Many AAs as sharecroppers, not much different from slavery
Black Codes could return AAs to forced labour
Booker T. Washington promoting economic improvement > political rights at Atlanta Speech 1895, set up Tuskegee Institute 1881, economic support from Carnegie ($600,000 in bonds)
NAACP 1909 concerned with employment oppotunities
Greater economic opportunity in North, boll weevil in South creation work insecurity
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World War to the Depression
500,000 AAs migrated to North in WW1 to satify production boom, women in domestic work
AAs joining or forming unions of their own
Garvey's promotion of economic improvement through jobs in Black Star Line and promoting manufacturing/ trade among AAs in ***** Factories Corporation
Impossible for AAs to find jobs during Depression, 50% unemployment, 'no jobs for n***ers until every white man has a job'
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New Deal and WW2
Robert Weaver Special Advisor on Economic Status of the ***** 1934
Poor relief and job creation in FERA and WPA
Employment training from National Youth Adminstration, run by Mary McLeod Bethune
Argicultural policies not benefitting AAs, 200,000 sharecroppers evicted
NRA fair pay/conditions not extended to South
Segregation in New Deal projects e.g. CCC and TVA
End of the war, 48% AAs lived in South, many had migrated North for economic opportunity
Fair Employment Practises Commission 1941
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1950s-60s
Truman's Fair Deal Programme under funded and left AAs homeless
Still had a wage gap of 20 c/ hour
Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-6 showed power of the AA community as bus companies lost 65% of their revenue
Greensboro sit-ins 1961 showed economic power of AAs as Woolworth's revune decresed by 1/3
Civil Rights Act 1964 outlawed discrimination on basis of race and established Equal Economic Opportunities Commission
1968 black unemployment reduced to 7%
Moynihan Report 1965 showed high levels of crime, economic problems and living conditions
Poor People's Campaign 1968 - King aimed to tackle economic problems of poorest groups, lack of support from Johnson
Memphis Sanitation Worker's Strike 1968 - didn't remain peaceful but Memphis authorities gave into demands after King's death
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Malcolm X and Black Power
Malcolm X presented the integrated AAs in the North wasting money on prostitution and gambling as a new form of slavery
Only 1 point on the Panther's 10 Point Programme addressed economic needs - all black people in employment
Did help impoverished through welfare programmes
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1980s-90s
1980s increased gap between incomes of white and black families
Third of black people in low skilled jobs and a third below poverty line
Bifurication - 40% middle class but 30% in poverty
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