The Erwin Expulsion of 1918

Elliot Jaspin, the author of "Buried in the Bitter Waters: The Hidden History of Racial Cleansing in America", talks about the events that led up to the entire Black population being driven out of Erwin, Tennessee in May of 1918.

[@jacquelineyoung3357]

Hi, My name is Jakki Young and my family was part of the Expulsion of Erwin. My Great Great Grandparents were Benjamin and Susan Young. They lived in Erwin and their children were all born in Erwin. My Grandfather, John Young was born in Erwin in 1913. By 1920, they were in West Virginia! As a kid, in Tennessee, I remember my grandfather never speaking of his family! Like it was taboo! Now, I know why! He was 5 years old when the expulsion happened! and I'm sure traumatized by the event!!

[@tennesseeprogressiveleague]

Hey, just read your comment. Is there a way to contact you about what you know about this event?

[@bustercherry9643]

Erwin is the same town that once hung an elephant.

[@prestonwoodby8888]

Yeah the elephant killed a bunch of people so they brought it in from a neighboring town to use our train equipment to hang it

[@xingqiusthighs5003]

Now I know why I wasn't allowed outside of my room and why some guy with a camera was in the living room.

[@imnotimpressed420]

😆 🤣 😂

[@icecoldpierre]

Good video It deserves far more views.

[@xingqiusthighs5003]

That's my grandfather.

[@william.tarrosa9]

Wow, really? My friend & I are doing documentary on this subject. Would you or anyone else like to be a part of it?

[@adammaggart5661]

Would love to be a part of it. Grew up in Unicoi County my whole life but my wife and I moved to Elizabethton.

[@fordenginebuildersv8power184]

My Great Grandfather was a blacksmith in Erwin

[@youremom2083]

I live in Erwin

[@kodacole8085]

Erwin is still such a racist place. 😢

[@imnotimpressed420]

Fr

[@soulburner1274]

That's to true

[@dalebyrd5391]

Another apologist with his "theory'' of what "might" have happened. Hope you sell lots of books pal.

[@jeffmarlatt6538]

Do you think that a racial cleansing didn't occur here ?