Navigation
This lesson examines the early leaders and organizations that fought against Jim Crow laws and racial injustice.
Imagine being told that 'separate' is 'equal,' even when you can see it clearly isn't. How would you fight a system that uses the law itself to keep you down?
In 1896, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that would shape American life for over 50 years. In Plessy v. Ferguson, the court decided that racial segregation did not violate the Constitution as long as facilities were 'separate but equal.' This ruling gave a legal 'green light' to Jim Crow laws, which enforced segregation in schools, parks, and public transportation. In reality, the facilities provided for Black Americans were almost always inferior. This case created a massive legal barrier, making discrimination the law of the land and forcing civil rights leaders to find creative ways to fight back.
Quick Check
What was the specific phrase used in the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling to justify segregation?
Answer
The phrase was 'separate but equal.'
Two major leaders emerged with different ideas on how to overcome injustice. Booker T. Washington, born into slavery, argued for gradualism. He believed Black Americans should focus on vocational education (learning trades like farming or carpentry) to gain economic independence first. He suggested that if they became indispensable to the economy, social equality would eventually follow. On the other hand, W.E.B. Du Bois, the first Black man to earn a PhD from Harvard, disagreed. He argued for immediate political and social rights, focusing on the 'Talented Tenth'—the top 10% of educated Black leaders who would lead the fight against discrimination.
Think of it like two ways to fix a broken house: 1. Washington's Way: Start by fixing the foundation and the walls (economic skills) so the house is strong enough to stand on its own. 2. Du Bois's Way: Demand the deed and the legal right to the house (political rights) immediately, because without legal ownership, the foundation can be taken away at any time.
Quick Check
Which leader believed that economic independence through trade skills should come before political agitation?
Answer
Booker T. Washington
In 1909, following a violent race riot in Springfield, Illinois, a group of Black and white activists joined forces to create the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). W.E.B. Du Bois was a founding member and edited their magazine, The Crisis. Unlike Washington's focus on self-help, the NAACP used the legal system as its primary weapon. They filed lawsuits to challenge grandfather clauses, lynching, and segregated housing. This organization turned the fight for civil rights into a structured, national movement that used the Constitution to demand change.
The NAACP didn't just fight in court; they fought for the 'hearts and minds' of the public. 1. They published The Crisis to highlight the achievements of Black Americans. 2. They reported on the horrors of lynching to shock the nation into action. 3. This strategy combined legal pressure with public awareness to make it harder for politicians to ignore injustice.
Quick Check
Why was the NAACP's focus on legal action different from Washington's approach?
Answer
The NAACP focused on changing laws and winning court cases immediately, while Washington focused on individual economic improvement over time.
While these early leaders didn't end segregation overnight, they built the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Washington's focus on education created a strong Black middle class, while Du Bois and the NAACP created the legal strategies that would eventually overturn Plessy v. Ferguson. The tension between 'gradual progress' and 'immediate rights' remains a central theme in many social justice movements today. They proved that even under the weight of Jim Crow, organized resistance could begin to chip away at the walls of inequality.
What was the primary goal of the 'Talented Tenth' according to W.E.B. Du Bois?
Which organization was founded in 1909 to use the court system to fight for civil rights?
Booker T. Washington believed that social equality should be demanded immediately through protests.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the three main differences between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois's philosophies.
Practice Activity
Research one early legal case won by the NAACP before 1930 and explain how it challenged the 'separate but equal' rule.