The all-Black Chicago Eighth Regiment was formed during the Spanish-American War of 1898. Its soldiers believed their military service would help bring racial equality at home. Unfortunately it didn’t.
When the Eighth Regiment returned home after World War I, they quickly realized that the old familiar racism hadn’t changed. Violent Irish street gangs called “Athletic Clubs” went on a rampage through Chicago in the summer of 1919.
With racist violence erupting around them, the Eighth Regiment raided the local armory and fought back with everything they had. After having helped defeat the German army, they weren’t about to be scared off by street thugs.
Long after the riots, local law enforcement got reports of people looting the armory. The officer in charge of the armory was questioned, but he denied knowing anything. No one asked the soldiers where they got their weapons; they were just happy that the men of the Eighth had defended their community.
These Black soldiers didn’t wait around for someone else to save their community. They had the skills and tools to protect the community they loved. How can we protect each other with the same urgency?