The New Orleans race riot of 1900 occurred on July 24, 1900, as part of a period of heightened racial tension in the United States, especially in the South. It started after a black man, a dock worker named Robert Charles, allegedly shot and killed a police officer during a confrontation. The killing of the officer sparked outrage, and an angry white mob took to the streets, targeting Black residents in retaliation.

The riot resulted in the deaths of several people, including both Black and white individuals. Some estimates suggest that at least 28 people died during the event, though the true number is uncertain. Many others were injured, and Black residents of New Orleans experienced widespread violence, including homes and businesses being looted or destroyed.

The riot was significant in that it reflected the deeply entrenched racial animosity and the practice of racial segregation that existed in the South at the time. It also illustrated the growing tensions between Black residents and white authorities, a theme that would persist throughout the early 20th century.

This event is sometimes overshadowed in the broader historical narrative but remains a notable example of racial violence in New Orleans during the Jim Crow era.