americans due to a number of factors, including widespread racial discrimination, the rise of white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, and a series of violent race riots and lynchings.
Despite the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the US, and prohibited the denial of the right to vote on the basis of race, African Americans faced widespread discrimination and violence. They were often denied the right to vote, to own property, or to receive an education on equal terms with whites.
The rise of white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, which promoted racial segregation and the superiority of the white race, led to a wave of violence against African Americans. These groups would often organize lynchings, in which individuals accused of crimes or simply accused of violating social norms were killed without trial or due process.
Additionally, race riots broke out in several cities across the United States, including Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898, Springfield, Illinois in 1908, and East St. Louis, Illinois in 1917. These riots were often sparked by perceived threats to white supremacy, such as allegations of black men assaulting white women.
Overall, the turn of the 20th century was a time of great struggle and hardship for African Americans, as they faced intense racial discrimination, violence, and ter