African American Politics

1. African American Politics

2. African American Politics • Pride that resulted in the Harlem Renaissance also caused the development of new political attitudes among African Americans • As the Great Migration occurred, the voting power of African Americans in the North became greater

3. Party Identification • Most African American voters identified as Republicans in the 1920s • Why do you think this was?

4. The Republican party was the party of Abraham Lincoln, so African Americans tended to look back to the achievements of the party during the Civil War and attempts to obtain equality during Reconstruction • 1928—Oscar DePriest: first African American representative in Congress from a Northern state

5. NAACP • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)—founded 1909 • Lobbied public officials • Worked through the court system • Anti-lynching legislation in the House of Representatives in 1922 • Senate defeated the bill

6. NAACP Political triumph: defeat of Judge John Parker’s nomination to the US Supreme Court • Judge Parker, from North Carolina, was seen as racist and his nomination was not confirmed • He was opposed by the NAACP • NAACP was fighting for integration

7. Black Nationalism • Marcus Garvey called for “Negro Nationalism” • Garvey was originally from Jamaica • Founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) • Aimed at promoting black pride and unity • Central message: African Americans could gain economic and political power through education • Also promoted separation and independence

9. Garvey planned on creating a settlement in Liberia • African American middle class started to distance themselves from Garvey • Convicted of mail fraud in 1923 • Deported in 1927 to Jamaica • Sense of pride and hope would reemerge in the 1950s

10. Harlem Renaissance