Using the DePriest Tea Incident in the Classroom

1. Using the DePriest Tea Incident in the Classroom Elizabeth Dinschel, Education Specialist at the National Archives and Records Administration, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

2. What was the “incident?” • Context, 1929 • Post-Reconstruction • Pre-Civil Rights Movement • Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson are the law • White House is segregated • 1901 Booker T. Washington visit last integrated social event • The Republican Party is courting white, southern Democrats in 1929 • The Legislator was 100% white from 1901-1929

3. What was the “incident?” The Hoovers entered the White House in March 1929 Strong racial equality overtones without spectacle Robert R. Morton visits White House one month before DePriest First Lady Lou Henry Hoover Quaker influence African-American friends Traditional entertainer Leadership philosophies of Lou Silent activism Paid African-American girl’s college tuition Lou Hoover

4. Oscar Stanton DePriest • First black Congressmen since 1901 • Republican • Chicago District • Wife: Jessie DePriest Mr. and Mrs. DePriest

5. The tradition of tea Traditional social event Congressmen’s wives invited by First Lady Political in nature

6. Silently Staging a Social Revolution May 1929- Lou writes the President’s aide Walter Newton Lou has the tea parties in waves, not traditional The tea parties numbered close to 200 The last tea hosted Mrs. DePriest Protected Jessie from racist wives Prevent ed boycotts and protests DePriest received same hospitality as other guests

7. The Backlash Lou remained silent in response to criticism “Protection” of white women Democrats condemn the actions of the Republican President and his wife Oscar DePriest seizes the opportunity to rally support for Hoover from African-Americans and build a Civil Rights agenda. Racial politics boil over Some states pass resolutions of condemnation

8. Why should we use the DePriest Tea Incident in Class? Post-Reconstruction racial attitudes De-segregation of the White House Politicization of race Springboard Role of First Ladies Work of Oscar DePriest Chronology of de-segregation of White House Political parties

9. Compare/Contrast Writing and Analysis Anti-Lou Letters/Press Pro-Lou Letters/Press

10. Politics “Southern Strategy” “Hoover Democrats” Economic and Social policies of the Republican Party Hoover won Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia First time since Reconstruction Issue based Republicans over white supremacy DePriest Tea confused the race issue of the Southern Strategy.

11. Understanding Race and Politics Southern Democrat Opposition Northern Republican Support

12. Assessments in Historic Thinking (HATs), using the DePriest Tea Incident for Assessment

13. Elizabeth Dinschel Education Specialist National Archives and Records Administration, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum (319) 643-6031 Elizabeth.Dinschel@nara.gov