https://vimeo.com/157245128
Slogan:
"Need justice? Call the NAACP- trust us."
Script:
What problems of the Gilded Age did the NAACP feel needed to be addressed and reformed?
There was inequality between whites and blacks socially and politically, and not all whites knew about racial inequality. Southern blacks were at a great disadvantage in politics, as many could not vote due to restricting voters' laws implemented to keep blacks from influencing the government. Socially, blacks were seen as inferior to whites, and with the introduction of Jim Crow laws, didn't receive equal public facilities as those of whites.
What solutions were developed to combat these problems?
The reformers of NAACP focused on bringing racial inequality to the public's eye. They did this by creating a program to publicize the issue. Through this program they also created public speeches and lobbied for equality.
They also started a magazine the Crisis to talk about inequality, which was for many years edited by W. E. B. Du Bois.
The NAACP also went to court a number of times to fight for equality on a political field. In 1915 they won the Supreme Court decision against the grandfather clause, and in 1927 they won the decision against all-white primary. In 1954 they also won the Supreme Court decision for segregated public schools being unconstitutional as they fought against the southern Jim Crow laws of the time.
How successful do you believe these solutions were?
When the NAACP won over the grandfather clause and white primaries they allowed blacks a greater chance to vote in the south. NAACP led to building stronger African American community by providing health care, housing and educational services. Magazines like the Crisis and other mainstream newspapers published articles and brought people’s attentions to this issue.
Do you feel that these changes were revolutionary or radically changed society?
The reformers of the NAACP in the Progressive Era marked a radical transformation of American society, economy, and politics. In bringing these issues out to public view, it encouraged more people to become activists and many of the attempted reforms were successful. The NAACP did not simply ‘maintain the status quo’ because it is responsible for great improvement in the lives of many people and is still improving underrepresented people today.
If the people in the Progressive Era of the NAACP were here today, who would you employ to solve problems in the contemporary United States?
W.E.B DuBois was one of the reformers who focused on social and political equality for African Americans. He went to Fisk University and also received phd at Harvard University. He earned fame when he published The Souls of Black Folk which consists of several essays on race and the African-American experience. In 1905, Dubois and other black leaders had a meeting at Niagara Falls, Canada, called the Niagara Movement. There, they gathered and drafted resolutions to the racial discrimination. Four years later, together they founded National Association For the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). W. E. B. DuBois also helped to promote civil rights and equality while he pursued social justice and challenged the society. In 1934, DuBois resigned from NAACP because his approach was to help African Americans to control institutions, schools, and economic cooperatives and opposed the NAACP’s commitment. He then started writing for the Crisis where he published essays on African American culture and accomplishments. He was also concerned with the conditions of African American descent. In 1900, he attended the First Pan-African Conference. The Niagara Movement which included a pan-african department. Some disparities still exist in today’s society. Unemployment rates for the black community is twice of the national employment rate, yet African Americans are only 14 percent of US population.
Slogan:
"Need justice? Call the NAACP- trust us."
Script:
What problems of the Gilded Age did the NAACP feel needed to be addressed and reformed?
There was inequality between whites and blacks socially and politically, and not all whites knew about racial inequality. Southern blacks were at a great disadvantage in politics, as many could not vote due to restricting voters' laws implemented to keep blacks from influencing the government. Socially, blacks were seen as inferior to whites, and with the introduction of Jim Crow laws, didn't receive equal public facilities as those of whites.
What solutions were developed to combat these problems?
The reformers of NAACP focused on bringing racial inequality to the public's eye. They did this by creating a program to publicize the issue. Through this program they also created public speeches and lobbied for equality.
They also started a magazine the Crisis to talk about inequality, which was for many years edited by W. E. B. Du Bois.
The NAACP also went to court a number of times to fight for equality on a political field. In 1915 they won the Supreme Court decision against the grandfather clause, and in 1927 they won the decision against all-white primary. In 1954 they also won the Supreme Court decision for segregated public schools being unconstitutional as they fought against the southern Jim Crow laws of the time.
How successful do you believe these solutions were?
When the NAACP won over the grandfather clause and white primaries they allowed blacks a greater chance to vote in the south. NAACP led to building stronger African American community by providing health care, housing and educational services. Magazines like the Crisis and other mainstream newspapers published articles and brought people’s attentions to this issue.
Do you feel that these changes were revolutionary or radically changed society?
The reformers of the NAACP in the Progressive Era marked a radical transformation of American society, economy, and politics. In bringing these issues out to public view, it encouraged more people to become activists and many of the attempted reforms were successful. The NAACP did not simply ‘maintain the status quo’ because it is responsible for great improvement in the lives of many people and is still improving underrepresented people today.
If the people in the Progressive Era of the NAACP were here today, who would you employ to solve problems in the contemporary United States?
W.E.B DuBois was one of the reformers who focused on social and political equality for African Americans. He went to Fisk University and also received phd at Harvard University. He earned fame when he published The Souls of Black Folk which consists of several essays on race and the African-American experience. In 1905, Dubois and other black leaders had a meeting at Niagara Falls, Canada, called the Niagara Movement. There, they gathered and drafted resolutions to the racial discrimination. Four years later, together they founded National Association For the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). W. E. B. DuBois also helped to promote civil rights and equality while he pursued social justice and challenged the society. In 1934, DuBois resigned from NAACP because his approach was to help African Americans to control institutions, schools, and economic cooperatives and opposed the NAACP’s commitment. He then started writing for the Crisis where he published essays on African American culture and accomplishments. He was also concerned with the conditions of African American descent. In 1900, he attended the First Pan-African Conference. The Niagara Movement which included a pan-african department. Some disparities still exist in today’s society. Unemployment rates for the black community is twice of the national employment rate, yet African Americans are only 14 percent of US population.
Work Cited:
“NAACP History: W.E.B. Dubois.” NAACP. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016
“The Legacy: Then and Now.” NAACP. N.p., 20 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2016
“W.E.B. DuBois.” Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
"NAACP." History.com. Ed. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty. A&E Television Networks. Web. 08
Feb. 2016.
Jealous, Benjamin Todd. "We Are NAACP." Vital Speeches Of The Day 75.9 (2009): 426-431.
History Reference Center. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
