69 Boys Trapped and Burned: The Forgotten Horror of Wrightsville
In the early hours of March 5, 1959, a tragedy unfolded that would leave a permanent scar on the history of Arkansas and the hearts of those who learned of it. Sixty-nine African American boys, locked inside their dormitory at the Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, Arkansas, were suddenly engulfed in a devastating fire. The inferno claimed the lives of 21 boys, marking one of the darkest days in the history of juvenile institutions in the United States.
This horrific event, often referred to as the Wrightsville Massacre, has been shrouded in mystery and controversy ever since.
It was supposed to be just another night at the Negro Boys Industrial School, a place where African American youths, many for minor infractions, were sent to serve time in a correctional environment. But on that fateful night, the boys were locked into their dormitory, a practice deemed "normal" by the institution's staff.
At approximately 4 a.m., a fire broke out, rapidly consuming the wooden structure. As smoke filled the dormitory, the boys, some as young as 13, awoke to a nightmare.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
