What happened in Memphis Tennessee in May 1866?

In May 1866, Memphis, Tennessee, experienced a violent race riot that lasted from May 1 to May 3. The conflict erupted between white residents and the city's African American community, fueled by racial tensions following the Civil War and the implementation of Reconstruction policies. The violence resulted in the deaths of at least 46 African Americans and significant property damage, highlighting the deep-seated racial animosities and struggles for civil rights in the post-war South. This incident is often seen as a precursor to the more widespread racial violence that would continue throughout the Reconstruction era.