Confronting Jim Crow

The Black Population in 1900 In 1900 more than 90% of African Americans lived in the South About 80% of them lived in the countryside Living in segregation – under Jim Crow laws Southern blacks fought Jim Crow in a variety of different ways

“Back to Africa” Some African Americans considered leaving the USA Colonization The idea of “returning” to Africa predates the Civil War Idea became more popular in the late 19th century Dr. Martin Delany and Henry M. Turner Few ordinary Blacks considered going “back to Africa” Expensive, disruptive – How can you “go back”? Black intellectuals – like the idea of a “motherland” Awakens a spirit of ethnic pride and black nationalism

Internal colonization “Internal colonization” more popular than “returning” to Africa. Establishing Black communities within the US More practical and affordable Benjamin “Pap” Singleton “Exodus of 1879" Thousands of migrants to go to Kansas Establish all Black towns Blacks also migrated to the new Oklahoma Territory Establish more than 50 towns and settlements

All Black towns in the South By 1910 about 50 Black towns existed in the South Some of these towns enjoyed initial success None had more than 5000 people. By the 1920s, all were in decline. Dependent on white county governments America was becoming urban By the 1930s, most were ghost towns

Stay in the South and fight segregation They joined labor unions -- Knights of Labor Black and white farmers organized -- Populist movement Campaigned for constitutional rights They held conventions Most supported Republican party Party of Lincoln -- Party that freed the slaves Frederick Douglass supported the Republican Party Most powerful black leader in America Douglass -- committed to integration

Frederick Douglass “The Republican Party is the ship and all else is the sea”

Ida Wells Part of a new generation of Blacks fighting for justice Ida Wells fought segregation on public transportation Unsuccessfully sued Tennessee to end it Wells was from Memphis A schoolteacher and newspaper editor A lifelong crusade against lynching

W. E. B. Du Bois Spokesman for a generation of college-educated African Americans Born in 1868 – a free man in Massachusetts 1888 -- Graduated in from Fisk College 1895 -- Ph.D. in history from Harvard Spoke for the “Talented Tenth” Educated, middle-class blacks The Souls of Black Folk (1903) Calls for an end to segregation, the vote, and civil rights Prior to 1920s, DuBois had little impact on Black life in the South.

Booker T. Washington “Accommodation” A more moderate position Don’t fight Jim Crow head on Work within the system First, improve your economic condition Political improvement will follow naturally Born in 1856 in Virginia – a slave

Washington’s education & Message 1872 – 1875 -- The Hampton Institute Virtues: personal morality, hard work, an industrial education Washington believed all Black people should adopt these virtues The Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute School founded by Washington (1881) Urged Black people to stop talking about racial pride Urged Black people to strive for “amalgamation.” “Self Help” – The key to black success “Up From Slavery” (1901) – his autobiography

Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise” A speech in which Washington told blacks to accept the status quo Progress through self-help and hard work Washington became the new “leader of Black America” White Americans liked his message It was conservative; not offensive Northerners donated money to Tuskegee institute Southern whites liked Washington and his message Until President Theodore Roosevelt invited him to dine at the white House in 1901

DuBois vs. Washington Contrasting approaches to the problems facing black America Each attracted like-mined allies Differences stem from their different backgrounds Du Bois -- born free in the North “Aristocratic” Harvard graduate Targeted men like himself – The Talented Tenth Washington -- born a slave in the South Industrial education Targeted men like himself – southern blacks