Final answer:
The common enemy that united communities within Westside and Jonesboro was the systemic racism and violence aimed at African Americans, stemming from white supremacy and segregationist ideologies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Members of the communities within Westside and Jonesboro came together, even for a short time, after the shootings; one reason was their common enemy, a landscape of violence motivated by racial tension and a resistance to the advancement and integration of African Americans. This common enemy was characterized by systemic racism, white supremacist ideology, and the use of violence to maintain racial segregation and prevent African American success and social mobility. The historical context includes several poignant incidents, such as the Greenwood Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921, the lynching of Emmett Till, various violent responses to desegregation efforts, and a general atmosphere of fear and aggression towards African Americans who sought equality and integration, prompting different communities to band together temporarily to oppose and survive this pervasive threat.