Today In Black History: Dr. Ossian Sweet
White mobs attacking his family after he bought a house in a white neighborhood ruined him personally and professionally.
Issue #928 Today In Black History, Wednesday, September 17, 2025
On September 7 - 9, 2025, here in Detroit, we had a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the “Garland Avenue Incident” at the home of Dr. Ossian Sweet, which is now on the National Historic Register. There was a presentation that included some of Dr. Sweet’s relatives, and people could tour his home and the new park next door.
Those of you who regularly read my posts here know that my hometown of Detroit has had many racial incidents during its history.
Dr. Ossian Sweet was born on October 30, 1895, in Bartow, Florida. He attended Wilberforce University in Ohio, where he completed his undergraduate studies, and later Howard University Medical School, where he earned his medical degree in 1921. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
In 1924, Dr. Sweet relocated to Detroit, Michigan, in search of economic opportunity and prosperity. However, as with many African Americans who migrated north during the Great Migration, Sweet encountered racial discrimination and hostility. In 1925, Dr. Sweet and his wife, Gladys, decided to purchase a home in a predominantly white neighborhood at 2905 Garland Avenue on the Eastside of Detroit.
The Sweets' decision to move into a white neighborhood was met with vehement opposition from white residents. As anti-black sentiments escalated, the Sweet family faced threats and intimidation. On the evening of September 9, 1925, a hostile mob gathered outside their home, throwing rocks and hurling insults. Fearing for their lives, the Sweets and their friends defended themselves. Shots were fired from the Sweet home, killing one white member of the mob and injuring another.
Dr. Sweet, along with his family and friends, was arrested and charged with murder. The trial that followed became a landmark case in U.S. history, attracting national attention. The NAACP provided legal support, and famed attorney Clarence Darrow was brought in for defense. In a trial that highlighted racial tensions and the right to self-defense, the jury ultimately found the defendants not guilty in a series of two trials, setting an important precedent for civil rights cases.
After the Garland Avenue incident, Dr. Ossian Sweet and his wife, Gladys, faced significant struggles, despite being acquitted of murder charges. Here are some of the challenges they encountered:
Emotional and Psychological Trauma: The incident and subsequent trials took a profound emotional toll on the Sweet family. The constant fear and stress associated with the violent mob attack and legal battles were significant burdens.
Social Isolation and Stigma: Despite their legal victory, the Sweets continued to face racial hostility and social ostracism. Being at the center of a racially charged case made it difficult for them to live peacefully in the community.
Economic Hardships: The legal battles were financially draining for the Sweet family. Although the NAACP provided legal support, the ordeal was costly, affecting their financial stability.
Health Issues: Gladys Sweet contracted tuberculosis, which was exacerbated by the stress of the trials. The Sweet's infant daughter, Iva, died from tuberculosis shortly after her second birthday in 1926. Gladys Sweet, Ossian's wife, likely contracted the disease while in jail during the trials and passed it to Iva. The lack of effective antibiotics at the time meant that treatment for the disease was limited to seeking a warm, dry climate, and Iva passed away in Tucson, Arizona, where she had been sent for treatment.
Gladys’ health deteriorated, and she tragically passed away in 1926, only a year after the incident, and shortly after her daughter died.
Dr.Sweet's brother, Henry, also died of tuberculosis, and Dr. Sweet committed suicide in 1960 after a series of unsuccessful professional and business decisions that left him destitute.
Professional Impact: Although Dr. Sweet continued his medical practice, the notoriety of the case affected his professional life. The racial climate and publicity surrounding the incident posed challenges in maintaining a thriving medical practice.
Dr. Ossian Sweet's case was more than just a legal battle; it was a testament to the struggle for racial equality and justice. It highlighted the pervasive issue of housing discrimination and the violent resistance to integration.
Today In Black History
In 1787, the U.S. Constitution, which had three clauses protecting slavery, was approved at a Philadelphia convention.
In 1840, a Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the murder and mutiny not guilty verdicts of Joseph Cinque and 50 other captured Africans.
In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in Maryland with two of her brothers.
In 1861, the first day school for freedmen was founded at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, with a Black teacher, Mary Peake. The school was expanded to become Hampton University.
In 1878, Black inventor W.A. Lavalette patented a version of the printing press.
In 1968, the TV show “Julia” premiered on NBC, starring Diahann Carroll. It was the first modern television show to star an African American woman since “Beulah” in the 1950s.
In 1947, Jackie Robinson, the first Black player in the major leagues, was named the National League “Rookie of the Year.”
In 1962, the U.S. Department of Justice filed its first suit to end segregation in public schools.
In 1970, “The Flip Wilson Show” premiered on NBC, becoming the first prime-time variety show starring an African American since the “Nat King Cole Show” in the 1950s, and winning two Emmy Awards.
In 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first African American to be crowned Miss America.
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Thank you for this eye opening post.