1O S C A R D E P R I E S T & M A RC U S G A RV E Y
AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL VOICES OF
THE 1920S
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CONGRESSMAN OSCAR DE PRIEST1929-1935
• Representative of Illinois• Republican from city of Chicago• 1st African American
Congressman of the 20th Century
• Groundbreaker, Lawmaker, Civil Rights Advocate
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TRUE “RAGS TO RICHES” STORY
• Born in Florence, Alabama• To former slaves• Father rescued a Lynching
victim• Another victim killed on
their doorstep• Family joined the
“Exodusters” and moved to Kansas, 1878
• Studied Business & Bookkeeping
• Worked as a Painter & Decorator
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MOVED TO CHICAGO IN 1889
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A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN
• A Building Contractor• Real Estate Broker• Built a Fortune in
Stock Market• Helped Black
families move into All-white neighborhoods & apartments• Received Death
Threats Oscar De Priest House – Apartment Building
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PATH TO WASHINGTON
• County Commissioner• Chicago City Council member from his neighborhood• 2nd Ward Alderman
Campaign Button
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A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE LAW!
• Stepped down as Alderman• Accused of
involvement with Chicago’s Black Mob• Found Not Guilty!• NO WONDER!
Guess who his lawyer was?
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RETURNED TO POLITICS
• Top Black Politician of Chicago• Under Mayor “Big Bill”
Thompson
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LARGE AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS = LARGE VOTING BLOCK
• 1920s, African Americans voted Republican
• The “Party of Lincoln”• Democrats = Party of
the South & Segregation• 1920 - Chicago’s African
Americans Elected Oscar De Priest as their Rep. to the House of Representatives
1920s – President Hoover
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1ST AFRICAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE SINCE DAYS OF RECONSTRUCTION
• How were African Americans able to go to Congress from southern States during Reconstruction?
• Why were there no more after Reconstruction until De Priest?
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REPRESENTED CHICAGO’S SOUTHSIDE
So, how was De Priest elected from Chicago’s South Side?
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CONGRESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
• Introduced several Anti-Discrimination Bills – failed!
• Introduced an Anti-Lynching Bill – would fine and imprison officials who allowed lynchings of prisoners – failed!
• Amendment barring in the CCC – Passed & Signed by Pres. Roosevelt!
• Bill to transfer trials to different area when could not get a fair trial – Passed!
• Lincoln’s Birthday declared a holiday – Passed!
• Pensions to elderly former slaves – Passed!
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DEFENDED HIS RIGHT TO EAT IN THE HOUSE DINING ROOM RATHER THAN BEHIND
KITCHEN!
Told an Alabama Senator “he wasn’t big enough to prevent him from dining in the Senate Restaurant!”
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APPOINTED BLACK CADET TO MILITARY ACADEMY
• Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
• His father was the only black officer in the entire army
• Received the “silent treatment” through WestPoint
• Became a Tuskegee Airman
• Became a General
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HIS WIFE MADE NATIONAL NEWS
Tempest in a
Teapot
Jessie De Priest
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INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE BY ACTIVIST FIRST LADY LOU HENRY HOOVER
• Determined to find a way to break color barrier at White House
• Invited Congressman De Priest’s beautiful wife Jessie to a Congressmen’s Wives Tea
• News Articles all over the nation
• Hundreds of letters to the White House
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A TRUE REPUBLICAN
• He opposed Federal Aid to the Needy• Opposed taxes on
the rich. (Why?)• Fought Depression
Era Relief programs• Lost his seat in 1934
to Black Democratic opponent
Rep. Arthur W. Mitchell
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RETURNED TO SERVE CHICAGO
• Served on City Council until 1947• Died at the age
of 80• Had two sons
http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_shows/depriest-tea-incident/african-american-congress.html
De Priest Home in Washington D.C.
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ANOTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN SENATOR FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE
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MARCUS GARVEY & BLACK NATIONALISM
A D I F F E R E N T K I N D O F VO I C E
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CALLED FOR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION
• From Jamaica• Message of “Negro
Nationalism” • Back to Africa
Movement• Founded the UNIA –
Universal Negro Improvement Association• Based in Harlem
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UNIA MESSAGE – “GET EDUCATED!”
• Encouraged Black Pride & Unity• “Be Proud to be
Black”• “Separate from
White Society”• “Will never find
justice in America!”• He would lead them
back to Africa.
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APPEALED TO WORKING CLASS AFRICAN AMERICANS
• Held Convention of 50,000
• Wore Uniforms• Marched in Harlem• Create new
Settlement in Liberia, Africa
• New Settlement concerned Britain & Africa
• Members felt a part of something important
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MOVEMENT LOST STRENGTH
• Middle Class African Americans & Intellectuals opposed him
• FBI thought him dangerous, watched him
• Convicted him of Mail Fraud
• Sent to prison• His popularity led
Pres. Coolidge to free him
• On the condition he return to Jamaica
W.E.B. DuBois appealed to Middle Class African Americans & Professionals
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ACCOMPLISHMENT - INSPIRED MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR HERITAGE
• A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
• A reading man and woman is a ready man and woman, but a writing man and woman is exact.
•God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.
• If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. Glorified Black Culture &
Traditions of the African Past
