The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 was a significant outbreak of racial violence in the aftermath of World War I. Rooted in longstanding racial tensions that had been exacerbated by the Great Migration, when large numbers of African Americans moved to the North in search of better opportunities, the riot began after an incident at a South Side beach. While swimming, an African American teen was reportedly stoned by white bathers for allegedly crossing an invisible segregation line. The response from the African American community was immediate, leading to clashes that spread throughout the city over the following days.

As violence broke out on July 27, chaos ensued with African Americans and whites attacking each other, leading to widespread looting and burning in the affected areas. The police’s response was criticized as biased, failing to protect African Americans, who faced violence from white mobs. The law enforcement's inaction, along with the involvement of people from outside the neighborhoods, catalyzed several days of escalating violence, resulting in 38 fatalities and 537 injuries by the time order was restored.

In the wake of the riot, the city grappled with an urgent need to address the root causes of racial tension and violence. The event revealed the deep-seated racial inequalities and highlighted the need for social reform and civil rights for African Americans, ultimately contributing to the civil rights movement in subsequent decades.