Did lives of black Americans improve greatly during new deal era 1933-41
P1- millions of blacks benefited in various ways from alphabet agencies
FERA- spent $4,000 million to aid unemployed through relief and work projects
1935- 3.5mill Blacks received help from FERA- significant as state and local agencies
historically ignored blacks needs
PWA- headed by Harold Ickes- he ensured blacks got equal pay when working for PWA-
spent over $65mill improving/building black homes, schools and hospitals
1940- blacks occupied 1/3 PWA constructed housing- its employment division used racial
quotas to ensure blacks got construction work
WPA- established 1935- employed 350,000 blacks on average per year- imposed racial
quotas on contractors it employed- Blacks composed 15% of WPA workforce within 2 yrs
WPA’s federal writers project benefitted black authors and black scholars could contribute
to black history segments in ND produced state guidebooks
Negro theatre unit- part of WPA’s federal theatre project- employed black directors, writers,
actors and technicians
NYA- played important role given that black youth unemployment peaked 40% during
depression- taught and aided 500,000 young blacks
Fair in its distribution of resources between races
Mary McLeod Bethune- founder of National Council of Negro Women- appointed to work for
NYA after lobbying it to give greater aid to blacks- appointed NYA’s director of division of
negro affairs- effective in convincing Lyndon Johnson- Texas NYA state admin at the time- to
increase amount of black youth in NYA programme
FDR increased number of black employees in federal bureaucracy from 50,000 to 150,000
P2- many blacks afforded greater protection under ND welfare legislation and FEPC
SS act 1935 stalled in Congress until FDR deemed it vital- created unprecedented national
system of benefits- insurance for unemployed, pensions to be funded by employer and
employee contributions
Signed exec order 8802 banning racial discrimination in employment of workers in defence
industries or govt- FEPC established to help enforce the order
P3- leading political figures supporting tackling prejudice helped publicise the issue
Harold Ickes sec of the interior- organised for Marion Anderson to perform at Lincoln
memorial where he made speech denouncing prejudice
ER- ensured figures like NAACP sec Walter white had access to FDR
Her writings and actions raised awareness- attended Southern conference of human welfare
meeting in 1938 in Alabama- biracial group committed to social justice, civil rights, and
repeal of poll tax- 1940- promoted national sharecroppers week and national committee to
abolish poll tax
Ca1- benefits of SS leg and union leg had limits
FDR supported Wagner act 1935- guaranteed union rights and established national labour
relations board to curb unfair employer practises
Fair labour standards act 1938- fixed minimum wage and Max hrs
Many unions excluded blacks- NAACP claim estimate that only 50,000/3.4mill union
members were black
NAACP lobbied Congress but failed to get non discrimination clause included
FDR had to compromise for sd support- excluded waiters, cooks, janitors- jobs commonly
done by blacks
SS payments were low- domestic and agriculture workers excluded- ¾ of black workers
P1- millions of blacks benefited in various ways from alphabet agencies
FERA- spent $4,000 million to aid unemployed through relief and work projects
1935- 3.5mill Blacks received help from FERA- significant as state and local agencies
historically ignored blacks needs
PWA- headed by Harold Ickes- he ensured blacks got equal pay when working for PWA-
spent over $65mill improving/building black homes, schools and hospitals
1940- blacks occupied 1/3 PWA constructed housing- its employment division used racial
quotas to ensure blacks got construction work
WPA- established 1935- employed 350,000 blacks on average per year- imposed racial
quotas on contractors it employed- Blacks composed 15% of WPA workforce within 2 yrs
WPA’s federal writers project benefitted black authors and black scholars could contribute
to black history segments in ND produced state guidebooks
Negro theatre unit- part of WPA’s federal theatre project- employed black directors, writers,
actors and technicians
NYA- played important role given that black youth unemployment peaked 40% during
depression- taught and aided 500,000 young blacks
Fair in its distribution of resources between races
Mary McLeod Bethune- founder of National Council of Negro Women- appointed to work for
NYA after lobbying it to give greater aid to blacks- appointed NYA’s director of division of
negro affairs- effective in convincing Lyndon Johnson- Texas NYA state admin at the time- to
increase amount of black youth in NYA programme
FDR increased number of black employees in federal bureaucracy from 50,000 to 150,000
P2- many blacks afforded greater protection under ND welfare legislation and FEPC
SS act 1935 stalled in Congress until FDR deemed it vital- created unprecedented national
system of benefits- insurance for unemployed, pensions to be funded by employer and
employee contributions
Signed exec order 8802 banning racial discrimination in employment of workers in defence
industries or govt- FEPC established to help enforce the order
P3- leading political figures supporting tackling prejudice helped publicise the issue
Harold Ickes sec of the interior- organised for Marion Anderson to perform at Lincoln
memorial where he made speech denouncing prejudice
ER- ensured figures like NAACP sec Walter white had access to FDR
Her writings and actions raised awareness- attended Southern conference of human welfare
meeting in 1938 in Alabama- biracial group committed to social justice, civil rights, and
repeal of poll tax- 1940- promoted national sharecroppers week and national committee to
abolish poll tax
Ca1- benefits of SS leg and union leg had limits
FDR supported Wagner act 1935- guaranteed union rights and established national labour
relations board to curb unfair employer practises
Fair labour standards act 1938- fixed minimum wage and Max hrs
Many unions excluded blacks- NAACP claim estimate that only 50,000/3.4mill union
members were black
NAACP lobbied Congress but failed to get non discrimination clause included
FDR had to compromise for sd support- excluded waiters, cooks, janitors- jobs commonly
done by blacks
SS payments were low- domestic and agriculture workers excluded- ¾ of black workers
