To what extent were black Americans mainly influenced by accomodationism during the years 1890-1945?

Accomodationism was the view that pioneered for the blacks to make the best they could out of the existing situation in the South.

This included trying to improve their own economic political and social aspects without clashing with the authorities.

In some ways, it can be said that black Americans were mainly influenced by the message of Booker T Washington because they would have concluded that previous cases such as Plessey v Ferguson and Williams v Mississpi demonstrated that there was no hope for overturning this legally. AS well as this, it was heavily ingrained into people's minds that the blacks were inferior and so the hardest wouldn't be political advancements but psychological. Therefore many blacks felt that these factors left them with no choice but to accept Jim Crow and try to build the best lives for themselves, thus allowing themselves to be influenced by accomodationism.

In addition to this, it can be suggested that the older African-Americans were mainly influenced by accomodationism as they would be more likely to be cautious in terms to trying to bring about change.

However it ca be said that the blacks were mainly influenced by the slow drift north of 1910. This is because they were able to make some advancements politically, economically and socially as well as culturally. There were more jobs with better pay (especially in factories manufacturing weapons come war) Politically they were more equal as some could vote.

Culturally and socially there were established communities such as Harlem where they could celebrate being black. Therefore they were mainly influenced by the slow drift north because it can be said that many recognised the limitations of accomodationism and favoured life in the North.

On the other hand, it can be said that may blacks could not move North even if they would have liked to, therefore they would have had no choice but to be influenced by accomodationism and attempt to make the best of their situation.

Another big influence on black Americans could have been organisations such as the NAACP and the UNIA. The NAACP was set up in 1909 and could have mainly influenced and inspired black American to fight for equal rights legally. For example during the way, membership to the NAACP peaked from 50,000 to 450,000 reflecting how may were mainly influenced by the legal aid it promised.

However, once again, the organisations such as the NAACP and UNIA were situated in the North and could have frustrated the Southern blacks who then turned to accomodationism as their main influence.

In addition to this, many black Americans may have been frustrated at the slow rate of change they brought as well as the disagreements between the organisations and decided to be mainly influenced by accomodationism.

Furthermore, many would have agreed that legal aid was good but it did nothing to change people's attitudes. Even if legal change came about, it could not definitely be enforced across every state. Therefore black American could have been influenced by accomodationism because they would have believed that the best way to change people's attitudes and gain respect was through accomodationism.

Another main influence on black Americans could have been the Alphabet Agencies. Many people received aid through these such as the PWA which spent $65 million on public work schemes such as schools and hospitals as well as gave out equal pay. The NYA aided young people as well as women and saw 50,000 black Americans benefiting. This would have in turn meant that black American were mainly influenced and inspired by the world of Roosevelt. This was demonstrated in that the voting patterns rose in favour of the Democrats.

On the other hand, many of the Agencies did not give out the aid at a federal level. despite being told to. This could have resulted in blacks realizing the limitations to aid through them and choosing to be influenced by accomodationism.

As well as this, despite everything Roosevelt did, he could not pass the Costigan-Wagner anti-lynching bill, end segregation or allow the blacks to vote. This would have resulted in the blacks believing that there was no hope and being influenced by accomodationism. This showed them that although they received economic aid, it was purely because they were poor rather than because they were black, henceforth many blacks would have believed that this demonstrated a lack of potential social change after the Depression leaving many of them to be influenced by accomodationism, as the best solution long term.

Lastly it can be said that many blacks were influenced by the war. For example, Executive Order 8802 was signed on the 20th of June, 1941 announcing fair employment and pay.

They would have also been mainly influenced by the advancements made in employments as the number of blacks involved in the war were 2 million.

However many would have believed that the racial tension caused as a result demonstrated that there would always be a limit to advancement, even in the North and that nothing could change people's perceptions of them.

In conclusion, I think that from 1890-1945, more black Americans from the South who belonged to the older generations would have been influenced by accomodationism because they would have believed that despite there being an advancement, there would always be limitations.

As well as this, I think that the argument in favour of accomodationism with regards to people's attitude would have heavily and mainly influenced them to favour accomodationism.

However, I think that the existence of the NAACP as well as help from Roosevelt due to the Alphabet Agencies was the main influence on the younger generation because they would have said that any change, no matter how small, would still be an advancement causing them to reject accomodationism. Therefore, I think that in terms of accomodationism mainly influencing blacks it was more to do with the difference between generations because the older would be more cautious and allow themselves to be influenced by it

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