Historian to lecture on East St. Louis Riot of 1917 May 25

Historian Syl Woolford will present a live, online lecture discussing the 1917 East St. Louis Riot at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, hosted by the Lewes Public Library.

In the early 1900s, East St. Louis, Illinois was a hub of industry and commerce. Meat packers, iron mills and railroads called East St. Louis home. African Americans poured into East St. Louis for the promise of jobs that paid wages unavailable in the South, only to be caught up in the turmoil of volatile race and labor relations of the time.

On July 1, 1917, tensions that had built up over crowded housing, low wages and racism culminated in a riot that killed more than 100 people and devastated the African American community in East St. Louis.

In this lecture, Woolford will explore the tensions leading up to the riot, the aftermath, and the importance of raising awareness of this horrific event. “The 1917 East St. Louis Riot is more history which must be remembered so that it is not repeated,” said Woolford.

Woolford is a member of the Delaware Heritage Commission, the Historical and Cultural Affairs Collections Committee, the Historic Preservation Fund, and the Wilmington University History Committee. He has been recognized by the Delaware National Education Association and the NAACP for his contribution to the preservation of African American history.

The Zoom-based lecture is free to the public. Registration is required. To sign up, go to lewes.lib.de.us and visit the Virtual Programs for Adults page.