Category Archives: Countdown to Watts

Editor Threatens Rival Newsman With a Gun

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 23, 1909: The editor of the Antelope Valley Gazette is cleared on charges of pulling a gun on the editor of the Antelope Valley Ledger. It’s a nasty dispute involving a woman with a horsewhip who has bad … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Education | Comments Off on Editor Threatens Rival Newsman With a Gun

Arkansas Democrats Seat Blacks at Separate Table for Harmony Dinner

Posted on October 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 21, 1959: African Americans are invited to the Arkansas Democratic Harmony Dinner – but they must sit at their own table.

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Politics | Comments Off on Arkansas Democrats Seat Blacks at Separate Table for Harmony Dinner

September 29, 1919: Omaha Mob Burns Courthouse, Tries to Kill Mayor Before Lynching Black

Posted on September 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 29, 1919: A mob in Omaha sets fire to the courthouse after trying to lynch Mayor Mayor Ed P. Smith when he appealed for law and order. Rioters finally lynch William Brown, an African American accused of raping a … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Front Pages | 2 Comments

September 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 22, 1959: How the city library saves money in tough times. “Sometimes I think many people only think they think for themselves,” Matt Weinstock says.

Posted in books, Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on September 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock

September 21, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 21, 1959: Paul Coates writes about the damaging effects of Little Rock, Ark., closing its schools over integration.

Posted in Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Paul Coates | Comments Off on September 21, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Black Man Fined for ‘Indecent Proposal’ to White Woman

Posted on September 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 3, 1909: Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws C.J. Wade. Henry Weaver, an African American, is fined $50 ($1,183.74 USD 2008) for asking a white woman to go out.

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Countdown to Watts | Comments Off on Black Man Fined for ‘Indecent Proposal’ to White Woman

Two Blacks Killed in Fight With White Co-Workers

Posted on August 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 31, 1899: Boston Optical has sunglasses. A racial fight between members of a crew working on track for the Illinois Central Railroad near Rockford leaves two African Americans dead and one more injured. The contractor and his son say … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Transportation | Comments Off on Two Blacks Killed in Fight With White Co-Workers

Hair Trigger

Posted on August 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

    Aug. 26, 1899: For healthy babies, give them Gail Borden's Eagle Brand condensed milk.   A following story clears up some of the confusion. Louis Mayer was a barber and Mary E. Smith was a hairdresser who had … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Fashion | 1 Comment

Suspect’s Confession Fails to Black Man From Hanging

Posted on August 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 19, 1899: Syrup of Figs has many beneficial effects. William E. Belt, who failed in attempts to save his former slave John Alfred Brown from hanging, tells Maryland Gov. Lloyd Lowndes and appellate Justice James McSherry: "I hold you … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | 1 Comment

A Family Dispute Lands in Court

Posted on August 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 16, 1899: Full particulars on universities, colleges and schools are available at The Times offices, 1st Street and Broadway. This is the building that was bombed in 1910. I don't expect stories about African Americans in the 19th century … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | Comments Off on A Family Dispute Lands in Court

Budd Schulberg on Watts

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  By Budd Schulberg, July 2, 1967: Johnie Scott, coming home from Stanford for this summer's vacation, returns to a world bordered by 92nd Street and Imperial Highway on the north and south, by Central Avenue and Alameda on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budd Schulberg, Countdown to Watts, Obituaries | Comments Off on Budd Schulberg on Watts

Governor Averts Lynching

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 5, 1899: Georgia Gov. Candler goes to Newnan to avoid a lynching of John Mullins, arrested in an assault on Mrs. Cook.

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | Comments Off on Governor Averts Lynching

LAPD Charged With Racism

Posted on August 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1959: The NAACP urges the City Council to investigate allegations of police brutality toward blacks and Mexicans. In March 1959, Municipal Judge David Williams made headlines by dismissing charges against 25 African Americans with accusations that the LAPD … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, LAPD | 1 Comment

Black Man Survives Lynching

Posted on July 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 10, 1899: Dick "Trilby" Williams, an African American charged with killing two white men, survives being lynched because the marshal of Alma, Kan., cut him down after six minutes. Although this story says Williams wasn't expected to live, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Homicide | 2 Comments

White Immigrants Needed to Offset Rise in Blacks, USC Grads Told

Posted on June 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1889: I was casually perusing this issue of The Times, assuming this story would be an entertaining bit of the late 19th century. And then when I got to this portion of the commencement speeches, I exclaimed: "They … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Education | 1 Comment

Police Commissioner Quits in Battle With Police Chief!

Posted on June 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1959: Ethel Barrymore dies. The only African American member of the Police Commission resigns, accusing Chief William H. Parker of leading a department that "whitewashes policemen accused of brutality, and practices discrimination in arrests." Greenwood further charges that … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Countdown to Watts, LAPD, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

‘Three Little Pigs’ Has Racial Meaning, Official Says!

Posted on June 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Did You Hear What I Said, June?" Southern California's aerospace industry! When I saw this headline, I thought it was a joke. It's not. Iraq drops a polite note to the American Embassy saying no thanks to U.S. aid because … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Nightclubs, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Society Woman Saves Black Man From Lynch Mob

Posted on May 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

May 31, 1909: Margaret Sylvester, an Augusta socialite, saves African American Joe Bryant from a mob. She had him come into her house and said she would shoot anyone who followed him.

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Comments Off on Society Woman Saves Black Man From Lynch Mob

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Southern Dining

Posted on May 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

  May 15, 1948

Posted in #Jazz, Countdown to Watts, Food and Drink, Music | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Southern Dining

Matt Weinstock — May 4, 1959

Posted on May 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Meet Mr. Malaprop A police reporter on the Chicago American named Jim Murray is one of those rare birds, a natural malapropper, a species which must be joyously esteemed wherever it is found. He doesn't know it but a colleague, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock — May 4, 1959