In the summer of 1919, what was already a tense and complex time in American history exploded into racial conflict nationwide and remains known as the Red Summer. The First World War had just ended, soldiers were returning home to an uncertain economy, and suspicion of “the other” and fear of the unknown ran rampant. The story of Knoxville’s own Red Summer is on stage at the Bijou Theatre in the Carpetbag Theatre’s production of the same name.
WUOT's Chrissy Keuper spoke with Knoxville History Project Director Jack Neely about the riots. She also spoke with Linda Parrs-Bailey, artistic director of Carpetbag Theatre, about the play Carpetbag commissioned depicting the riots.
Aired September 12, 2019.