Essay On Philip Randolph's Non-Violent Protest Movement

In 1941, A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Negro American Labor Council, initiated a national demonstration by African-Americans in Washington, D.C. The demonstration never occurred, because President Roosevelt issued and congress approved the Executive Order 8802, implementing racial desegregation among armed forces. Although the movement never occurred; the planning for it, and the significance of the movement had a big impact on Black people in the United States during the second world war. The concept of non-violent protest was established through organizing this march. Non-violent protest was an important influence preparing for the Civil Rights and Black Liberation struggles of the 1950s and ‘60s. Before examining the actual political
movement, it is essential to understand the influential political figures that designed the 1941 March on Washington. A. Philip Randolph was a groundbreaking leader, organizer and social activist who campaigned for equitable labor rights for African-American’s during the 20th century. A. Philip Randolph was a founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), which sought to establish fair labor rights for African American citizens.Randolph became the key figure in organizing and advertising for the march, however a few months prior to the march he lacked time and appointment Bayard Rustin and Chandler Owen as lead organizer of the march. United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt also played an essential role in the 1941 March on Washington due to his ability to pass Executive Order 8802 through congress. A Philip Randolph served a president to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), whom sought to gain official inclusion in the union of American Federation of Labor (AFL). It was not until 1937, seven years after the initial inquiry did Randolph acquire membership in the AFL, making the BSCP the first African-American union in the United States. Randolph’s unionized membership did not last long; approximately one year later Randolph removed himself from the AFL membership and turned his protest to the federal government. Concluding the second world war, Randloph took on the federal government by organizing the League for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation. It was this league that inspired the design of the 1941 March on Washington. At the time, America was just beginning to come out of the Great Depression, and become involved in World War II. The military services directed Blacks into segregated army units, where they were mainly used as laborers. Segregation was also reflected through branches of military; African-Americans could only join the navy as waiters and servants. Black units had White officers and very few Black officers; no Black officer could command European-American troops. These policies continued all through the “War for Democracy and Freedom.” At the time, defending democracy during World War II seemed hypocritical since many African Americans were living under the Jim Crow society, where they did not receive the benefits that a democratic society advertises for. African American’s were suppose to fight for democratic freedom, which they did not even have. The 1941 March on Washington orders were to protest segregation in the armed forces for equal rights within the military. Randolph felt the pressure of the public and his own conscience and decided that action needed to be taken.
Randolph coordinated with leaders of the NAACP, the National Urban League and other prominent African-Americans to form the Negroes’ Committee to March on Washington for Equal Participation in National Defense. In May the committee issued a call to action by Negro America to March on Washington for equality of jobs and participating in national defense. This march was scheduled to occur on July 1, 1941. A press release sent by Randolph stated, “I suggest that ten thousand Negroes march on Washington, D.C., the capital of the Nation, with the slogan, WE LOYAL NEGRO AMERICAN CITIZENS DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO WORK AND FIGHT FOR OUR
COUNTRY” The march was supported by most of the major African-American organizations.
To advertise for the march, Randolph’s union members, in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, spread the word of the march to African-American communities across the country. The protest was to be all-Black; this was more so viewed as an opposition to segregation verses an endorsement for black nationalism. “We shall not call upon our white friends to march with us. There are some things Negroes must do alone. This is our fight and we must see it through…” Randolph continued to advocate that African-Americans get their full rights as members of the United States, as they unite together to protest military and civilian
segregation. Other mostly-Black unions endorsed the march. The annual convention date for the NAACP was changed so members could go to the March. There were over 150 Black newspapers spreading information and the word about the March. Committees began to form in Los Angeles, Chicago, Trenton, Milwaukee, Washington, Cleveland, Richmond, St. Louis, Atlanta, Savannah, St. Paul, and Jacksonville among other cities to help increase awareness for the march. By June 1941, organizers were predicting an estimated 100,000 marchers.