African Americans In The Early 20th Century

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The early 20th century was a time of mixed social and political development for the United States. The country was in its infancy in the formation of a unified government and, with the drastic clashing of beliefs between the people of the North and South, the country remained divided, especially with regards to racial equality. This point was best stated when, in 1903, African American intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois stated “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.” Even though Du Bois was referring specifically to the lack of African American equality, this “color-line” was also drawn for Native Americans and Immigrants. Were these beliefs becoming counter-productive for a country that was quickly becoming “the melting pot”? At the turn of the century, after the end of the Civil War and the unification of the North and South, the door to racial…show more content…
On March 4, 1901, George H. White, the last African American in Congress at the time, gave up his seat and it would be more than 28 years before the country would see another African American in Congress. In October 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt invited African American educator, and advisor to Republican Presidents, Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House. This informal act did not sit well with many white Americans and led to social displays against the president, and the years that followed were seeing countless numbers of African Americans being lynched. In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed to promote the use of the courts to restore the legal rights of black Americans. Despite these efforts, by 1910, ordinances were being approved across the country designating boundaries for black and white neighborhoods. Additionally, by 1913, these boundaries were being placed on work places, restrooms and lunch rooms. It was hard for African American’s to understand why they were welcomed with open arms

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