As seen in “The Politics of Disorder: Reexamining Harlem’s Riots of 1935 and 1943” by Cheryl Greenberg, many characteristics factor into the formation of riots in general.  The Harlem riots being examined in this reading, specifically, took place around the time of the depression.  In economic crisis, people become desperate.  Forced to live in Harlem by the elites of society, the blacks received little government aid and “were the last hired and the first fired”.  The jobs that were once known as “black jobs” were taken over by desperate whites in need of work. The already existing dangerous conditions of Harlem and the new found desperation of the depression created a hazardous mix. 

With only the black organizations (churches, community groups, etc.) as a source of information, they black community was being taught to channel their anger into constructive actions.  When these institutions collapsed, the blacks were aware of the mistreatment forced upon them, but had no way of letting out their anger.  It is believed by experts, that this was the beginning of the riots. 

While reading, I realized that if the economic crisis played a part in the anger of those who were mistreated in the mid twentieth century, then it is a possibility that history could soon repeat itself.  Maybe the same group of people will not rebel and maybe today’s economy is not as terrible as in that time.  However, due to America’s constant intake of immigrants, new groups of people will always be coming and a group of people will always feel that they are being mistreated. Let’s hope the country stays as peaceful as possible as the economy continues to struggle.