A little known fact is that the Harlem Race Riot of 1964 was NOT the first time a race riot happened in Harlem. The very first one was in 1935 when 16 year old Lino Rivera, a Puerto Rican, was caught shoplifting a 10 cent knife. When he was caught the young man felt this life was in danger so he bit the hand of the person who he felt was threatening him. The manager called the police but the police didn't take Lino to jail.
An ambulance was called to treat the hand of the guy that got beat.
Unfortunately, a woman who saw Lino get caught, started yelling to people that he was being beaten. A crowd gathered in front of the store and they thought that the ambulance that showed up was for Lino. EQUALLY unfortunate was the fact that a hearse was parked outside of the store so folks began to think that Lino had been beaten to death since they still had not seen him.
The store closed early and the crowd left. The woman who spread the story was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Later on that day flyers were dispersed to people that stated a child was brutally beaten for taking a piece of candy. Somebody threw a rock and folks got to showing out big time. Looting and burning White owned businesses. Folks were MAD!
The police went to Lino's house and took a picture of him, unharmed, with a policeman. They then started passing the picture around on the streets to prove that the story was untrue.
Even though there were other race riots before this one, such as the Atlanta race riot of 1906, this riot was considered the first MODERN race riot. It is important to note there was no clash of the races during this riot.
It lasted until the next day and there are no reports that anyone died. After the riot the Mayor commissioned a report to find out what happened. "The Negro in Harlem: A Report on Social and Economic Conditions Responsible for the Outbreak of March 19, 1935" is what came of it. The study was to try and find out why the youth of Harlem seemed to be delinquents (their words...not mine) They started new programs in the public schools (which were dilapidated and lacking in funding for the essentials) along with after school programs to try and give the kids something to do.
Another interesting fact is that Ralph Ellison based the riot in his book "Invisible Man" on this riot so if you want a more gritty feel...Mr. Ellison would certainly be the one to bring it to you.
This riot was only the beginning. With continued bad economics in the Black community...it got worse. WAAAAAAAAAAAAY worse before it got better.
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