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
Ah, remember
the good times?
• 16 Black Congressmen were elected 1870-1877.
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 Court
undermines 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…
John Marshall Harlan
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.
#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• By 1894 they repealed most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.
While this is going on….
THIS is going on in
the background.
We saw this
reflected in the
1930s history
book, remember?
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 Cartoons
Fantasia 1940
• Centaur scene shows
slave tending to white
centaurs
• Scene has been cut
from Fantasia’s DVD
release
Should old cartoons
be censored?
Disney Cartoons
Song ofZip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
the
South 1946
Zip-A-Dee-A
• About a happy slave, Uncle
My oh my, what a wonderful day
Remus, telling stories (ZipPlenty of sunshine heading my way
a-dee-do-dah)
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-A-Dee-A
• Use of stereotyped
“Black
dialect”
in cartoon
stories
Mister
bluebird
on my shoulder
It's the truth
• Actor James
Baskett wasn’t
It's actual
allowed
at isthe
world
Everything
satisfactual
premiere because of
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
segregation
Zip-A-Dee-A
• Hasn’t
been released
on
Wonderful
feeling
Wonderful
day
video/DVD
due
to content
Disney Cartoons
Dumbo 1941
• White men speaking
“Black dialect”
• Minstrel show dancing
• One crow is named Jim
Crow in script/credits
20
18
16
% Black Population
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
McHenry Co.
Illinois
USA
Learning Targets
 can explain what caused race relations to
I
change from 1890-1920s.
 can describe the ways in which racism
I
manifested itself in everyday society.