Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember reading that in the US tarring and feathering was used mostly as a way to physically abuse and intimidate black people, for example, if found after dark on a sundown town, or if perceived to be “uppity” by white racists.
You beat me to it. I learned about tarring and feathering in school in the context of the war for independence, when loyalists and tax collectors were targeted. Then later when I learned about lynching it seemed a lot less cool. If we could bring back a collective targeted punishment from back then I’d suggest: removing the offenders roof and doors
It also wasn’t as lethal as it’s depicted in film. They didn’t always heat up the tar to a boiling point. Sometimes it was more room temperature. This meant the person was in a more pain and discomfort while a lynch mob beat them. It’s still going to cause injuries, make it hard to breath, and get in your eyes, mouth, and ears.
It’s the difference between pouring gasoline on someone and burning them to death vs. putting out a cigarette in their eyes. One version will kill you. The other won’t, but it’s still incredibly cruel and painful.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember reading that in the US tarring and feathering was used mostly as a way to physically abuse and intimidate black people, for example, if found after dark on a sundown town, or if perceived to be “uppity” by white racists.
You beat me to it. I learned about tarring and feathering in school in the context of the war for independence, when loyalists and tax collectors were targeted. Then later when I learned about lynching it seemed a lot less cool. If we could bring back a collective targeted punishment from back then I’d suggest: removing the offenders roof and doors
It was used a lot during the first Red Scare too for labor organizers.
american history sucks so fucking much
You are supposed to have bad takes and this is a good take.
It also wasn’t as lethal as it’s depicted in film. They didn’t always heat up the tar to a boiling point. Sometimes it was more room temperature. This meant the person was in a more pain and discomfort while a lynch mob beat them. It’s still going to cause injuries, make it hard to breath, and get in your eyes, mouth, and ears.
It’s the difference between pouring gasoline on someone and burning them to death vs. putting out a cigarette in their eyes. One version will kill you. The other won’t, but it’s still incredibly cruel and painful.