The effect of hatred is something that has been prevalent in society since the beginning of mankind. Hate crimes date far back in to ancient civilizations, like the Roman Empire's religious persecutions. In 64 AD Emperor Nero, in an attempt to transfer blame of the physical destruction of the Roman Empire from himself, blamed the Christians, and ordered the persecution of all the Christian citizens of Rome. In the United States, the first recorded hate crime happened in 1922, as a result of an anti-black motivated Ku Klux Klan movement in Louisiana. Although the term "hate crime" wasn't introduced in the US until the 1980s, crimes like these existed long before then. They most ostentatiously took the form of lynching a number of African Americans in the Jim Crow south. the FBI began investigating hate crimes during World Word I, when the Ku Klux Klan was at its height, marching through the street of DC and killing a number of both blacks and whites who associated with blacks.1
History of hate crime in the african american community
As stated above, hate crimes in the United States began as racial persecution and discrimination against African Americans, particularly in the Jim Crow South. Before and during the Civil Rights Movement the mid-20th century, African Americans were often beaten, lynched, and murdered because of racist whites' hatred of the color of their skin; the law being on the side of the offender. Although they were discriminated against in society, no discrimination took place with regard to hate crimes in their community. Women, men, and children were victims of hate crimes. Most prevalent during this time period (mid-20th century), hate crimes continued to occur and still occur today. In the stories below, a detailed history of hate crime incidents against the African American community can be seen.
Emmett Till
In August of 1955, Emmett Till, a 14 year old African American male, was kidnapped, beaten, and murdered in Mississippi. While walking down the street with his cousing, Till reportedly whistled at 21-year old white woman. The woman notified her (white) husband who, along his half brother, drove to Till's mother's home in Mississipi, kidnapped him, took him a nearby barn and pistol whipped him. Three days later, Till's body was found swollen (as in the picture) in the Tallahatchie River. Despite strong evidence indicating the offenders guilty, in November of that year, they were found innocent.2
Report: http://newsone.com/2032853/emmett-till-story/3/
In August of 1955, Emmett Till, a 14 year old African American male, was kidnapped, beaten, and murdered in Mississippi. While walking down the street with his cousing, Till reportedly whistled at 21-year old white woman. The woman notified her (white) husband who, along his half brother, drove to Till's mother's home in Mississipi, kidnapped him, took him a nearby barn and pistol whipped him. Three days later, Till's body was found swollen (as in the picture) in the Tallahatchie River. Despite strong evidence indicating the offenders guilty, in November of that year, they were found innocent.2
Report: http://newsone.com/2032853/emmett-till-story/3/
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
During the Civil Rights Movement, many hate crimes were committed against blacks as a result of an anti-black bias. The bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church was one of them. On a 1963 Sunday morning, the KKK detonated a bomb during a church service at the church. Four little girls were killed in the bombing (pictured)Although evidence strongly point to the white supremacists of the KKK, it wasn't until 10 years later that they were tried. It was revealed later that the FBI knew the identity of the offenders by 1965, and did nothing. Four members of the KKK were suspected of the bombing, while only three were tried (one member died before he could be tried. It wasn't until 2002 that justice was brought to each member involved in the bombing.3
Report: http://www.history.com/topics/birmingham-church-bombing
During the Civil Rights Movement, many hate crimes were committed against blacks as a result of an anti-black bias. The bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church was one of them. On a 1963 Sunday morning, the KKK detonated a bomb during a church service at the church. Four little girls were killed in the bombing (pictured)Although evidence strongly point to the white supremacists of the KKK, it wasn't until 10 years later that they were tried. It was revealed later that the FBI knew the identity of the offenders by 1965, and did nothing. Four members of the KKK were suspected of the bombing, while only three were tried (one member died before he could be tried. It wasn't until 2002 that justice was brought to each member involved in the bombing.3
Report: http://www.history.com/topics/birmingham-church-bombing
Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman (MI Freedom Summer)
During the summer of 1964, Civil Rights Organizations organized a "Freedom Summer" project in Mississippi, geared towards voter rights, registration, and education of African Americans. Volunteers came from all over the United States to participate in this project. Of those volunteers were two white men, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman and black man James Chaney. In June of that year, the three workers traveled to Neshoba, MI to investigate a church bombing that happened there. On their way back to Meridian, MI, they were stopped by KKK member and Police Officer, Cecil Price. Price ultimately, after calling other Klan members, shot the three men to death and "buried" their bodies. The case was investigated by the FBI, and the murderers were eventually indicted in December of that year. In October of 1967, 7 KKK members involved in the murder were found guilty, while 9 were acquitted.4
Report: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/slain-civil-rights-workers-found
During the summer of 1964, Civil Rights Organizations organized a "Freedom Summer" project in Mississippi, geared towards voter rights, registration, and education of African Americans. Volunteers came from all over the United States to participate in this project. Of those volunteers were two white men, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman and black man James Chaney. In June of that year, the three workers traveled to Neshoba, MI to investigate a church bombing that happened there. On their way back to Meridian, MI, they were stopped by KKK member and Police Officer, Cecil Price. Price ultimately, after calling other Klan members, shot the three men to death and "buried" their bodies. The case was investigated by the FBI, and the murderers were eventually indicted in December of that year. In October of 1967, 7 KKK members involved in the murder were found guilty, while 9 were acquitted.4
Report: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/slain-civil-rights-workers-found
James Byrd, Jr.
On June 7, 1998, in Jasper, Texas, James Byrd, Jr. was the victim of a hate crime. Walking down a road a night, he was offered a ride by three white men. The men then beat Byrd, chained his ankles to the back of the truck one of the men was driving, and dragged him down the road. Byrd was reportedly conscious while he was being dragged, utimately dying of decapitation when his body hit a culvert in the road. While one men was killed by lethal injection in 2011, the two other offenders are currently in prison on death row. 5
Report: http://newsone.com/2019388/james-byrd-jr-murdered/
On June 7, 1998, in Jasper, Texas, James Byrd, Jr. was the victim of a hate crime. Walking down a road a night, he was offered a ride by three white men. The men then beat Byrd, chained his ankles to the back of the truck one of the men was driving, and dragged him down the road. Byrd was reportedly conscious while he was being dragged, utimately dying of decapitation when his body hit a culvert in the road. While one men was killed by lethal injection in 2011, the two other offenders are currently in prison on death row. 5
Report: http://newsone.com/2019388/james-byrd-jr-murdered/
history of hate crimes in the lgbt community
Hate crimes against the LGBT community, while it is possible that many happened before the 1980s, began to be known to the US population in the 1980s when the Gay Rights Movement began. The fight for hate crime legistlation to include a statute of sexual orientation one that ended just recently with the signing of the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act by President Barack Obama in 2009. A history of the incidence of hate crimes in the LGBT community is presented below.
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in the history of the United States, was the city supervisor of San Francisco elected in 1977. In November of the following year, Milk was shot and killed a former supervisor, Dan White. At the time of the murder, the fact that Harvey Milk was gay was not presente in the media. During his trial, Dan White and attorneys used the "Twinkie Defense", arguing that Dan White was driven temporarily insane by a spark in his blood sugar caused by Twinkies. Instead of being convicted of a murder, White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. 6
Report: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/harvey_milk/index.html
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in the history of the United States, was the city supervisor of San Francisco elected in 1977. In November of the following year, Milk was shot and killed a former supervisor, Dan White. At the time of the murder, the fact that Harvey Milk was gay was not presente in the media. During his trial, Dan White and attorneys used the "Twinkie Defense", arguing that Dan White was driven temporarily insane by a spark in his blood sugar caused by Twinkies. Instead of being convicted of a murder, White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. 6
Report: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/harvey_milk/index.html
Matthew Shepard
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard was kidnapped and killed because of his sexual orientation. A student at the University of Wyoming at the time, Shepard was an openly gay member of the University. Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, he was kidnapped and taken to a desolate are of Laramie, tied to a split-rail fence, and beaten, and left to die. He was eventually found by a biker who mistook him for a scarecrow. The two men responsible were not charged with a hate crime, but with a lesser sentence because the state of Wyoming did not have statute for sexual orientation in its state crime laws.7
Report: http://www.matthewsplace.com/matthews-story/
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard was kidnapped and killed because of his sexual orientation. A student at the University of Wyoming at the time, Shepard was an openly gay member of the University. Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, he was kidnapped and taken to a desolate are of Laramie, tied to a split-rail fence, and beaten, and left to die. He was eventually found by a biker who mistook him for a scarecrow. The two men responsible were not charged with a hate crime, but with a lesser sentence because the state of Wyoming did not have statute for sexual orientation in its state crime laws.7
Report: http://www.matthewsplace.com/matthews-story/
history of hate crime legislation
There is an extensive history behind the legislation that exists today for hate crimes. Some pieces have gone through numerous congresses to be signed into law today. In 1889, the Hate Crimes Statistic Act, after first being introduced and struck down by two congresses, was reintroduced to the 101st congress, passed, and signed into law by President George Bush in 1990. Three years later, in 1993, the Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act, after first being brought before the 102nd congress, was put forth in the 103rd congress, and passed. In 1994, this bill was signed into law and enacted. The first Hate Crimes Prevention Act was introduced to Congress in 1997, and was not passed. This act, if passed, would strengthen the racial, religious, and national identity hate crime statute stated in Title 18 of the US code, and would also add protection for hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender, and disability. In 1999, this act was reintroduced to Congress, and passed. In 2001, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Preventions Act, which would grant federal monies to increase and improve the investigation of hate crimes, was introduced to Congress, and struck. In the years of 2003 and 2005, it was again brought before Congress, and again struck down. Two years later, it was again brought before Congress, and as approved as an amendment, to the Department of Defense Authorization Act. That same year, President George W. Bush threatened to veto the Department of Defense Act if the Hate Crimes Prevention Statute was included. Ultimately, it was stripped from the act. In 2009, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Prevention Act (as an amendment to the Department of Defense bill) was presented to Congress, with support from President Barack Obama, and was signed into law the same year. In the link below, and extensive timeline of Hate Crimes is presented.8
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hate-crimes-timeline
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hate-crimes-timeline
1. National Museum of Crime and Punishment. "History of Hate Crime." crimemuseum.org. November 9,2013.http://www.crimemuseum.org/library/hateCrime/historyOfHateCrime.html
2. News One for Black America. "Teen Emmett Till Victim of Kidnapping, Brutal Murder on This Day in 1955." newsone.com.November 9,2013.http://newsone.com/2032853/emmett-till-story/3/
3. History. "Birmingham Church Bombing." history.com.November,9,2013. http://www.history.com/topics/birmingham-church-bombing
4. History. "Slain Civil Workers Found. history.com. August 4, 1964. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/slain-civil-rights-workers-found
5. News One for Black America. "Racist Murder of James Byrd, Jr. took Place on This Day in 1998." newsone.com. http://newsone.com/2019388/james-byrd-jr-murdered/
6. The New York Times. "Harvey Milk." nytimes.com.November 9,2013. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/harvey_milk/index.html
7.Matthew's Place. "Matthew's Story" matthewsplace.com.November,9,2013. http://www.matthewsplace.com/matthews-story/
8. Human Rights Campaign. "Hate Crimes Timeline." hrc.org. November 6, 2013.http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hate-crimes-timeline
2. News One for Black America. "Teen Emmett Till Victim of Kidnapping, Brutal Murder on This Day in 1955." newsone.com.November 9,2013.http://newsone.com/2032853/emmett-till-story/3/
3. History. "Birmingham Church Bombing." history.com.November,9,2013. http://www.history.com/topics/birmingham-church-bombing
4. History. "Slain Civil Workers Found. history.com. August 4, 1964. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/slain-civil-rights-workers-found
5. News One for Black America. "Racist Murder of James Byrd, Jr. took Place on This Day in 1998." newsone.com. http://newsone.com/2019388/james-byrd-jr-murdered/
6. The New York Times. "Harvey Milk." nytimes.com.November 9,2013. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/harvey_milk/index.html
7.Matthew's Place. "Matthew's Story" matthewsplace.com.November,9,2013. http://www.matthewsplace.com/matthews-story/
8. Human Rights Campaign. "Hate Crimes Timeline." hrc.org. November 6, 2013.http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hate-crimes-timeline