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The Lynching of Peter Wheeler: A Horrific Crime and a Legacy of Racial Terror

Hank Mitchell

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The lynching of Peter Wheeler was a horrific crime that took place in Mississippi in 1919. Wheeler was a black man who was accused of murdering a white woman. He was arrested and held in jail for several weeks, during which time he was tortured and beaten. On May 18, 1919, a mob of white men broke into the jail and lynched Wheeler. His body was mutilated and burned, and his death was celebrated by the white community.

The Lynching of Peter Wheeler

by Fred E. Basten

4.7 out of 5

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The lynching of Peter Wheeler was not an isolated incident. It was one of thousands of lynchings that took place in the United States after the Civil War. Lynching was a form of racial terror that was used to intimidate and control black people. It was a way to maintain white supremacy and to prevent black people from exercising their rights.

The lynching of Peter Wheeler had a profound impact on the civil rights movement. It helped to galvanize black people and white allies to fight for justice and equality. The NAACP, which was founded in 1909, investigated the lynching and helped to bring the perpetrators to justice. The lynching of Peter Wheeler also helped to inspire the formation of the Anti-Lynching League, which fought for the passage of federal anti-lynching legislation.

Despite the efforts of the civil rights movement, lynching continued to occur in the United States until the mid-20th century. The last recorded lynching in the United States took place in 1968. The legacy of lynching continues to haunt the United States today. It is a reminder of the racism and violence that black people have faced throughout American history.

The Details of the Lynching

On May 18, 1919, a mob of white men broke into the jail in Abbeville, Mississippi, and lynched Peter Wheeler. The mob was led by a local planter named J.B. Jones. Jones had been feuding with Wheeler for several years, and he had vowed to kill him if he ever got the chance.

The mob dragged Wheeler out of the jail and beat him with clubs and chains. They then tied him to a tree and set him on fire. Wheeler's body was burned so badly that it was unrecognizable. The mob then cut off his head and carried it around on a pole.

The lynching of Peter Wheeler was a horrific crime that shocked the nation. President Woodrow Wilson condemned the lynching, and the NAACP sent a delegation to Abbeville to investigate. The NAACP found that the lynching had been planned and executed by members of the local white community. The NAACP also found that the local authorities had done nothing to stop the lynching.

The Impact of the Lynching

The Legacy of Peter Wheeler

Peter Wheeler was a victim of racial terror. He was lynched by a mob of white men simply because he was black. His death was a horrific crime that shocked the nation and helped to galvanize the civil rights movement. Peter Wheeler's legacy is one of courage and resilience. He stood up to racism and violence, and his death helped to inspire others to fight for justice and equality.

Today, Peter Wheeler's memory is honored by the Peter Wheeler Memorial Park in Abbeville, Mississippi. The park is a place of reflection and remembrance. It is a reminder of the horrors of lynching and the need to fight for racial justice.

The Lynching of Peter Wheeler

by Fred E. Basten

4.7 out of 5