The Lynching of Rubin Stacy

The lynching of Rubin Stacy took place on July 19^th, 1935 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The events of that tragic day are as follows: Rubin Stacy, a homeless sharecropper in Fort Lauderdale had been going from house to house begging for food when he happened upon the home of Mrs. Marion Jones. When Stacy attempted to approach Mrs. Jones for food she became frightened and called the police. She explained, upon his arrest that he had been attempting to assault her and her three children and Stacy was thus promptly arrested. Later, as Stacy was being transported in the backseat of a police deputy’s car, a mob overtook- a questionable diagnosis, the vehicle and forcibly removed Stacy. Over one hundred masked men then proceeded to tear Stacy’s body to bits with bullets. Finally he was brought to a tree nearby the home of Mrs. Marion, effectively laying to rest this all-too-normal saga.

Upon examination this photograph provides many interesting details and insights into the disturbing world of ultra-violence and lynching culture during reconstruction in the United States. One of the first things that stands out are the spectators. They range in both age, gender, and dress. Rarely would you find such a diverse group outside a familial setting in this era. And with this observation, one finds the truth: a lynching was a domestic/familial affair. While it may have been teenage boys and men doing the killing, that is only because of gender norms of the time. Men, women, children, boys, and girls; all gathered around the flesh to celebrate their culture and heritage, not unlike a simple religious ritual. Which begs the question, did racism provide some sort of religiosity?

In this same vein, the actual setting is an equally important detail in understanding this horrible event. After Stacy was murdered and his body mutilated, he was brought back to where this incident began. There was a truly ritualistic aspect to these events. It seems almost symbolic or meaningful that Stacy is essentially returned home. And in that sense, he is no longer a person, but a sacrifice. He isn’t a man, or his crime, or his lack of crime, he is simply blackness. Rubin Stacy was not murdered for anything he did, he was killed for what he was. It is this disgusting mentality that truly defines this era and unifies this group of people.

Lastly, and probably most disturbing of all, it is important to look at the date, 1935. The young woman in this picture, maybe as little as ten years could very well still be alive today. It is easy to analyze and try to parse through lynchings as a relic of a barbaric, pre-modern era. But some of the people involved in this event truly could still be alive today. Contributing and respected members of our society.