Untold Stories Collection

The Corbin Massacre of 1919, also known as the "Corbin Race Riot," remains a poignant chapter in the history of racial violence in the United States, occurring in Corbin, Kentucky, during the summer of 1919 amidst the broader context of the "Red Summer."

On July 30, 1919, tensions ignited when an altercation erupted between Jerry Johnson, a Black man, and a white police officer. The confrontation quickly spiraled into widespread violence as a white mob targeted the Black community in Corbin. African-American residents endured brutal assaults, shootings, and other forms of aggression, resulting in tragic casualties within their ranks.

The roots of the violence in Corbin were multifaceted, intertwining racial animosity, economic competition, and labor disputes. African-American workers, often recruited for labor-intensive industries such as coal mining, were perceived as economic threats by some white counterparts. This economic rivalry exacerbated existing racial tensions, fueling the volatile atmosphere that erupted into bloodshed.

While precise casualty figures from the Corbin Massacre are not definitively recorded, the event stands as a sobering example of the racial strife that permeated American society during the early 20th century. It was part of a disturbing pattern of racially motivated riots and conflicts that swept across the nation during the Red Summer of 1919, reflecting deep-seated racial inequalities and the urgent need for societal change.

These incidents underscored the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the imperative to confront and address systemic racism and violence in American history. The legacy of the Corbin Massacre serves as a solemn reminder of the human toll exacted by racial prejudice and the enduring quest for justice and equality in the face of adversity.