Abstract

Lynchings, Fears, and Folkways

A reading of recent lynching records in "Lynchings and What They Mean," the report of the Southern Commission on the Study of Lynching, recalls two elementary points of emphasis in the late Professor Little Giddings's theory of the evolution and behavior of human society. One of these points of emphasis was that the second most important objective of all social education is the emancipation of the human mind from fear. The other point of Giddings's recalled by a reading of the records concerning lynching-this "deadly harm and deadly injury" to human society-relates to effective laws and their enforcement. Lynching attains none of the ends for which it has been defended. It proves no superiority. It clarifies no issues. It brings no happiness. It adds nothing to the richness of human living or the development of social personality. It accentuates devastating fear. It sets the folkways over against the stateways in lawless revolt. It cheapens human life and lessens respect for human liberty and personality.