The Afro-American (June 26, 1943)
Nazi pogroms tame to Texas rioters
Sailor in uniform leads mob that burns, pillages stores, clubs citizens
By Ralph Matthews, editors of the Washington Afro-American
Beaumont, Texas –
A weekend of terror, worse than anything visited upon the Jews by Nazi fanatics at the height of their pogroms, was experienced by the colored population of this swollen war industry town last week.
Two men are dead, scores are injured and the homes and businesses of thrifty people for blocks on end have been burned and pillaged.
Property estimated at thousands of dollars on two whole streets which constituted the colored business sections in two sections of the city was destroyed.
Marauders, several hundred strong, prowled the streets with guns, clubs and torches, setting fire to buildings after looting them of all portable goods, beating and clubbing innocent people luckless enough to be caught on the streets.
Fifth column – hate
Although much credence is given in the white press to the charge that the riot was instigated by Axis agents, it is now known that the only fifth column at work in Beaumont was the fifth column of pure, unadulterated prejudice and jealousy over workers who have been putting their war earnings to good use, improving their businesses and their economic progress being made by the colored homes.
Many cases are advanced for the riot. The report that a white woman was raped, while the spark which set off the trouble, has been admitted even by the authorities to have been wholly false after two physicians who examined the alleged victim reported they could find no signs of an attack having been committed.
No rape committed
Army authorities who set up martial law over the city were so convinced no rape had been committed, that they advised enforcement officers in different sections of the state who were bringing every vagrant to Beaumont for investigation to cease their search and save the city expense.
In the meantime, court martial proceedings examined more than 300 hoodlums picked up during the night of rioting, carrying firearms and loaded with loot from colored homes. They were let off with a legal tap on the wrist.
Up to Sunday, only ten of the 300 were being held for court action and the remainder had either been dismissed or had been fined $25 for carrying weapons.
Cold-blooded murder
Authorities promised to make a thorough probe of the cold-blooded murder of 54-year-old John Johnson, who was shot to death on the platform of an ice company where he was performing his night chores with no knowledge that the mobsters were abroad.
On Saturday, while his wife, Mrs. Beaulah Johnson, of 580 Emmett St., the mother of a 3-year-old child, sought help to bury her husband, police visited the undertaking establishment where the body was already embalmed and extracted the bullets which had caused his death in the hope of comparing it with the revolvers taken from the rioters.
Committee named
A committee of substantial white citizens, manufacturers and businessmen called a meeting Monday morning at which they planned to take inventory of damage done and reestablish the victims in business. A colored committee (consisting of Dr. L. S. Melton, dentist; Prof. A. L. Price, public school principal, and Sol White, pharmacist) has been appointed to confer with the group.
Mr. White, a native of Beaumont and a large property holder, whose late father was credited with being one of the wealthiest men in the city, had two drugstores burned and looted and several homes which he rented destroyed.
Texas riot at a glance
Homes and businesses of innocent people for blocks on end have been burned and pillaged.
Whites were embittered because colored shipyard workers earned enough to permit their wives to remain at home rather than go out to service.
A mob stole ration goods from a leading restaurant and burned it down. The proprietor hid the colored workers.
The mob which attacked one home was armed with guns, clubs and torches and included women and was led by a sailor in uniform.
The day of the riot was set for June 19 on which day Texas colored people usually celebrate the emancipation celebration.