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Introduction to Resistance against Jim Crow

• Military service as a form of resistance during Jim Crow era.

• African Americans' historical military involvement in American wars:

  • American Revolution

  • War of 1812

  • Civil War

  • Spanish-American War (1898)

  • World War I (1917-1918)

Military Service Highlights

• Impact of service: Belief that service would earn African Americans citizenship rights.

• Contradictions of American democracy: Military service did not guarantee equality or respect.

• Continuing service through various conflicts:

  • World War II

  • Korean War

  • Vietnam War

  • Iraq War

  • War on Terror

Methods of Everyday Resistance

Community Actions

• Patronizing black-owned businesses: Supporting local economies.

• Unionizing: Efforts to organize labor for better conditions.

• Boycotting: Refusing to support businesses that discriminated.

• Claiming public spaces: Protesting against segregation in transportation.

Forms of Protest

• Streetcar Protests: Public demonstrations against segregated public transport.

• Dressing impeccably: Dressing well as a form of dignity and self-respect against Jim Crow expectations.

  • Example: Purchasing products similar to white counterparts (e.g., Cadillacs).

Legal Resistance

• NAACP Formation: Challenging racial laws through legal means.

• Historical cases: Hommer Plessy and Dred Scott cases.

Educational and Interpersonal Resistance

• Culturally rich education: Teaching black history and culture in African American schools.

• Demand for respect: Standing against derogatory terms and customs upheld by whites.

Cultural Resistance

• Music and Art: Expression of resistance through various artistic forms — jazz, blues, and gospel.

• Media: Publishing newspapers and magazines to highlight injustices and bolster community identity.

Religious Resistance

• The significant role of churches as community centers for activism and liberation preaching.

Migration as Resistance

• Great Migration: Movement of African Americans from Southern states to urban centers like Atlanta, Richmond, Chicago, and northern cities.

  • Reasons for migration: Seeking better living conditions, economic opportunities, and to escape the oppressive South.

Push Factors for Migration

• Economic oppression: Poverty and forced labor.

• Agricultural disasters: The boll weevil infestation in cotton crops.

• Natural disasters: Floods affecting agricultural land.

• Political repression: Lynching and violence against African American citizens.

Pull Factors for Migration

• Labor shortages during WWI: Increased job opportunities in northern industries.

• Higher wages: Urban jobs paid significantly more than agricultural work.

• Political enfranchisement: Ability to vote and participate in local governance.

• Community and cultural activities: Desire for vibrant community life away from oppressive environments.

Living Conditions in Northern Cities

• Housing challenges: Overcrowding and racial segregation, high rents in predominantly black neighborhoods.

• Employment disparities: Racial divisions in job opportunities, often relegated to unskilled work.

• Chain migration: Families moving in search of better opportunities together, fostering communities.

Racial Tensions and Violence

• Race riots: Increased violence due to competition for jobs and resources, exemplified by the Chicago race riot of 1919.

• The underlying causes of racial tensions within urban contexts, exacerbated by historical segregationist policies.

The Role of the Chicago Defender

• Chicago Defender: A pivotal newspaper promoting the Great Migration and job opportunities.

  • Discussed black culture, social opportunities, and local community issues.

  • Reported on racial injustices and shared stories of migration success.

Summary of Urban Changes and Responses to Migration

• Emerging self-sufficient black neighborhoods characterized by community resilience and cultural richness despite external challenges.

• Rise of influential black leaders and movements in response to discrimination, fostering ongoing resistance.

Conclusion

• The interconnectedness of military service, everyday resistance, and migration underscored the complex struggle for equality and recognition faced by African Americans during the Jim Crow era.