In 1917, shortly after the outbreak of WWI, the U.S. Army stationed a battalion of black soldiers in Houston to guard the construction of Camp Logan. The soldiers faced discrimination when they received passes to go into the city, leading to building anger and resentment. On August 23rd, the arrest of a black soldier by white Houston policemen and subsequent confrontation between police and black military policemen led more than 100 armed black soldiers to march on the police station. Thirteen white Houstonians and four black soldiers were killed during the riot. The army responded harshly. Sixty-three soldiers received life sentences for the mutiny, and nineteen were hanged.
|
|