White Man's Heaven: The Lynching and Expulsion of Blacks in the Southern Ozarks, 1894 - 1909

Drawing on court records, newspaper accounts, penitentiary records, letters, and diaries, "White Man s Heaven" is a thorough investigation into the lynching and expulsion of African Americans in the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Kimberly Harper explores events in the towns of Monett, Pierce City, Joplin, and Springfield, Missouri, and Harrison, Arkansas, to show how post Civil War vigilantism, an established tradition of extralegal violence, and the rapid political, economic, and social change of the New South era happened independently but were also part of a larger, interconnected regional experience. Even though some whites, especially in Joplin and Springfield, tried to stop the violence and bring the lynchers to justice, many African Americans fled the Ozarks, leaving only a resilient few behind and forever changing the racial composition of the region." This Book Is A Thorough Investigation Into The Lynching And Expulsion Of African Americans In The Missouri And Arkansas Ozarks In The Late Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries. The Author Explores Events In The Towns Of Monett, Pierce City, Joplin, And Springfield, Missouri, And Harrison, Arkansas, To Show How Post-civil War Vigilantism, An Established Tradition Of Extralegal Violence, And The Rapid Political, Economic, And Social Change Of The New South Era Happened Independently But Were Also Part Of A Larger, Interconnected Regional Experience. Pierce City: We Were Once Slaves -- Pierce City: White Man's Heaven -- Pierce City: The Lark And Godley Trials -- Joplin: Have Mercy On My Soul -- Joplin: Hurrah For Hickory Bill -- Springfield: The Devil Was Just As Good A Friend To God -- Springfield: A Slumbering Volcano -- Springfield: The Easter Offering -- Springfield: They Certainly Had Not The Bearing Of Deacons -- Springfield: Murder In The Air -- Harrison: Their Voices Filled The Air -- Conclusion. Kimberly Harper. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. White Man's Heaven is the first book to investigate the lynching and expulsion of African Americans in the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Kimberly Harper shows how an established tradition of extralegal violence and the rapid political, economic, and social change of the New South era combined to create an environment that resulted in interracial violence. Even though some whites tried to stop the violence and bring the lynchers to justice, many African Americans fled the Ozarks, leaving only a resilient few behind and forever changing the racial composition of the region. Pierce City: life before the lynchings Pierce City: "White man's heaven" Pierce City: The lark and Godley trials Joplin: "Have mercy on my soul" Joplin: "Hurrah for Hickory Bill" Springfield: "The devil was just as good a friend to God" Springfield: "A slumbering volcano" Springfield: "The Easter offering" Springfield: "They certainly had not the bearing of deacons" Springfield: "Murder in the air" Harrison: "Their voices filled the air" Conclusion.