Digital
History>eXplorations>Lynching>A
Southern Anti-Lynching Movement Arises>Jessie Ames
Jessie Daniel Ames, "Suggested Points in Presenting
Purposes of A.S.W.P.L." [1931] Association of Southern Women
for the Prevention of Lynching Papers
The
following pamphlet explained the origins of lynching:
SUGGESTED
POINTS IN PRESENTING PURPOSE OF A.S.W.P.L.
I.
Homogeneity of South
a.
Religiously--predominantly Protestant
b. Racially--predominantly of Anglo-Saxon in origin
c. Industrially--predominantly agrarian and rural
d. Politically--Democratic and
e. Historically and traditionally results in the understanding
of and acceptance of similar
f. Institutions and government
g. Customs and traditions.
II.
The South is looked upon as a unit historically, traditionally,
and politically. Whatever happens in the South, anywhere, is the
act of all the SOUTH, and is so classed.
III.
A fairly uniform public opinion, grown up out of this common heritage.
IV.
Certain actions growing out of this heritage have become accepted
as a code of conduct generally upheld and sanctioned or condoned
by public opinion.
a.
Lynching of human beings--and the
b. Acceptance of this crime as necessary for the protection
of white women.
c. Only one-sixth of all lynchings in forty years have been
committed for alleged crimes involving the safety of white women.
V.
a.
Emerging from political and industrial upheaval in society was
in chaos which the law, with possibly a precedent in the Vigilantes
committee of the early pioneer days which were necessary to
suppress enemies of society, the South had recourse to illegal
methods to restore law and order.
b. These methods so used were not abandoned by the succeeding
generations after the re-establishment of stable government.
c. Continued by certain classes apparently insecure in their
own status.
d. Lynching as a means of personal revenge or to punish certain
groups of American citizens for
e. Offenses against codes of conduct established by this unstable
and insecure class in Southern life.
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