At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire

Under Jim Crow, Black people contributed revenue to systems and services that restricted them as patrons. The discriminatory practices of the Montgomery bus system reflected larger societal issues. Yet, many of these same supremacists participated in or turned a blind eye to attacks on and aggression towards Black women.Īt the Dark End of the Street made me realize that history classes fall short when covering select topics. White supremacists committed acts of violence against Black men in the name of protecting white womanhood. In rare convictions, White male assailants received slaps on the wrist as punishment.įalse allegations of crimes and insults obscured the real motivations for lynchings. Victims faced additional intimidation and violence for having the audacity to exercise their rights. Racist police departments dismissed charges outright and some police officers participated in attacks.

As a result, they battled against stereotypes that portrayed them as being “unrapeable”.

Racism and sexism in society meant that the rights of Black women weren’t acknowledged or respected. Dating back to slavery, the precarious social status of Black women throughout the South made them vulnerable to rape. But the oppression of Black women through sexual violence and harassment is rarely discussed. It’s common knowledge that White supremacists used acts of violence to intimidate Black people. Watch the video, listen to the podcast episode or scroll down to continue reading.Īcts of violence and oppression were common and reflected society’s disregard of Black humanity. The book uses Taylor’s case as a centerpiece for charting the timeline of campaigns for achieving equal legal protection for Black women. Rosa Parks, Secretary of the Montgomery NAACP, met with Taylor to gather notes about the attack. McGuire opens with the 1944 abduction and gang rape of Recy Taylor in Abbeville, Alabama.

At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L.

At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire