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The evolution of the NAACP’s legal approach for equality

The evolution of the NAACP’s legal approach for equality. Competing Legal Strategies:. Mark Tuchnet - The NAACP’s Legal Strategy against Segregated Education, 1925-1950 , Chapter 2. By Tom Kiely. Early Legal Victories. Buchanan v. Warley (1917).

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The evolution of the NAACP’s legal approach for equality

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  1. The evolution of the NAACP’s legal approach for equality

    Competing Legal Strategies: Mark Tuchnet - The NAACP’s Legal Strategy against Segregated Education, 1925-1950, Chapter 2. By Tom Kiely
  2. Early Legal Victories
  3. Buchanan v. Warley (1917) Ordinance forbidding sale of real estate based on race = violation of 14th Amendment
  4. Moore v. Dempsey (1923) Habeus Corpus must be acknowledged in District Courts to avoid mob-dominated verdicts.
  5. Shift in strategy = Legal success
  6. Financing – Garland Fund
  7. Funds Beginnings Charles Garland Harvard Law Student Receives $1million Creates fund to combat inequality
  8. Board of Directors James Weldon Johnson Executive Director of NAACP
  9. Board of Directors Roger Baldwin Founder of ACLU
  10. Grants: Garland => NAACP 1925 – 1929 $31,900 1930 Request $300,000
  11. Competing Ideologies
  12. Equality through economics Equality through education / litigation VS
  13. Walter White’s Proposal Support legal battles in the South aimed at unequal, education funding
  14. White’s Reason 1) Would drive up cost of education 2) Would create multiple appeals 3) Would bring national attention to racist education allocation of public funds
  15. White’s Conclusion Expensive dual schooling would force de-segregation Multiple appeals would create federal legislation Black community would mobilize / be empowered
  16. Execution of White’s plan
  17. Nathan Margold Appointed by White to spearhead NAACP’s legal campaign Recommended by fellow Frankfurter protégé, Charles Hamilton Houston Created detailed legal plan in May, 1931 to combat racial inequality
  18. Margold Report Drew primarily from 3 previous Supreme Court rulings Plessy v. Ferguson Oklahoma YickWo v. Hudson
  19. Plessy v. Ferguson (1890) Man of mixed race was denied access to white car on train. Verdict – Equal protection in 14th amendment guarantees political equality, not social equality. Importance to Margold– Though not explicit, ‘separate but equal’ ruling Louisiana statute demanded the ‘but equal,’ not the Supreme Court Only allowed segregation that was reasonable and enacted in good faith Massachusetts education case cited in decision
  20. Oklahoma (1914) Black people were not offered dining or sleeping cars on Oklahoma railroad. One argument of which was that it was not economically feasible to have them. Verdict – Segregation was upheld, however, argument that fiscal concerns could allow state to deny constitutional rights was held without merit. Importance to Margold– Court said that number of people being discriminated is irrelevant, constitutional rights are personal ones. Therefore, a ‘defense of compensating inequalities was unavailable.’
  21. YickWo v. Hopkins San Francisco statute mandated a permit to any person wanting to use hand laundries in a wood facility. Though race-neutral, permits were handed out to significantly greater numbers of whites than Chinese. Verdict – Administering of these permits was unconstitutional. Importance to Margold– A statute did not have to explicitly state equality to require it.
  22. Margold’s Theory Equal spending litigation would be endless and difficult Re-direct attack to challenge separation of schools, not just inequality. Focus on 3 facts 1) State law required separate schools 2) Allocation to schools was unequal 3) State remedies unavailable Coupled with a white-ally campaign, this strategy would enable the most growth and meet the least resistance.
  23. Margold’s Conclusion “Segregation coupled with discrimination resulting from administrative action permitted but not required by state statute, is just as much a denial of equal protection of laws as is segregation coupled with discrimination required by express statutory enactment.”
  24. Post- Margold Report
  25. Transition Money ran dry from Garland Fund 1) Lack of payment from previous loan 2) Depression 3) *Unwillingness to utilize more money on work related causes Walter White believed race mattered Wanted a black man to defend black causes.
  26. Charles Hamilton Houston Chose to replace Margold as head of NAACP Legal Team Had built up Howard Law School as farm system for elite, black lawyers
  27. Houston Era Strategy Began hiring black lawyers to help lead the black fight. More than just symbolic. Houston reverted back to a mobilization – heavy legal strategy to litigate in an effort to organize the black community.
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