On July 13th, 1863, an angry white mob invaded New York City’s Coloured Orphan Asylum in protest of being drafted to fight in the Civil War.
They chose the orphanage purposely – it infuriated them that Black children had good living accommodations!
The children were playing when the rioters entered the orphanage. Carrying bats and bricks, the mob pillaged food and clothing while chanting, “burn the niggers’ nest!”
Laughing, they torched the building and watched as its four stories burned.
As the flames filled the halls, the children huddled together in fear. Channeling the bravery of their lost ancestors, older children grabbed younger ones, and they fought their way through the thick smoke.
Two hundred children escaped, although some were still caught by the mob – which was now lynching Black people throughout the city.
The surviving children were re-homed elsewhere throughout New York City. The orphanage was never rebuilt.
Today, there are countless examples of whites rebelling against being asked to care about others – and plenty of examples of white jealousy.
Like the Black orphans who bravely escaped the mob’s incendiary anger, we must fight for our freedom by any means necessary!