Blacks in the new deal: The Shift from an Electoral Tradition and its Legacy

The Shift From an Electoral Tradition

and its Legacy

Blacks in the New Deal:

Chapter I: The Situation of Blacks Before

1932

1. The Rise of Political Consciousness

2. The Depression and Black Organizations

3. The 1932 Elections

1932 Election Roosevelt Wins Overwhelming Victory

Chapter II: The Legacy of the First Deal

1. A Raw Deal For Blacks

2. Black Labor and Unions

3. Blacks as an Interest Group

The Alphabet Agencies

Roosevelt created a number of major agencies known by their initials.

T.V.A.C.C.C.

P.W.A.

Some opponents called them Alphabet Soup..

A.A.A.

Black Labor and Unions

A. A. Philip Randolph became head of the nation’s first all-black union – the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

B. Some embraced the fledgling Congress of Industrial Organizations (newly open to African Americans). In 25 cities, they organized “Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work” campaigns to force more equitable hiring practices

1. The 1930s witnessed a growth of activism for Black Americans.

2. When the National Labor Relations Act and AFL were unwilling to incorporate unskilled workers , the Committee for Industrial Organization enabled more African Americans to unionize

Chapter III: The New Trend.

1. The 1936 Elections

2. Why Blacks Turned to Democrats

3. The Legacy of this National Allegiance

FDR Wins In 1936 . . . Again

FDR had wide appeal in the United States, especially in urban areas

African Americans became loyal democrats ever since

Roosevelt (Red) Vs. Landon (Blue) 1936 Election

The Election of 1936

This election symbolized for the first time since Reconstruction that national political parties actively courted Black vote.

The legacy of Roosevelt’s first term in office culminated with the fact of bringing Blacks into the New Deal coalition, changing consequently their political and voting behavior for the years to come.

Black voters’ nationwide realignment in 1936 election ascertained the Black allegiance to the Democratic Party.

The close relationship of Blacks with the Roosevelts was unique of its kind especially when it comes to the question of social welfare.

1936 Elections > Percentage vote for Roosevelt in black districts, 1932 and 1936

The 1936 election represented a sharp realignment from 1932

Why Blacks Turned to Democrats?

1. The long way of activism that brought Blacks to self-consciousness, and to increasing interest in politics.

2. The accelerated impoverishment of the mass of Blacks and the new deal relief policy.

3. Blacks’ involvement in labor unions that generally supported the Democrats.

4. The growing close relationship with the New Dealers and with the Roosevelts at their head.

The Effect of Black Shift and its Legacy

The shift of Blacks established a political alliance between African Americans and the Democratic Party that survives into the 21st century and decided about the outcome of many elections by balancing power.

By the 1950s, Blacks continued successfully their fight against segregation with litigation cases such as “Brown” thanks to the pre-established New Deal courts.

It also prompted other groups to respond favorably to the demands of Blacks, specifically the change of federal policy towards them.

The roles were reversed between the two legendary parties in the history of the United States. The Democrats took the stand of the pro-Black advocate and defender of civil rights while the Republicans came to be seen as an anti-Black institution.