Black History

Congress Passes Anti-Lynching Bill After 200 Failed Attempts Over 100+ Years

Rep. Bobby Rush, who represents part of Chicago, where Till lived before he was murdered, said the bill “sends a clear and emphatic message that our nation will no longer ignore this shameful chapter of our history and that the full force of the U.S. federal government will always be brought to bear against those who commit this heinous act.”

Published

2 years ago

March 21, 2022

Oakland Post

Rep. Bobby Rush, who represents the Chicago district where Emmett Till lived, and Los Angeles Rep. Karen Bass with a photo of Emmett Till speaking before the House passed the bill last month. Photo courtesy of Rush press office.

By Brandon Patterson

The Senate passed a bi-partisan bill criminalizing lynching at the federal level this week, sending the bill to President Biden’s desk after the House approved the bill in January. The Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, named for the 14-year-old Chicago boy whose brutal murder in Mississippi in 1955 helped catalyze the Civil Rights Movement, allows a crime to be prosecuted as a lynching if a victim is killed or injured as the result of a hate crime with a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. The Senate passed the bill unanimously, though three Republican members of the House — from Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas —voted against it.

The bill’s passage by Congress marks the end of hundreds of failed attempts to pass anti-lynching legislation over more than a century. Congress failed to pass such legislation more than 200 times over the last 122 years, according to USA Today.

The first piece of anti-lynching legislation was introduced by Rep. George Henry White in 1900. White, who represented North Carolina, was the House’s only Black lawmaker at the time. Democrat Sen. Cory Booker and Republican Senator Tim Scott, both of whom are Black, introduced the legislation together this time around.

“Although no legislation will reverse the pain and fear felt by those victims, their loved ones, and Black communities, this legislation is a necessary step America must take to heal from the racialized violence that has permeated its history,” Booker said in a statement on March 7.

Under the new legislation, the 2020 case of Ahmaud Arbury, whose killers were convicted of murder and on federal hate crime charges earlier this year, would likely qualify for prosecution as lynching.

Till, for whom the bill is named, was killed in Money, Miss., in 1955 after being falsely accused of whistling at a white woman. Till was on a trip that summer to visit his mother’s family. Although there was ample evidence and several witnesses, the all-white jury ruled that the men accused in Till’s death were not guilty.

This story was written using reporting from USA Today and CNN, research from the Equal Justice Initiative, and statements released by the offices of Sen. Corey Booker and Rep. Bobby Rush.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Cal Reparations Task Force: Yale Professor Traces Long History of Racism in Public Health

Don't Miss

Shalonda Young Joins Joe Biden’s Cabinet as Director of the Budget Office

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Black History

Matthew Henson: Explorer Extraordinaire

Matthew Henson, a trailblazing explorer who overcame countless obstacles to leave an incredible mark on history. Born on August 8, 1866, in Charles County, Maryland, his journey is a testament to the power of determination and the spirit of adventure.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Matthew Henson (File Photo)

By Tamara Shiloh

Henson’s life began amidst the backdrop of post-Civil War America, where opportunities for African Americans were scarce. From a young age, he possessed an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond his small town. At the age of 12, he embarked on a journey that would change the course of his life forever when he joined a merchant ship as a cabin boy.

His most famous expedition was his journey to the Arctic with renowned explorer Robert E. Peary. In 1887, Henson joined Peary’s crew as a seaman and quickly proved himself to be invaluable with his skills as a navigator and craftsman. Over the course of several expeditions, Matthew endured extreme cold, treacherous terrain, and grueling conditions as he and Peary sought to reach the elusive North Pole.

In 1908–09, Peary set out on his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole. It was a big expedition, with Peary planning to leave supplies along the way. When he and Henson boarded their ship, the Roosevelt, leaving Greenland on August 18, 1909, they were joined by a large group. This included 22 Inuit men, 17 Inuit women, 10 children, 246 dogs, 70 tons of whale meat, blubber from 50 walruses, hunting gear, and tons of coal.

In February, Henson and Peary left their anchored ship at Ellesmere Island’s Cape Sheridan, along with the Inuit men and 130 dogs. They worked together to set up a trail and supplies along the way to the Pole.

Peary picked Henson and four Inuit people to join him in the final push to the Pole. However, before they reached their destination, Peary couldn’t walk anymore and had to ride in a dog sled. He sent Henson ahead to scout the way. In a later interview with a newspaper, Henson recalled being in the lead and realizing they had gone too far. The group turned back, and Henson noticed his footprints helped guide them to their destination. At that location, Henson planted the American flag.

Henson’s legacy extends far beyond his expeditions to the Arctic. He shattered racial barriers in the world of exploration and inspired countless individuals, regardless of race, to dream big and pursue their passions. In 1937, he was finally recognized for his achievements when he was inducted into The Explorers Club, an organization dedicated to promoting scientific exploration and field research.

Matthew Henson died in the Bronx, New York, on March 9, 1955, at the age of 88.