Racism
1900-1902
There is a lot of racism in these files, especially in the transcripts of the inquests. The word “colored” was used on the front of files for African Americans, and the word “mase” was used as a correction by those who were questioning men who were testifying when they used derogatory terms.
I was surprised that there is no section for nationality or ethnicity on the records, given the racist tendencies shown towards African Americans. One can obviously guess from the names on the records that the decedent was not native to America, and in the inquests, there is often a note that a translator was necessary for the interviews. Because "colored" was so often added in for the deaths of African Americans, I found it shocking (though reassuring) that there was no notation of ethnicity, in particular because the industrial Pittsburgh of this time was so inherently made of people from various countries and continents.
I also saw a lot of racism evident in these files. "Colored" and "Mase" were in every file regarding an African American. And while there were not specific ethnic terms used for those born outside the country, in homicide cases, in the inquests, the men used derogatory terms for a lot of other ethnicities, including Italians and Eastern Europeans.
1903
Throughout my observations in these earlier files I have notice a lot of distinctions between how whites and blacks are denoted. For example, in many case files the coroner states that person is a ‘colored’ next to their name on the death certificate. If the person is 'white,' however, this characteristic is left out and therefore assumed. The only time race is mention for 'whites' is when the body cannot be identified; then it is identified as "unknown white male."
1910
In the 1910s, there were two interesting responses to the "Nationality" space on the coroner file Press Reports. "Jewish" or "Jew" is found on several files, which begs the question of whether this was a sign of anti-Semitism within the Pittsburgh community or rather a simple denotation of religious beliefs in regard to burial rights. The other entry was that of "Virginian" when referring to instances of African Americans born in the South. In the early twentieth century, Pittsburgh born African Americans tended to show resentment in regard to their Southern born counterparts. It seems that these sentiments extended to the Pittsburgh community in general.
Another heading titled "Color" was separate from "Nationality." In this spot, "Black" or "Colored" was noted for African Americans, "White" for Caucasians, and, in a few instances, "Yellow" for Asians.
ZB 07 Sept 2007
1925
In case 192510_13, a black man was shot by a cop. I found it very interesting that there was no reason specified for the cause of the shooting. I assume that if the man were white he would have been arrested, but because he was African American he was shot instead. There is no way to say for sure, seeing as how the reason for shooting the man is not given and the cop's affidavit is as short and simple as possible.
AL 13 Sept 2007
1938
A 40 year-old "colored" man, divorced, was found by his landlady in his room. He was unresponsive. The landlady's brother went for a doctor, who refused to come, demanding to know when he would get his pay. The doctor did not come to the man's aid until the landlady went back to him to assure him of his compensation. After considerable delay the doctor arrived to pronounce the man dead. Cause of death was acute alcoholic gastroenteritis. I found it striking and troubling that the doctor refused to attend a black man in a reported state of emergency. I have not encountered any other instance of delayed help due to issues of payment, for even the most destitute cases. I cannot help but think that this was an issue of racism. If not for the delay, who knows if this man may have been saved.
2008 May 26 RLM
In case 193910_188 a 44-year-old African American man shot himself in the head after he had been arrested and taken to jail on a "morality charge." He made bail in the afternoon and returned to his apartment where he and his wife lived. His wife was visiting with their downstairs neighbor and refused to come to the door when he looked for her. He went back up to their apartment and called down to talk to his wife on the phone. He said goodbye to her and then shot himself in the head. The "morality charge" he had been taken in for was sodomy. He was found with a white woman the night before by the police and then was taken to jail. Whether he was arrested due to acts that were listed under the Pennsylvania Sodomy Laws or because of an interracial relationship between him and the white woman is questionable.
JT 23 Oct 2007
1943
Autopsies have been in the files for many years now, and a great deal of racism can be seen in them when they involve different ethnicities. African Americans consist of the largest minority and thus will be found most often in a non-white autopsy. The descriptions of the bodies are of typical stereotypes in appearance, in addition to the press reports description of their ethnicity.
MG 06 Nov 2007
1958
An interesting case is of a Native American man age of 41 who had been involved in past arguments with an African American man. According to the witness reports of the wife of the Native American man, there was always a confrontation going on between the two men regarding racist remarks. The Native American man was shot dead in his own home by the African American who trespassed into the house armed with a .22 caliber. The deceased used a corn knife for his defense.
Another feature about this case in the Press Report is in reference to the findings in 1910 referenced in the “racism” theme located in this wiki site is the color portion, which does not list an individual nationality, but here refers to a Native American as "Red." 195804_14
BG 28 Jan 2008
1959
An elderly African American male, 78-years-old, had been in a retirement home for three months. He had just been transferred to a new ward that same day. According to eyewitness accounts of several other patients, this particular patient got up to use the bathroom, and one of the attendants told him to sit down. When he would not sit down the "heavy set" attendant called the patient a derogatory name and struck him, knocking him to the ground. Then he kicked him twice and dragged him over to a water fountain. The patient seemed fine for the rest of the day, but died soon afterwards from bronchopneumonia following a fracture of the right femur and the right ribs. The fractures were believed to have come from the beating the attendant gave him. The attendant was charged with manslaughter. 195903_236
LB 01 Feb 2008
1965
In what was apparently accused by an activist group as a police/newspaper/city coverup, a young Oakland black man died of "Shock and Hemorrhage due to Gunshot Wounds of Chest." The file itself is very routine with the usual paperwork (but no newspaper articles included), save for a list of questions from the group, including accusations of a coverup by all parties involved as well as local news media, beatings of the man's mother, ransacking of her house, etc. It also lists the date, time, and location of a mass vigil for the victim as well as another purported victim of police brutality. It is also interesting that the Press Report makes no mention of a suicide, but rather a firearms-related death such as has been seen in homicide case. The Coroner's Jury Verdict on the hand rules it as a suicide. Additionally, the Press Report states that the body was viewed on 7 July, 1965, which is the same date that the death certificate was issued on. The date that the inquisition was supposed to have been held however was 17 September, 1965. 196509_140
MWB 13 Mar 2008
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