- African-Americans
- 50% unemployment rate by 1932
- Unemployment rates for Southern African Americans doubled, or even tripled, compared to whites.
- 70% unemployment in Atlanta
- Most worked in unskilled jobs - after stock market crash, those jobs went to white men
- “Last Hired, First Fired”
- Many African Americans continued to move to northern cities in search of better wages and equality.
- African Americans experienced increased intimidation, violence, and even murder over employment
- The _Encyclopedia of the Great Depression _recounted an instance in which white unionized workers along with railroad brotherhoods “intimidated, attacked and murdered [Black] firemen in order to take their jobs.”
- Grassroots organizations protested against unequal and discriminatory hiring practices in Chicago
- Result in the employment of 2,000 African Americans
- The “Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work” campaigns spread to other parts of the country
- Leads to larger Civil Rights gains and movements throughout and beyond the 1930s
- African Americans turned toward community efforts after failing to receive adequate relief from local organizations
- African Americans turned toward community efforts after failing to receive adequate relief from local organizations
- African American women used the power of the purse to keep their money in African American owned businesses
- Protecting jobs and black owned businesses
- Organized meat boycotts, protested evictions, and electricity cut offs.
NAACP
- Despite facing Criticism for demanding equality and fighting racism during an economic collapse, the NAACP saw some notable gains
- 1930: Rejection of Supreme Court nominee John Parker (of NC)
- As candidate for governor in 1920s, Parker called for the disenfranchisement of African Americans
- Made statements about violating previous Supreme Court rulings acceptable when it concerns segregation
- 1932: Investigated conditions for African American workers in the War Department in Mississippi
- Released Mississippi River Slavery-1932 which led to increased pay and time off by 1933.