82R12220 JH-D
By: Veasey H.R. No. 865
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The year 2010 marked the centennial of the Slocum
massacre, a horrific incident in our state's history and one that is
deserving of attention and discussion; and
WHEREAS, In the summer of 1910, racial tensions were running
high in East Texas after the lynching of an African American in
Cherokee County and the subsequent rumors of unrest among area
blacks; in the small community of Slocum, in Anderson County, the
atmosphere grew more heated when a dispute arose between an African
American resident and a white man over an unpaid debt; around the
same time, several whites in the area had become incensed over what
they viewed as inappropriate behavior by certain blacks; in late
July, these factors combined to touch off a violent and deadly
attack; and
WHEREAS, A mob of white men brandishing rifles, shotguns, and
pistols descended on Slocum and began firing on unarmed African
Americans; the attackers were estimated to number as many as 1,000
people, and their bloody rampage took a heavy toll; the murder of
eight people was confirmed, and reports indicated that many more
may have died in what became known as the Slocum massacre; and
WHEREAS, The incident was reported in newspapers across the
nation, and Texas Rangers and state militia were sent to the area to
prevent further bloodshed; an investigation by an Anderson County
grand jury overseen by Judge B. H. Gardner of Palestine led to the
indictment of seven people, including Jim Spurger, who was believed
to have been a prime instigator in the attacks; because of the
emotions surrounding the case, Judge Gardner moved the trial to
Harris County, but it was there that the wheels of justice stopped
turning; the prosecuting attorney never brought the case to trial,
and no one was ever convicted of the crimes; and
WHEREAS, In Slocum, the African American survivors mourned
their lost friends and loved ones and lived in fear of further
violence; ultimately, many of them chose to move away, abandoning
homes, stores, and farms; ancestors of the Hollie family suffered
the loss of one son and the wounding of another, and they were
forced to abandon property that included a home, a store, and
several hundred acres of farmland; and
WHEREAS, The event wreaked devastation in the lives of
African Americans living in the area, yet it has since been largely
ignored, receiving no formal acknowledgment by state or local
officials and little coverage in historical accounts of the era;
and
WHEREAS, Only by shining a light on previous injustices can
we learn from them and move toward a future of greater healing and
reconciliation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby acknowledge the Slocum massacre of 1910.