New Deal African Americans Flashcards
What was the impact of the Depression on black southern workers?
In the Depression, cotton prices dropped rapidly and 12,000 black sharecroppers lost their jobs and were pushed to move to cities. Mechanisation of farming began to enter the cotton fields and the proportion of blacks in cities rose to 50% by the onset of WWII.
How did anti lynching bills fail to pass Congress?
NAACP and ASWPL, established 1930, fought for anti-lynching legislation. In 1932 lynchings rose to 28 due to depression turmoil. In 1937 Gavagan bill pushed to Senate was rejected due to filibuster from southern Democrats. In 1940 another attempt was made to no avail as Walter White felt time was wasted.
What did Roosevelt tell Walter White in 1934?
In January 1934 Roosevelt made no proposal for a federal anti-lynching law and in May 1934 told Walter White, secretary of NAACP, he couldn’t do it as he needed southern Democrat support for ND legislation which would benefit AAs.
Why was the Farm Credit Association, Consumer Credit Administration, and FSA a failure?
Farm Credit Association and Consumer Credit Administration gave loans to farmers. Incomes rose 58% between 1932-5. Between 1933-4 100,000 black farmers forced off land, acreage reduced due to rich white domination of county committees. In 1937 the FSA failed in attempts to represent black population in committees.
Why did the CCC fail to champion black rights?
CCC - Created 31 March 1933, 10% of projects reserved for black men, employed 275,000 men by August 1933. In Clarke Country, Georgia, not one black resident chosen despite 60% population and federal government had to intervene. In July 1935 Robert Fechter issued segregation due to white communities complaining.
Why was the NRA a failure for AAs?
The NRA was created by NIRA in June 1933 and the PWA was created. General Hugh Johnson led the NRA to raise wages and set codes. Didn’t cover cleaning and manual work dominated by African Americans. In 1934 the National Association for Domestic Workers announced itself from its headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, complaining the average wage was too low.
Why did championing unions hurt African Americans?
The ND recognised unions but of membership of 3.4 million, black people made up 50,000 and half were in the American Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The closed shop policy essentially meant white shop.
Why did the SSA hurt African Americans?
The 1935 SSA excluded pensions for domestic and agricultural workers which made up 65% of black people’s work.
Who was Robert Weaver?
In 1934, Robert Weaver, an AA, was appointed Roosevelt’s special adviser on the Economic Status of the Negro, promoted by Harold Ickes who was a president of the Chicago branch of the NAACP. His role in the US Housing Authority led to 1/3 housing units occupied by African Americans thanks to racial quotas.
What were positives of the Works Progress Administration and the NYA?
Harry Hopkins’ WPA provided work for 350,000 AAs and in the National Youth Administration, head of the Negro Affairs Dept Mary McLeod Bethune provided skills training for 500,000 African Americans.
How did the FSA benefit AAs?
The Farm Security Administration, ran by Rexford Tugwell, was colour blind, appointing 9 of 150 rural projects to African Americans. $122,000 was purchased in land and divided among the black farming population. Short lived.
How did ER promote civil rights?
Eleonor Roosevelt received thousands of letters concerning the impact of racial discrimination and in 1935 appointed Mary McLeod Bethune to be Roosevelt’s special adviser on minority affairs the year Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women. The following year she was chairperson of the Black Cabinet which informed Roosevelt on issues affecting African Americans.
What did ER do when Marion Anderson wasn’t allowed to perform due to DAR resistance?
When Marion Anderson, black singer, wasn’t allowed to perform at Constitution Hall due to the DAR’s refusal, Eleanor Roosevelt arranged for her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 and 75,000 watched her perform. ER withdrew from the DAR.
What Supreme Court changes helped civil rights?
1923 Moore v Dempsey meant that 12 black people didn’t receive upheld death sentences as their trials were dominated by mobs. In 1938 Gaines v Canada the Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal must actually be equal but didn’t change the Plessy v Ferguson ruling. Between 1937-41 7 justices were replaced with more liberal members.
