Birmingham, Kentucky

Since the end of the Civil War, Afro-Americans had lived in Birmingham, a port town on the Tennessee River.

Commenting on this predominantly black area, the Courier-Journal explained, “Birmingham has some of the best farming land in the Purchase, and around there is to be found practically the entire Negro population of Marshall County.” (Louisville Courier-Journal, March 11, 1908) Attacks on Birmingham blacks began in February, 1908.

Toward the end of the month, after having suffered through several raids, community leaders finally went to the authorities, pleading in vain for protection.

The black had been told to leave Birmingham but had refused to do so, and the mob now resorted to murder, apparently concluding that it would take more than a few warning sign and small brush fires to oust the entrenched Afro-Americans.

In addition to being landowners, some of the Birmingham blacks worked at the tobacco factory in the county, which further incensed the Night Riders.

As a reporter for the Courier-Journal accurately predicted, the unwillingness of law officers to intervene sealed the fate of the Birmingham blacks: “Apparently encouraged by the failure of Marshall County officials to prosecute whitecaps who have warned and whipped blacks, 100 men road into Birmingham on March 8, and shot seven men and whipped five others.” John Scruggs and his granddaughter died from wounds sustained during the raid.

All of the blacks in the area were given another warning to sell their lands, resolve all of their personal and financial matters, and leave Birmingham within ten days.

[1] Birmingham enjoyed prosperity shortly after the end of the Civil War when a stave mill and timber business employed over 200 people.