African American History Since the Civil War

1. African American History Since the Civil War dr. Liz Bryant

2. Conditions in early 20th century America…

3. African Americans • Had to deal with: • Jim Crow (South) • Lynchings (mostly in South) • Racism (North) • Being treated like second class citizens • Things were not changing as quickly as black leaders would have liked

4. It seemed like racial tensions kept getting worse…

5. Brownsville Affair (1906)

6. Brownsville Affair

7. Brownsville Affair

8. Brownsville Affair

10. Brownsville Affair • Occurred between black soldiers and white townsfolk • Blacks • Came from all over the United States • Most were not used to the discrimination they faced in Texas

11. The Event • A white bartender was killed • A white police officer was shot

12. Locals Reaction • Accusations that black soldiers were behind the killings

13. Army’s (Initial) Reaction • All blacks were on base when the shootings occurred

14. Follow-Up • Whites were insistent it was black soldiers • Framed blacks by placing shell casings near the scene

15. Black Soldiers • Never given any trial

16. The President Gets Involved • Discharged 167 black servicemen • Remember, they had NOT been found guilty or even put on trial • Most had served in the army for over 20 years and were close to retirement • Lost their pensions

17. Reaction of Others • African-Americans= outraged • Booker T Washington= privately asks Roosevelt to reconsider his decision (Roosevelt refuses) • Senate= looks into the affair but supports Roosevelt

18. Brownsville Affair • During the 1970s, there was a new investigation and it was found that the soldiers had nothing to do with the killings

19. Atlanta Riot (1906)

20. Atlanta

21. Atlanta Riot

22. Atlanta Riot

23. Atlanta Riot

24. Atlanta Riot

25. Atlanta • Center of New South • Strong Economy

26. African-Americans in Atlanta • Many black intellectuals • Had 6 black colleges • HOWEVER, Jim Crow laws prevailed • Known as one of THE most segregated cities in America

27. Lead Up to the Riot • Allegations black men were attacking white women • Plays into racial stereotypes of the time

28. Riot • Over 10,000 whites gather to attack African-Americans • “Kill the niggers!”

29. Aftermath of the Attack • 25 official black deaths • Unofficially, closer to 100 died

30. Creation of the NAACP

31. NAACP • NAACP= National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

32. NAACP

33. NAACP • Idea for the organization came from white liberals • Called together 60 people • 53 whites • 7 blacks

34. W.E.B. Du Bois

35. Ida B. Wells

36. Mary Church Terrell

37. Goal • Enforcement of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

38. Organization • Chapters existed throughout the country • Grew quickly • 1917- 9000 members • 1918- 165 branches and 43,994 members • 1919- over 90,000 members and 300 branches

39. How They Challenged the System: Court

40. Guinn v. U.S. • Challenged the Grandfather law in Oklahoma

41. Buchanan v. Warley • Challenged the city of Louisville only allowing African-Americans to buy property in certain parts of town

42. Biggest Goal of the NAACP

43. Du Bois and the naacp…

44. Du Bois • Offered position of the Director of Publicity and Research

45. The Crisis

46. The Crisis

47. The Crisis • Official magazine of the NAACP • Du Bois= Editor • Discussed racism in its many forms • Over 100,000 subscribers by 1920

48. Reaction of African Americans to the NAACP

49. Ida B Wells • Left because she felt the NAACP lacked action based initiatives

50. William Monroe Trotter