The Protest MovementThe Protest Movement

Literature and Politics of Literature and Politics of ProtestProtest

1940-19591940-1959

BackgroundBackground The Great Depression had taken its toll on the U.S, but The Great Depression had taken its toll on the U.S, but

especially African Americansespecially African Americans Protest literature was published primarily between the Protest literature was published primarily between the

years 1940-1959years 1940-1959 Black writers began to expand on ideas/concepts Black writers began to expand on ideas/concepts

established by HR writersestablished by HR writers Much of the fictional literature of this time embodied Much of the fictional literature of this time embodied

covertcovert messages of protest- described injustices and messages of protest- described injustices and racial inequality through the eyes of the protagonistsracial inequality through the eyes of the protagonists

Protest literature was not appealing to whites, who Protest literature was not appealing to whites, who were not ready to accept responsibility for racism were not ready to accept responsibility for racism

A Country At WarA Country At War

Racial tensions continued during WWII as blacks Racial tensions continued during WWII as blacks were drafted to fight but segregated from whiteswere drafted to fight but segregated from whites

Blacks rioted to protest this discrimination. Asa Blacks rioted to protest this discrimination. Asa Philip Randolph, a union organizer and civil rights Philip Randolph, a union organizer and civil rights leader, threatened President Roosevelt with a march leader, threatened President Roosevelt with a march on Washington unless military discrimination ceasedon Washington unless military discrimination ceased

Most of the social protests of the time were direct but Most of the social protests of the time were direct but nonviolent; including demonstrations, marches, sit nonviolent; including demonstrations, marches, sit ins, boycotts, etcins, boycotts, etc

Read All About ItRead All About ItThe Role of African American Publications During the The Role of African American Publications During the

Protest MovementProtest Movement Protests against injustices Protests against injustices

were made by AA were made by AA publications such as the publications such as the Atlanta Daily World, Atlanta Daily World, Pittsburgh CarrierPittsburgh Carrier, and , and the the Chicago DefenderChicago Defender. .

John H. Johnson, the John H. Johnson, the Chicago founder of the Chicago founder of the Negro Digest, EbonyNegro Digest, Ebony, and , and Jet Jet promoted positive promoted positive images of blacks in his images of blacks in his publications. publications.

W.E.B DuboisW.E.B Dubois

From From The Souls of Black Folk:The Souls of Black Folk: ““He feels his two-ness, an American, a negro; He feels his two-ness, an American, a negro;

two souls, two thoughts, two warring ideals in two souls, two thoughts, two warring ideals in one dark body,” (469).one dark body,” (469).

Theory:Theory: Blacks were uniquely Black AND Blacks were uniquely Black AND American, although these identities sometimes American, although these identities sometimes conflicted. But there is no separating the two. conflicted. But there is no separating the two.

Marcus GarveyMarcus GarveyEarly YearsEarly Years

Born in Jamaica to a Born in Jamaica to a working class familyworking class family

Worked as a union Worked as a union organizer at a printing organizer at a printing plant; organized strikes plant; organized strikes for better wagesfor better wages

Became well known Became well known political activist and political activist and eventually went to eventually went to England: London England: London University to studyUniversity to study

Separatist Philosophy Separatist Philosophy

Visited Africa, came to Visited Africa, came to the U.S in 1917 to raise the U.S in 1917 to raise money for a Tuskegee money for a Tuskegee Institute in JamaicaInstitute in Jamaica

During his travels During his travels became convinced that became convinced that uniting blacks all over uniting blacks all over the world was the only the world was the only way to improve their way to improve their conditioncondition

Came to believe that Came to believe that all people of African all people of African descent should descent should journey back to journey back to Africa to escape Africa to escape persecution persecution

Movement Movement experienced a large experienced a large surge in the 1920’s, surge in the 1920’s, but declined with his but declined with his death in 1959death in 1959

Ann Petry’sAnn Petry’s The StreetThe Street

Ann Petry’s Ann Petry’s The StreetThe Street could be considered a could be considered a form of protestform of protest

The novel’s protagonist was a woman The novel’s protagonist was a woman experiencing the harsh realities of a woman in experiencing the harsh realities of a woman in the inner city- a topic not dealt with previously the inner city- a topic not dealt with previously by black writersby black writers

Petry portrays a culture of broken homes, lack Petry portrays a culture of broken homes, lack community of support, poverty, and abuse at community of support, poverty, and abuse at the hands of alcoholic and unfaithful men the hands of alcoholic and unfaithful men

Plessy Vs. FergusonPlessy Vs. Ferguson In 1892, Homer Plessy boarded a Louisiana Railroad In 1892, Homer Plessy boarded a Louisiana Railroad

Train and sat in section designated for whitesTrain and sat in section designated for whites Although he only had one black grandparent, the Although he only had one black grandparent, the

“one drop” rule of the time classified him as African “one drop” rule of the time classified him as African American. He was arrested and jailed for refusing to American. He was arrested and jailed for refusing to move to a “colored” carmove to a “colored” car

In court he argued that his civil rights had been In court he argued that his civil rights had been violated. The case eventually went to the Supreme violated. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court, which upheld segregation as “separate but Court, which upheld segregation as “separate but equal.” equal.”

Brown Vs. The Board of Education Brown Vs. The Board of Education of Topekaof Topeka

A lawsuit was filed against the Board of Education of A lawsuit was filed against the Board of Education of the City of Topeka, Kansas by 13 black parents who the City of Topeka, Kansas by 13 black parents who alleged their children were not receiving an equal alleged their children were not receiving an equal educational opportunities because of segregation. educational opportunities because of segregation. They were aided by the NAACP and Thurgood They were aided by the NAACP and Thurgood Marshall, a successful black attorney.Marshall, a successful black attorney.

In 1954, the Supreme Court agreed that “separate” In 1954, the Supreme Court agreed that “separate” would never be “equal” and overturned would never be “equal” and overturned Plessy vs. Plessy vs. FergusonFerguson

This decision paved the way for the integration of the This decision paved the way for the integration of the public school system in the U.Spublic school system in the U.S

The Protest MovementThe Protest Movement Period of social and political unrest Period of social and political unrest Blacks sought a medium to speak out- often using Blacks sought a medium to speak out- often using

literature, both fiction and non fiction, to protest literature, both fiction and non fiction, to protest injusticesinjustices

Authors such as Hayden, Petry, and Hansberry Authors such as Hayden, Petry, and Hansberry focused on realistic portrayals of the black experiencefocused on realistic portrayals of the black experience

Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, and James Baldwin Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, and James Baldwin focused heavily on the theme of self identityfocused heavily on the theme of self identity

Musicians continued to explore the concept of Musicians continued to explore the concept of The The American DreamAmerican Dream through music such as the Blues through music such as the Blues