In Fall 1919 the small town of Elaine, Arkansas erupted in violence. White mobs fearful that African American sharecroppers were organizing to fight for higher wages launched massive  and violent assaults against the Black population. The death toll was in the hundreds. For this episode, I interviewed Lisa Hicks Gilbert, a descendant of two of the Elaine 12 and founder of the Descendants of Elaine. Hear how she found out about the massacre as an adult, how the consequences of the massacre still feed racial inequalities there today, and why it is important to make sure the right people are telling these stories. 

For more information:

Elaine Massacre, 1919

Descendants of Elaine

Revised edition of Grif Stockley's book "Blood in Their Eyes" with contributions from Dr. Brian Mitchell and Dr. Guy Lancaster.

Thanks to our generous sponsor The Arkansas Humanities Council