12019-03-12T23:56:39+00:00Stanford University Pressaf84c3e11fe030c51c61bbd190fa82a3a1a1282417plainpublished2019-10-11T23:00:54+00:00AnonymousOn August 19, 1911, the Pittsburgh Courier ran an article regarding the recent lynching of Zachariah Taylor in Coatesville, Pennsylvania (the victim is referred to alternately as Zachariah Taylor and Zachariah Walker in historical accounts). At a mass meeting at John Wesley A.M.E. Zion church, black citizens expressed outrage at the lynching and heard from speakers including Rev. Broadax Smith. “The white people are going to unload the colored people,” Smith said. “The time has now come for us to do something to stand up like men, resent wrongs, demand rights. Let one wrong after another go unresented and after awhile no one will be safe from the same punishment, the same diabolical deviltry meted out to the unfortunate victim of the Coatesville affair. We have had too much mourning and praying. Pray so well and good by keeping your trusty musket near and depend upon it. Quit mourning and praying for reform but be up and doing.”
