While the Progressive movement brought significant change and
progress to white Americans it was primarily a movement based
primarily in white, northern, industrial cities. The needs of African
Americans located primarily in the south also needed to be addressed.
I. The Progressive Movement and African Americans
A. African American Problems
1. Little real wealth
-many southern agricultural tenant farmers and hired
hands.
-others remained south near families but had little opportunity.
2. Jim Crow Laws - de Jure segregation
-Plessey v Ferguson still in effect.
3. Black schools were inferior.
4. Political districts were gerrymandered to eliminate black
control.
B. Solutions
1. Migration north
-settled in the cities, looking for work but many of
the same problems remained in terms of education and opportunity.
2. Church involvement.
3. Beginnings of efforts gained at achieving equality.
C. African American Reformers
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Booker T. Washington
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W.E.B. DuBois
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Marcu Garvey
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Beliefs
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Argued that Blacks should make friends with whites and
accept their inferior political position.
Felt that economic equality could be gained before
political equality.
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Blamed Washington for creating a black underclass.
Felt that Blacks should never accept inequality.
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Felt that Blacks were not wanted in America and could
never gain equality.
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Accomplishments
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Founded the Tuskegee Institute, an all black farming
college.
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Founded the NAACP - National Association for the
Advancement of Colored Persons
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Activity led to the settlement of the nation of Liberia
in Africa. It was a nation of escaped freed slaves and
African Americans.
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