How things have changes since then..

[RobertK]

I was going through some old Tornado databases in the NWS archive for Middle and East TN to see what I could find. Since I went to high school and lived in Livingston, TN (BFE) for 5-6 years I found an interesting article about a huge tornado that struck there in 1933.

Upon reading the newspaper article written the day after I noticed toward the bottom where they listed the dead.

STORM DEAD, HURT

The Tennessee death list:

Near Beaty Swamps

Mrs. George Reeser, 68.
Edgar Hopkins, 35.
Hopkins' daughter, Barbara, 6.
Hughey Beaty, 35.
Ray Reagan, 23.
Mrs. Ambrose King, 45.
Miss Epsie King, her daughter, 22.
Mr. and Mrs. Boss Lacy, 40 and 31.
Miller Allred, 60.
Hershal Phillips, 40.
Mr. and Mrs. Una Cole, 40 and 35.
The seven Cole children, Magnus, 15; Carrie, 12; Edith, 9; Marian, 8; Ruth Dean, 5; Anna, 3; and Marse, 1.

Near Lebanon

Ed and Kate James, negroes.

Makes you wonder how people actually thought about African-Americans back in the day. Not only did they fail to mention their ages.. but they distinctly put "negroes" after their names and tried to claim they died near Lebanon. If you read the story the tornado never came close to Lebanon, TN. Truth is that most likely the people in Overton Co. did not want to admit that "negroes" lived in their county.

Here is the full newspaper article:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/research/beatty_swamps/livingston_enterprise_article.htm

And the NWS story:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/surveys/beatty_swamps.htm

[ivo316]

Well, things sure have changed a lot, now the newspapers don't even publish nor care for the names of the dead, just the dead count, I think that even though now society is more "fair" to all races, it's more inhuman overall... I read the article, it was written by a journalist, who actually wrote as he felt (or at least pretended to) feel bad about what happened.
A lot better than the "Tsunami killed 200 in the Phillipines, most were drowned in mud and debris from their destroyed homes... (Reuters)" or some shit like that.

Darn, a tornado that killed so few people wouldn't even make the news today.

[RobertK]

Well, things sure have changed a lot, now the newspapers don't even publish nor care for the names of the dead, just the dead count, I think that even though now society is more "fair" to all races, it's more inhuman overall... I read the article, it was written by a journalist, who actually wrote as he felt (or at least pretended to) feel bad about what happened.
A lot better than the "Tsunami killed 200 in the Phillipines, most were drowned in mud and debris from their destroyed homes... (Reuters)" or some shit like that.

Darn, a tornado that killed so few people wouldn't even make the news today.

True.. I know how small that town is now so I know that 35 people was probably a natural disaster for such a small community in 1933. Especially after reading about the 1 nurse aiding people via mule.

[Jscotty]

Makes you wonder how people actually thought about African-Americans back in the day.

Its not much different from what many people still think about african-americans today. What I find interesting is how society tried so hard to disregard blacks and tried even harder to make blacks insignificant that they were actually regarded as being significant.

[Dave]

You think things are different?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=85689

[RobertK]

You think things are different?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=85689

People these days joke around a lot more about it but back then its like they were so serious about being separated from blacks. Even to the point that they would disregard their deaths even admits horrible community tragedy.

There is a huge difference between being a straight racist and/or avoiding trashy, inconsiderate, ill mannered people (white, black, hispanic, or whatever). Unfortunately common sense shows that a majority of people who act that way are black probably because its the way of life their culture seems to glamorize. What's ironic is that a minority of black people acted like that in 1933.