The Bogalusa Incident of 1919
“The Bogalusa incident of 1919 revealed the brutal intersection of racial injustice and labor exploitation, igniting a crucial fight for civil rights and fair labor practices.”
The Bogalusa incident of 1919 stands as a poignant example of the racial and labor tensions that plagued the United States in the early 20th century.
This conflict, part of the broader Red Summer of 1919, was a result of deep-seated racial animosities and a labor dispute exacerbated by the socio-economic conditions of the time.
Bogalusa, Louisiana, was established in 1906 by the Great Southern Lumber Company. The town was a classic example of a company town, where the company provided housing, schools, shops, and other essential services to its workers. This setup allowed the company to maintain significant control over the lives of its employees and the town’s operations.
