African Americans - individual developments Flashcards
What choices did African American leaders face after reconstruction?
They could organise, resist white violence and intimidation.
They could withdraw from all attempts at equality, accept segregation and focus on improving their education, and hope to make progress without antagonising the whites.
They could work with the legal system and challenge denial of the rights established in reconstruction.
They could attempt to establish a separate state, withdrawing from the hostile white world.
Who is Ida Wells?
Resistance to violence was seen in the Colored Farmers’ Association of the 1880s and by individuals like Ida B Wells of Memphis, who openly carried guns strapped to her waist.
The emergence of later 20th century resistance movements and groups such as Black Power and Black Panthers had precedents.
Who is E.J. Waring?
The belief in remaining within the law and using it had its origins in the view of Everett J. Waring, an African American lawyer from Baltimore.
He anticipated the leaders of the NAACP by urging lawsuits to test discrimination.
The idea was advanced by Thurgood Marshall and was a constant thread throughout the period.
Who followed the idea of separatism?
It emerged early after the Reconstruction period.
A former state official who had lost his job after 1877, Edwin McCabe, tried to set up a separate African American community in Kansas.
The most prominent advocate for this idea was Marcus Garvey.
Who followed the idea of withdrawal?
Withdrawal from the white man’s world underpinned organisations like the Nation of Islam and the Black Power movement.
If African Americans could not be equal, they could be separate, but on their own terms.
Who is Booker T. Washington?
An educator who gained the confidence of white Americans and had moral confidence among African Americans.
He believed hard work, education and seriousness of purpose would lead to AAs showing their true worth, increasing their prosperity and white confidence. (Personal improvement over political civil rights).
What did Booker T Washington do?
He controlled the funds to black schools and colleges.
Privately financed court cases challenging segregation.
Founded the National Negro Business League in 1900 – to enhance the economic prosperity of AAs.
He became an informal advisor to Roosevelt and Taft – recommended black candidates to minor posts, that had traditionally been given to whites.
What positive factors should be considered with the impact of Washington?
His use of education might have been the key to emergence of other leaders, like MLK.
Cooperation with white leaders, did eventually progress civil rights in the 1960s – so Washington was just working in a time not open to change.
The stress on economic improvement anticipated the post 1964 direction of CV, which saw the key to success to reduce poverty.
He told African Americans to take responsibility for your own progress and accept white supremacy - quite rational and practical, considering lack of success with resistance to Jim Crow and the lack of any developed white support for radical political change.
What negative factors should be considered with the impact of Washington?
Washington promoted some opposition to Jim Crow laws behind the scenes and in secret, but was too concerned about antagonising the white South and ending long-term progress in education and economic opportunity.
Like King, he was criticised by those who sought more radical aims and was hugely respected by the White community - the first AA to achieve this fame and respect.
Who is Web Du Bois?
Believed there should be an elite “Talented Tenth”, who would lead AAs to equality and integration.
Later shifted his view to Pan-Africanism – unity and solidarity between AAs all over the world.
Opposed B.T Washington’s views on accepting segregation and white supremacy.
What did Web Du Bois do?
Formed the Niagara movement in 1905 – which pressed for more radical change.
The only AA to hold office in the NAACP, as director of research, and accepted the alliance with white supporters.
Organised a protest in New York, 1917.
He opposed Wilson when he allowed segregation in federal bureaus.
He wrote many papers, establishing himself as a great scholar.
What is the impact of Web Du Bois?
He shifted attention to the need to publicise civil rights through the press and to organise, but his radicalism led him along different paths. He ended up focusing too much on their origins, rather than civil rights.
His organisation of some protests anticipated later civil rights marches – Washington March 1963. His writings also inspired some other activists.
While the Niagara movement did lay the foundation for the NAACP in 1909, the actual movement had little impact and was short lived.
Who is Marcus Garvey?
Believed in Pan-Africanism and a separate African State.
Set up the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica, 1912. Claimed to have 4 million members at one point – the largest organisation.
Corresponded with B.T Washington, wanting to set up an industrial institute in Jamaica.
Set up a shipping company called the Black Star, 1916 – he saw the importance in economic development, so wanted to improve trade with AAs around the world.
What is the impact of Marcus Garvey?
He collected the considerable sum of $10 million and attracted large amounts of support.
His organisation was not matched by anything before 1917, and not again until the mass movements of the 1960s.
His economic ventures failed, and his later imprisonment, means he had little impact, and is seen as an eccentric individual.
He in some ways prefigured Black Power.
His greatest rival was Du Bois, who believed efforts should be focused on integration, not segregation.
Who is Phillip Randolph?
He became an active union organiser for African American workers.
He pressurised Roosevelt to end discrimination in the war industries 1941 by threatening a mass march in Washington.
He understood the power of non-violent mass demonstration.
He used economic power of organised labour.
He also put considerable pressure on Truman to end segregation in the armed forces in 1948.
