Civil Rights Movement in the 1920s

Civil Rights Movement of the 1920s

Focus on the African American civil rights movement during the 1920s.
Reference to the term "New Negro Movement" introduced by Alain Locke.
Importance of understanding the context and previous issues that led to the surge in civil rights during this time.

Approximately 300,000 African American men served in World War I.
- Majority served as support personnel (laborers, mechanics) rather than in combat roles.
- Some did engage in combat operations.
Many were drafted but a significant number volunteered.
The period emphasized accommodation as a strategy for achieving rights.
- Inspired by figures like Booker T. Washington who advocated for proving worth to gain rights.

African Americans returning home from war expected a change in societal treatment.
Hopes for parades and recognition as equals diminished, especially in southern areas.
- Absence of recognition: Veterans faced hostility upon returning home, encountering a lack of respect despite military service.
- Example: Returning soldiers faced verbal and physical aggression, diminishing their sacrifices in the eyes of the white population.

Specific focus on the Harlem Hellfighters unit as a case study.
- Formed from New York National Guardsmen, faced systemic challenges and discrimination while serving.
- Many considered them a throwaway unit, ultimately forced to serve under French command.
Notable acts of valor, such as the exploits of Henry Johnson.
- Johnson defended a listening post against German soldiers, resulting in his severe injury but saving his position.
Post-war treatment of African American soldiers reflected the continued racial inequality in America.
- Recognition often delayed or denied in contrast to white soldiers.
- Example: Henry Johnson received the Legion of Merit from France, but received no honors from the U.S. government until 75 years later.
The United States sought to prevent black soldiers from claiming equality, demonstrated through orders to the French government to disregard the achievements of black troops.

Defined as the movement of 6 million African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West between 1910 and 1970.
- Motivated primarily by escape from Jim Crow laws and economic opportunities in the North.
Discrimination persisted in Northern cities, marking a transition from de jure segregation in the South to de facto segregation in the North.
- Disparate treatment included relegation to lower-paying jobs and discriminatory housing practices.

An increase in racial violence and race riots notably resulted from increased African American migration to urban areas.
Case study of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.
- Rooted in a false accusation of assault against a black man by a white woman, escalating into violence between black residents and white mobs.
- Outnumbered and overwhelmed, the Greenwood neighborhood was significantly destroyed.
- Initial reports underestimated deaths; current estimates suggest 200-300 African Americans were killed.
The aftermath included systemic suppression of recovery efforts for the afflicted African American community by local authorities and insurance companies, effectively deepening socio-economic disparities.

Highlighted race riots in cities like St. Louis (1917) and Chicago, reflecting widespread animosity and violence against migrating populations.
The pattern of block-by-block conflict over housing territory in urban centers demonstrated the limits of African American civil rights and safety.

The civil rights movement transitioned from accommodation to a more assertive demand for rights in response to violence and systemic racism.
Military service during World War I led to a newfound determination among African Americans to challenge their status within society.
Emerging notions of "Black is Beautiful" became central to the self-identity of African Americans, reflecting a profound shift in societal aspirations and cultural pride.

Next sessions will delve deeper into the topics of the New Negro Movement and the evolving civil rights strategies.