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Martin Delany
He was the first man to ever be truly proud of his skin color and wanted all blacks to be proud as well. He 'thanked go for making him a black man', he was any and every man's equal. Most African Americans did not want to see themselves as anything but 'a colored american' and despised their true roots. He inspired the notion that even if they were opressed politically, they were free in spririt, This changed many African American's views of themselves forever. He worked for both liberation and -
Martin Delany Cont.
equality. He held the first black convention in Philidelphia in 1830, the same city where our constitution was written 40 years earlier. He was a transformist, not a nationalist and inspired many others important to political philopsophy like Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey. The idea that neither blacks nor whites could exist in a free society without accurate historical knowledge was essential to his philosophy. I chose him because his opinion wasn't popular and he inspired an entire people. -
Frederick Douglass
He became a towering figure for the US Civil Rights Movement and inspired any one from and integrationists to conservatives to nationalists, within and without black America. His three autobiographies were explicit forms of political and social criticism as he recounted the struggles he faced as a black man. He gave speeches about his life and was an adamant abolitionist, inspiring and arguing for full inclusion of African Americans in the nation. I chose him because his first autobiography gave -
Frederick Douglass Cont.
vital insight to the life of an American slave and criticized white America for their sins and treatment of him and his people. -
Booker T. Washington
His opinion on "racial uplift" were that Washington offered black acquiescence in disenfranchisement and social segregation if whites would back the idea of black progress in education, agriculture, and economics.He was a black activist and was more of a 'we're black and fine leave us out and we'll excell beyond you' kind of person. Many followed him because they began to want a free yet separate America. I chose him because he is well known during this time and now, -
13th Amedment is Adopted to The Constitution
When the 13th Amendment was ratified and written into the constitution it filled African America with a sense of joy and right to be equal they had never known before. This dramatic shift allowed the philosophy of we deserve to be free to we deserve to be equal which, though it was accomplished much later) changed the ideas and now-legal political stances of African Americans. I chose this because it is an important since blacks were freed from slavery and had a large impact. -
W.E.B. Dubois
W.E.B. DuBois challeneged Washington heavily. He was an avid supporter for black rights everywhere, claiming that they couldn't just let their rights float by and claim to not want them, but stand up and take them and demand they are all equal. This attracted those who didn't agree with Washington and even those who questioned him slightly. he began to shift black americans to the idea of fighting for their rights. I choose him because he is quite famous and influential. -
Marcus Garvey
Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and represented the largest mass movement in African American history.He had a movement called "Back to Africa" encouraging people to leave America because blacks were superior and belonged in their homeland. This added another twist in the development of black political philosophy. Why are people going to fight for their rights when it's better to return to their country of origin? I chose him because his views are popular and extreme. -
NAACP Forms
The NAACP gave African American a united beacon of hope and growth. It gave them a national voice and allowed them to voice their opinions proudly, making them a very powerful and influential group. They fought for political, social, education, etc. rights for blacks and became a voice that couldn't be denied. I chose this because it is a strong and iconic organization. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott after refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a bus. This inspired Blacks to do more in the name of civil rights and protests, it started a much larger movement. I chose this because Rosa Parks is very famous and her actions are forever remembered. -
Malcolm X
Malcolm changed his views drastically from a man who wanted black to be separate from white to wanting us all to live in harmony after experiencing it during his trip to Mehka. He influenced many with his stories of equality and peace between races in other nations and inspired many to continue towards the dream of equal civil rights because it could and had been done before. I chose Malcolm because he is very interesting and his change and journey are interesting. -
Frantz Fanon
He is best known as one of the leading 20th century political thinkers and activists against colonialism and imperialism and was a severe activist whom inspired many. I chose Frantz because I wanted to include someone I knew nothing about from history. -
Martin Luther king Jr.
MLK inspired millions with his love and demand for non-violent protest. Those who fought for civil rights were better than the ignorant and should behave as such, there was no place for violence. He is, I dare say, the most well known and influential person in this timeline. He still inspires many today and shaped black political philosophy with his many speeches, actions, and goodness. I chose MLK because he is basically the iconic face of the Civil Rights Era. -
Little Rock 9
This event fueled the fire of equal rights for African Americans. Once these nine teens stepped foot into a white high school and were kept out by the Arkansas National Guard, people were raging and demanding they be allowed, making them push harder for integrated schools and highlighing the hypocrisies seen in American society at the time. I chose this because it was a huge deal integrating school and things. -
Birmingham Campaign
The Birmingham Cmapaign was one of the most influential moments of the Civil Rights Era. Peaceful protestors were attacked violently by police. This sent the black community especially into a frenzy, but in the end became a huge asset because brought them closer to their goal of true equality by showing racism to those who denied it or considered it less severe and cruel. I chose this because it is very famous and quite horrible. -
March on Washington
This was extremely important because it showed black they weren't the only ones that wanted to be equal, but whites and other races wanted them to be equal as well. Millions showed up and MLK inspired all with his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. This showed African Americans how close and attainable their equality was. I chose this because I think it's a very iconic and important day. -
Barack O'bama becomes First African American President
Barack O'bama became the first African American president and changed the views of many blacks. Most became more democratic, changing their views because of their live for the new president, This has shaped African American political philosophy immensely because you have many individuals changing their beliefs in order to keep and support a black president. I chose O'bama because he made history and he's current. -
Bibliography
http://stillfamily.library.temple.edu/historical-perspective/martin-delany-first-transforma
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/frederick-douglass/
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/slavery.html
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug03/souls/washingtonvsdubois.html
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/garvey.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/us/54c.asp
http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/civil-rights-movement-birmingham-campaign/#.UqF6OGeA1Ms -
Summary
Over the course of American history there have been a variety of people and events that have both influenced and changed African American political philosophy and inspire others still today. -
Bibliography Cont.
http://marcseltzer.org/politics/all-files-2/barack-obamas-political-philosophy/
http://www.ibtauris.com/Books/Humanities/Philosophy/Social%20%20political%20philosophy/Frantz%20Fanon%20The%20Militant%20Philosopher%20of%20Third%20World%20Liberation.aspx?menuitem=%7B65A3FB7C-5D2E-4158-BBA9-D7824186AD5B%7D
http://hollowverse.com/malcolm-x/
