Lynch mob
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| − | A '''lynch mob''' is a group of people intent on an [[extrajudicial execution]]. Their victim is a specific individual, but the mob may direct their collective rage at persons who resemble their intended victim. Historically, the term referred to groups who went to capture and then hang someone, but nowadays it refers to any group that gets angry at an individual. | + | A '''lynch mob''' is a group of people intent on an [[extrajudicial execution]]. Their victim is a specific individual, but the mob may direct their collective rage at persons who resemble their intended victim. Historically, the term referred to groups who went to capture and then hang someone, but nowadays it refers to ''any'' group that gets angry at an individual. |
==Historical use== | ==Historical use== | ||
| − | + | Historically, a lynch mob is any mob of people whipped up to kill someone, usually by hanging. In the [[The South|Southern United States]], from the [[Reconstruction]] era until the 1960s (possibly the 1930s depending on what one considers to be a mob), it was a common occurrence for groups of whites to catch [[African American|black]] men who were accused of some infraction, often minor or of social code, and lynch them. Recently found and restored photographs have documented the often festive air of these lynchings, where whole communities would get together and ''have picnics'' in the shadow of a dead black man.<ref>[http://www.americanlynching.com/photos-old.htm American Lynchings] '''WARNING''': [[NSFL|Graphic content]]</ref> Overlapping that phenomenon is the use of mob violence to repress [[Trade union|organized labor]] in the [[Jesusland|South and the American West]].<ref>Rebecca N. Hill. 2009. ''Men, Mobs, and Law: Anti-lynching and Labor Defense in U.S. Radical History''. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822342809</ref> One of the first major [[civil rights]] fights of the 20th century was the fight to make lynching a federal crime. This struggle led to the emergence of the [[NAACP]] as a major civil rights organization. | |
| − | Historically, a lynch mob is any mob of people whipped up to kill someone, usually by hanging. In the [[The South|Southern United States]], from the [[Reconstruction]] era until the 1960s (possibly the 1930s depending on what one considers to be a mob), it was a common occurrence for groups of whites to catch [[African American|black]] men who were accused of some infraction, often minor or of social code, and lynch them. Recently found and restored photographs have documented the often festive air of these lynchings, where whole communities would get together and have picnics in the shadow of a dead black man.<ref>[http://www.americanlynching.com/photos-old.htm American Lynchings] | + | |
==Modern use== | ==Modern use== | ||
| − | + | In modern usage, lynch mob usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal and historical lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably [[Clarence Thomas]] saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching."<ref>[http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/hill/hilloutline2.htm An Outline of the Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas Controversy], Center for History and New Media</ref> | |
| − | In modern usage, lynch mob usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal and historical lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably [[Clarence Thomas]] saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching | + | |
Those thinking about taking part in lynch mobs should first ask themselves if they may be guilty of [[groupthink]]. | Those thinking about taking part in lynch mobs should first ask themselves if they may be guilty of [[groupthink]]. | ||
| − | == See also == | + | ==See also== |
*[[Crowd psychology]] | *[[Crowd psychology]] | ||
*[[Black brute]] | *[[Black brute]] | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
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[[Category:United States history]] | [[Category:United States history]] | ||
Revision as of 22:02, 2 October 2013
| The touchy subject of |
| Key concepts |
| Racism and racists |
A lynch mob is a group of people intent on an extrajudicial execution. Their victim is a specific individual, but the mob may direct their collective rage at persons who resemble their intended victim. Historically, the term referred to groups who went to capture and then hang someone, but nowadays it refers to any group that gets angry at an individual.
Contents |
Historical use
Historically, a lynch mob is any mob of people whipped up to kill someone, usually by hanging. In the Southern United States, from the Reconstruction era until the 1960s (possibly the 1930s depending on what one considers to be a mob), it was a common occurrence for groups of whites to catch black men who were accused of some infraction, often minor or of social code, and lynch them. Recently found and restored photographs have documented the often festive air of these lynchings, where whole communities would get together and have picnics in the shadow of a dead black man.[1] Overlapping that phenomenon is the use of mob violence to repress organized labor in the South and the American West.[2] One of the first major civil rights fights of the 20th century was the fight to make lynching a federal crime. This struggle led to the emergence of the NAACP as a major civil rights organization.
Modern use
In modern usage, lynch mob usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal and historical lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably Clarence Thomas saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching."[3]
Those thinking about taking part in lynch mobs should first ask themselves if they may be guilty of groupthink.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ American Lynchings WARNING: Graphic content
- ↑ Rebecca N. Hill. 2009. Men, Mobs, and Law: Anti-lynching and Labor Defense in U.S. Radical History. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822342809
- ↑ An Outline of the Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas Controversy, Center for History and New Media