Maurice Mays And The Knoxville Race Riots: A Tragedy Forgotten
Knoxville has quite a bit of history rooted in Civil Rights. There are also untold stories of our past which have continued to set patterns throughout time. The story of Maurice Franklin Mays is one that brings awareness to the continued systemic disenfranchisement of black men within the justice system and a case that would affect the state of the black community in the city. It’s also a story forgotten.
The time period known as the Red Summer of 1919 was a busy year and produced lynchings, heavy race rioting across the country and in the City of Knoxville. It has been cast by some as the second to third largest riot ever recorded and one of the worst racial episodes in Knoxville’s history. It shattered the city’s vision of itself as a racially tolerant Southern town. Many today believe it contributed to the lack of diversity that currently presides.
“The city often fails to mention this important story in our difficult history. It’s a horrible truth but needs to be told”, said local State Representative Rick Staples.
“Many black and white citizens here are not even aware of this incident and the impact it had on Knoxville and Appalachia combined”, he continued.
The tragedy was fueled by the case of Maurice Mays, a well-known black man who grew up in Knoxville…
