In the early 1920s, racism, in its different shapes and forms, took the nation by storm. African Americans were being tested like never before and facing adversity all around the country. Even a place like Harlem, with over 300,000 Black people wasn’t considered safe. This was a time where the Black population had to decide how they would take action and avoid the catastrophes their people were facing too frequently.
Langston Hughes poem “Christ in Alabama” and Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” give detailed and descriptive insight into how catastrophic these incidences were. They explain that Black people were being tortured, lynched, and killed simply because of the color of their skin. They make no mention of the rape, murders, and crimes that White people claimed the Blacks had committed, because in reality, all these claims were false. Rather, the Whites only said these things to get away with the viciousness and brutality they felt entitled to. Black bodies would be hung for thousands of people to see, and also served as a reminder for people all across the country of what could happen. Both these accounts prove why much of the Black population lived in great fear for the first half of the 20th century.
There were those though who took a stance and became leaders of reform during this time in history. They had different ideals and philosophies on how to end racism once and for all in America. One of these people was Marcus Garvey. Steven Jaffe explains that in 1921 Garvey began the movement of bringing all Negroes back to their homeland, Africa. He felt racism could not be in America any longer if the Blacks were not there either. He started the Universal Negro Improvement Association in order to put his mission of “Africa for the Africans” into action. This would allow his shipping fleet, the Black Star Line, to raise enough money to essentially, be able to transport both cargos and passengers back to the homeland. While this plan excited Black people across the nation, Marcus Garvey made one mistake in his pursuit, that eventually turned this plan upside down.
Marcus Garvey had been so focused on sending all Black people out of America, that he was criticized for having the same mentality as the racists themselves, who claimed that Black and White people must have their own territories and should live in segregation. The NAACP, on the other hand, had an entirely different approach. Led by W.E.B Du Bois, they believed that the only way for racism to stop was by the Black population fighting for the rights they deserved and were guaranteed. They were extremely aggressive in their fight to abolish lynchings, defeat racist legislation, and end the severe discrimination of Black people. The NAACP proved to be much more than just a voice for Blacks, but an organization to rely on in times of need.
Finally, Du Bois’ position as editor of The Crisis contributed to his everlasting legacy. This publication gave brutally honest accounts of the violence by Whites, specifically “The Lynching Crisis.” White people would take whatever means necessary, and make up any claims in order to watch Black people get lynched, and distribute their limbs as “souvenirs.” He wanted to make this known, as well the other opinions he had on key controversial topics. He wanted to show the danger of race prejudice, believed in the “Talented Tenth”, and wanted to showcase the Black middle class as a beacon of hope and empowerment.
Despite the terror that most of the American Black population felt prior to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s, there were also those who took it as an opportunity to make a change. Whether it be through silent marches, personal and opinionated publications, or joining one of the many organizations formed during this time, African Americans showed that they would do whatever it took to end racism and create an America they desperately needed.
-Molly Ottensoser
