Oscarville, Georgia 1912
The Oscarville attacks of 1912 in Forsyth County, Georgia, were part of a violent racial cleansing campaign that led to the forced expulsion of nearly all Black residents from the county. Oscarville was a thriving, predominantly Black community in northeastern Forsyth County. By 1911, it had around 1,100 residents, many of whom owned land, operated businesses, and were economically successful. Racial tensions were already high due to previous events like the 1906 Atlanta race riot and economic stress among white farmers.
Ellen Grice Incident (Sept 5, 1912): A white woman, Ellen Grice, claimed that two Black men attempted to assault her. Mae Crow Case (Sept 9, 1912): Mae Crow, an 18-year-old white woman, was found raped and severely beaten near Oscarville. Ernest Knox, a 16-year-old Black boy, was arrested after a pocket mirror allegedly linked him to the scene.
By the end of 1912, 98% of Black residents had fled or been killed . The land was later sold or seized, and in the 1950s, the remnants of Oscarville were submerged during the creation of Lake Lanier