Race & Assault
Race being reported in The Evening Journal in cases of assault share a consistent pattern when looking at the year 1900 and 1920. Black offenders and black victims were always pointed out to the reader. There were even rare instances that those with an Italian background or Polish background were reported as such. Due to these patterns the reader could assume that if no race was given it was either not made privy to the reporter or that the offender or victim was white in race.
In the first story “What Happened to Jones” both men involved in the assault are reported as black. After race is established the article goes into detail behind the cause of the altercation. In the second story “Slashed After His Visit to Girl” the same can be seen. The reporter makes a point to share to the readers that both men involved in the crime are black in race.
In the year 1900 when it was established in a story that the offender was black and that the victim was white, it was, in most instances, a case where there was intent to murder. This can be seen in the article “Charged with Serious Crime” and “Dredge Hands Arrested.” Both articles involve black offenders assaulting with intent to murder a white victim. It was only in these cases that the Evening Journal would point out the victim of a black offender being white.
In the year 1920 stories that would establish a black offender and a white victim, these cases seemed to be a male offender assaulting a female victim. These patterns will be explored more in the gender breakdown as well. This pattern can be seen in the articles “Centreville Negro Held” and “Assaulted as She Got Food.”
