Exclusive: Why Black People Are Rapidly Arming Themselves in ‘America Amended’ Ep. 3 First Look

When white terror tore through Atlanta in 1906, Black families were left defenseless against ruthless racist violence. Today, history is meeting its match. In an exclusive first look at Episode 3 of The Root’s original six-part docuseries, America Amended, host Trymaine Lee examines racial violence in a historic Black neighborhood in South Atlanta, its lasting aftermath, and how Black women have statistically become the fastest-growing group of new gun owners in the nation—and for good reason. Before you read on, explore Episode 3

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Trymaine Lee traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, ground zero for the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre. As Black residents built prosperous lives in communities like Brownsville following emancipation and the Civil War, a mob of 10,000 white men lashed out in hatred, unleashing four days of terror across the city.

“White folks descended upon people in the nearby Five Points neighborhood, and started attacking people in the streets: men, women, and children. By the end of it, the official tally was 25 Black people murdered,” Lee said. “But the unofficial tally was more than 100.” The youngest victim was a 13-year-old Black boy.

That violence, however, wasn’t met with surrender—it was met with strategic self-defense. “They [Black people] were expecting something like this to happen. So even though it was against the law, you had the most prominent and upright citizens of the Black community who armed themselves, who had guns, ready to defend their families, their communities.”

Back then, Black folks had to smuggle guns in coffins and hearses just to survive the night. Today, Black people are walking straight into local gun shops to arm themselves in broad daylight.

Data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation shows firearm purchases among Black Americans surged by over 58%. Today, Black women are officially the fastest-growing demographic of new gun owners in the U.S., making up over 20% of all new first-time buyers as they take their safety into their own hands.

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In Episode 3, Lee travels to The Vault Gun Store & Range in Marietta, Georgia, to meet with its Black owner. Together, they discuss the range’s mission to train people from all walks of life, particularly first-time gun owners and women seeking protection.

“I think a lot of our Black customers that come in, interestingly enough, are Black women. And a lot of the desire is they want the capability to be able to protect their home, to protect their family, to protect their kids,” the owner explained. “We see a lot of husbands bringing their wives in.”

According to a Black female Vault employee, the reason for the influx is simple: personal safety. “I think it’s the statistics of sexual assault, rape. I believe it makes it an even field. […] Most of my associates either have been or know someone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. […] A lot of us Black women— we’re career women. We’re out early. We’re out late. We’re going to and from the office. We’re traveling for work. We are widows. We are divorced. We are older, we’re single—just as everyone else is, but we just tend to be a huge target.”

But Black women aren’t alone in this movement to exercise their right to bear arms, per the Second Amendment. Episode 3 also follows a Black father teaching his young son the fundamentals of firearm safety—a rite of passage weighed down by the constant anxiety of raising a Black boy in “a world that’s not always welcoming… and [is] openly hostile,” according to Lee.

Additionally, Lee sat down with Aaliyah, a Black woman who tragically watched her fiancé get gunned down in 2022. She opened up about navigating grief in the aftermath of a loss fueled by gun violence, and how his death changed her outlook on guns.

For more episodes of America Amended and stories centering Black history, culture and the conversations shaping our communities, subscribe to The Root’s YouTube channel.