Description
Question: How did black people survive during the Progressive Era? (1890-1920). Since this topic is too broad, it's best to narrow it down to one of these factors: economically? labor? cultural? religious? artistically? etc.
Regardless of what you choose to specifically write about. There should be a thesis, main points, as well a brief explanation of the Progressive Era and how it changed black people's history.
Write a research essay that seeks to critically explore a particular aspect of American culture within its historical context. Your essay must demonstrate your understanding of the historical context. It should demonstrate your ability to read and analyze American culture at a moment in history, and an effort to engage with (agree, disagree, or a mixture of both) with the data you encounter.
THINGS TO MENTION ABOUT IN THE WRITING:
*black codes/jim crow (tell them a little history of black people, how these things made it hard for black people to survive in America up until the Progressive Era).
*The effects of the Progressive Era gave black people the opportunity to rise (industrialization → more work)
*Segregation → black people were excluded from white charity organizations. So, they had to find a way around this issue and formed their own. (only if you choose to talk about economically)
*Influx of the black people North → needed to find a way to survive. (only if you choose to talk about economically)
I think talking about it economically is the easiest/best. I suggest looking at the attached file (it'll give you an article that only students can access; thus, I downloaded it for you):
* Structure: Talk about how there's an influx of black people --> black community struggled
financially --> black, especially women entered the working field --> they formed
communities (black communities) & charities -->> these charities funded for
school/education, etc.
But, obviously you can choose the other factors: labor, cultural, artistic, etc.. Moreover, you don't have to follow my structure.~~~~
DON"T MENTION HOW THIS IS ONLY A CHICAGO PROBLEM (as only mentioned in the article) THIS IS SHOULD A PROBLEM FOR ALL BLACK PEOPLE.**
Abstract of article: Two important events shaped the social welfare problems of urban northern blacks during the Progressive Era: increased black migration from southern farms to northern cities and growing racism and racial conflict in the North. Unemployment brought on by cotton crop failures coupled with the increasingly repressive southern Jim Crow system of segregation forced blacks out of the South wile acute labor shortages during WW1 drew them to northern cities. Moreover, since blacks were excluded from participation in many of the activities affected by reform, their lives were barely touched by the social reforms of the Progressive Era. Thus, having to form their own → black charity.