Racism in the 1920s

The Nadir of Race Relations: 1890-1940

Learning Targets• I can explain what caused race

relations to change from 1890-1920s.• I can describe the ways in which

racism manifested itself in everyday society.

Race Relations: 1865-1877

• This was the BEST TIME EVER for race relations in the U.S. (pre-1960s Civil Rights Movement).

• Segregation was illegal in all states.• Civil rights laws were passed and

enforced.– 13th amendment (Banning slavery)– 14th amendment (Citizenship rights)– 15th amendment (Voting rights)– Civil Rights Act of 1866– Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871

• 16 Black Congressmen were elected 1870-1877.

Ah, remember the good times?

Why did race relations change for the worse?

#1. Republicans were changing.

• Radical Republicans of Civil War era were retiring.

• New Republicans were less interested in civil rights.– Younger Republicans didn’t live through Civil

War.– More interested in winning white votes.– Were called “n***** lovers” by Democrats,

so they backed off civil rights.

#2. Supreme Courtundermines civil rights.

• In 1890, Mississippi revised its constitution to ban Blacks from voting.– Supreme Court upheld it, so other states

followed suit.• Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896)– Homer Plessy was Black and

White.– Arrested for sitting in the “White

section” of a train.– The court ruled that

segregation was okay.• “Separate but equal”

– One judge voted in favor of Plessy…

But in view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law.

John Marshall Harlan

#3. Conservative Democrats control

politics.• In 1892 Democrats gained control of the presidency and both houses of Congress for the first time since the Civil War.– Blacks were denied voting,

so fewer Republicans elected

• By 1894 they repealed most laws that had been enacted during Reconstruction.

Pres. Grover Cleveland

(#3. Conservative Democrats control politics.)

Woodrow Wilson’s Role• Segregated the federal

government– “Segregation is not

humiliating but a benefit, and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen.”

• Endorsed Birth of a Nation (movie on white supremacy)– “It is like writing history

with lightning. And my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.”

• Encouraged the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan.

#4. Social Factors in 1890s

• Indian Wars: Took Native American land because they were a “savage race”

• Imperialism: Took over other nations because they were “savage races”

Because of this Americans thought it would be okay to treat Blacks poorly, too!• Immigrants: European immigrants

distanced themselves from Blacks (had anti-Black politics)

How did racism manifest itself in everyday society?

[manifest: to make evident or certain by showing or displaying]

Race Relations in the 1920s

• WORST TIME EVER for race relations since the abolition of slavery!

• Sundown towns• Segregation• Jim Crow laws• Lynching and race riots• ZERO Black Congress members from 1900

– 1930s.– Means Blacks weren’t voting, and had no

representation

Rebirth of the KKK• In 1915, the KKK was “reborn” and became

a powerful hate group.– By the 1920s, 1 in 8 people were members!

• KKK dominated many state governments.– Headquarters was in Indianapolis, IN.

• Klan was now focused not only on Blacks, but Communists, immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and urban intellectuals.

KKK March in DC 1925

Athletic Segregation• Who was the first Black baseball

player in the major leagues?– Moses Fleetwood Walker (1884)– Major leagues were officially all-White by

1903.

Blackface Minstrel Shows

Changing the meaning of

Uncle Tom’s Cabin to make it seem like a

big joke.

We saw this reflected in the 1930s history book, remember?

While this is going on….

THIS is going on in the

background.

Terms of Disrespect• Referred to Blacks as “Uncle” or “Aunt”

instead of “Sir” or “Ma’am” (disrespect).

Character in Minstrel Shows!Since 1890

Since 1943

Stereotypes in Cream of Wheat

• Named him “Rastus” which was a derogatory term and minstrel character.

• Perpetuated negative stereotypes.

Advertisement from 1921

by Rupert Garcia - 1969

Warner Bros. Censored Eleven Cartoons

It’s racist “by today’s standards”…?

He was a homeless

tenant farmer

who asked a white

woman for food.

(1935)

Disney CartoonsFantasia 1940• Centaur scene

shows slave tending to white centaurs

• Scene has been cut from Fantasia’s DVD release

Should old cartoons be censored?

Disney CartoonsSong of the South 1946• About a happy slave,

Uncle Remus, telling stories (Zip-a-dee-do-dah)

• Use of stereotyped “Black dialect” in cartoon stories

• Actor James Baskett wasn’t allowed at the world premiere because of segregation

• Hasn’t been released on video/DVD due to content

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-A

My oh my, what a wonderful day

Plenty of sunshine heading my way

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-DahZip-A-Dee-A

Mister bluebird on my shoulderIt's the truth

It's actualEverything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-DahZip-A-Dee-A

Wonderful feelingWonderful day

Disney CartoonsDumbo 1941• White men speaking

“Black dialect”• Minstrel show dancing• One crow is named Jim

Crow in script/credits

1840

1860

1880

1900

1920

1940

1960

1980

2000

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

McHenry Co.IllinoisUSA

% B

lack

Pop

ulat

ion

What defines a sundown town?

Learning TargetsI can explain what caused race

relations to change from 1890-1920s.I can describe the ways in which

racism manifested itself in everyday society.