Niagara Movement
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Niagara Movement
The Niagara Movement was a black civil rights organization founded
in 1905 by a group led by W. E. B. Du Bois and William Monroe
Trotter. It was named for the "mighty current" of change the group
wanted to effect and Niagara Falls, the Canadian side of which was
where the first meeting took place in July 1905.[1] The Niagara
Movement was a call for opposition to racial segregation and
disenfranchisement, and it was opposed to policies of accommodation
and conciliation promoted by African American leaders such as
Booker T. Washington.[2]
History
In July 1905 a group led by W. E. B. Du Bois, John Hope, Fredrick L.
McGhee, and William Monroe Trotter met at the Fort Erie Hotel in
Fort Erie, Ontario, opposite Buffalo, New York, to discuss full civil
liberties, an end to racial discrimination, and recognition of human
Founders of the Niagara Movement, 1905.
brotherhood. Differing opinions exist on why the group met in
southern Ontario. A popular legend, which cannot be substantiated with primary sources, is that they had originally
planned to meet in Buffalo, but were refused accommodation.[2][3] And the other, which is substantiated with many
primary sources, states that the original plan was to find a quiet, out of the way location for the event.[4][5]
The philosophies of the group were in direct contrast to more conciliatory philosophies that proposed patience over
militancy. Fifty-nine men were invited to this first meeting but only 29 attended.[6] The Niagara Movement
eventually split into separate committees and divided among the states, establishing chapters in twenty one states by
mid-September and reaching 170 members by year’s end. By 1910 however, due to weak finances and internal
dissension the group was disbanded.[7]
Niagara Movement leaders W. E. B. Du Bois (seated), and (left to
right) J. R. Clifford, L. M. Hershaw, and F. H. M. Murray at Harpers
Ferry.
Women In the Niagara Movement
Their second meeting, the first to be held on U.S. soil,
took place at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the site of
John Brown's raid. The three-day gathering, starting on
August 15, 1906 at the campus of Storer College (now
part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park),
discussed how to secure civil rights for African
Americans and was later described by Du Bois as "one
of the greatest meetings that American Negroes ever
held." Attendees walked from Storer College to the
nearby Murphy Family farm, relocation site of the
historic fort where John Brown's quest to free four
million enslaved blacks reached its bloody climax.
Once there they removed their shoes and socks to
honor the hallowed ground and participated in a
ceremony of remembrance[3]
Niagara Movement
"In 1905, between July 11 and July 15, twenty nine African American men met in Buffalo, New York to launch a
new movement, the Niagara Movement. Spearheaded by W. E. B. DuBois, the Niagara Movement lasted just four
years and became the precursor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, also led by
DuBois, in 1909. While no African American women were part of the original group of twenty nine that formed the
Niagara Movement yet, in many ways Black women became an integral part of the movement. This article will
present their story. Black women were the gender capital of the Niagara Movement, though perhaps that was not the
intention of the 29 men who came together to form this group. This article is divided into four sections in order to
create the story of the women in the Niagara Movement: Mary Burnett Talbert, Carrie W. Clifford, Gertrude Morgan
and the Membership Lists..."
Read the full article by Dr. Anita Nahal & Dr. Lopez Matthew at: http:/ / www. thefreelibrary. com/ African+
American+women+and+the+Niagara+Movement%2c+1905-1909.-a0182027493
Full citation for the article: Nahal, Anita, and Lopez D. Matthews Jr., “African American Women and the Niagara
Movement, 1905–1909,” Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, 32 (July 2008), 65–85.
End of the Niagara Movement
The Niagara Movement suffered from a number of organizational flaws including a lack of funding and central
leadership. Additionally, Booker T. Washington's opposition drew support away from the group.[2] Following the
Springfield Race Riot of 1908, the Niagara Movement admitted their first white member, Mary White Ovington, a
settlement worker and socialist.[1] In 1911, the remaining membership of the Niagara Movement joined with a
number of white progressives to form the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
According to the NAACP's Crisis Magazine of August 1914 which was edited by W.E.B. Dubois, Mary White
Ovington wrote an article titled "How The NAACP Began" and the article states that having been prompted by the
Springfield Race Riots which took place in Lincoln's hometown, the NAACP began by design on the 100th
anniversary of Lincoln's birthday in 1909 to revive the spirit of Lincoln and abolition and that in 1910 upon hiring
W.E.B Dubois, the NAACP learned from him of the Niagara Movement which was struggling financially and upon
the members of the Niagara Movement, founded in 1905, learning about this new organization the NAACP, they
decided to merge their organization with the NAACP. Mary White Ovington in her article never mentions being a
member of the Niagara Movement.
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Niagara Movement
Declaration of Principles
The Niagara movement published their Declaration of
Principles in 1905. The document was largely written
by Du Bois[8] In it the organization recognizes the
progress made by Negroes and listed several concerns.
First among these concerns were suffrage for women,
civil liberty, equal economic opportunities, decent
housing and neighborhoods, and equal access to
education. The movement also made demands for equal
justice in the American court system including
removing discrimination from jury selection, equal
punishments and equal efforts at reformation. The
group also called for facilities for dependent children
Women at the 1906 Niagara Movement Conference at Harpers Ferry:
and juvenile delinquents and the abolition of the
Mrs. Gertrude Wright Morgan (seated) and (left to right) Mrs. O.M.
convict lease system. Employers were challenged to
Waller, Mrs. H.F.M. Murray, Mrs. Mollie Lewis Kelan, Mrs. Ida D.
provide
Negro-Americans
with
permanent
Bailey, Miss Sadie Shorter, and Mrs. Charlotte Hershaw.
employment. Labor unions were similarly challenged
to stop boycotting Black laborers. The declaration also called for the nation to treat Black soldiers fairly by
rewarding them for their service with promotions and to stop barring Blacks from military academies. The nation
was also called upon to enforce the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution.
The Declaration of Principles also made clear that any practice of segregation and discrimination was intolerable
whether it was from the government, businesses, or even the Christian church. The document condemns any
impression of assent to inferiority and submissiveness and indicated an absolute refusal to apologize for complaining
loudly and insistently stating that "Persistent manly agitation is the way to liberty". In closing the document thanks
those who have provided support for equal opportunity and promised to continue to demand the rights listed and to
carry out the following duties: voting, respecting the rights of others, working, obeying the laws, being clean and
orderly, sending their children to school, and self respect.[9]
References
[1] "The Niagara Movement founded" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20070927190838/ http:/ / www. aaregistry. com/
african_american_history/ 1005/ The_Niagara_Movement_founded). The African American Registry. 2005. Archived from the original (http:/
/ www. aaregistry. com/ african_american_history/ 1005/ The_Niagara_Movement_founded) on 2007-09-27. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
[2] Wormser, Richard. "Niagara Movement 1905-10" (http:/ / www. pbs. org/ wnet/ jimcrow/ stories_events_niagara. html). The Rise and Fall of
Jim Crow. PBS. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
[3] Gilbert, David T. (2006-08-11). "The Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry" (http:/ / www. nps. gov/ archive/ hafe/ niagara/ history. htm).
National Park Service. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
[4] "NIAGARA MOVEMENT - A Mystery Solved!" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20080829140429/ http:/ / wings. buffalo. edu/
uncrownedqueens/ C/ history/ niag_mov/ mystery_solved. html). University at Buffalo. 2005. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
[5] Van Ness, Cynthia (Winter 2011, pp. 18-23.). "Buffalo Hotels and the Niagara Movement: New Evidence Refutes an Old Legend." (http:/ /
www. buffaloresearch. com/ essays/ BuffaloHotels. pdf). Western New York Heritage Magazine, v. 13 no. 4,. . Retrieved 2011-01-23. Argues
that the passage of the "Malby Law" in 1895, prohibiting discrimination in hotels on the basis of color, and the successful test of that state law
in Buffalo as reported by the New York Times, renders the hotel discrimination legend unlikely.
[6] Brinkley, Alan (2010). "Chapter 20 - The Progressives". The Unfinished Nation. McGrawHill. ISBN 978-0-07-338552-5.
[7] "Du Bois Central: Resources on the life and legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Niagara Movement" (http:/ / www. library. umass. edu/ spcoll/
dubois/ ?page_id=12). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst. .
Retrieved 2009-09-02.
[8] Bradberry, Bill. "BLACK MENAGERIE: A MANIFESTO FOR EQUALITY FROM W. E. B. DU BOIS" (http:/ / www. niagarafallsreporter.
com/ menagerie9. html). NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
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Niagara Movement
[9] "THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES, 1905" (http:/ / wings. buffalo. edu/ cas/ aas/ ANNOUNCE/
niagaramovement/ nm_principles1. html). University at Buffalo. . Retrieved 2007-10-09.
External links
• Niagara's Declaration of Principles (http://www.yale.edu/glc/archive/1152.htm)
• Details from the 1908 Niagara Conference at Oberlin (http://www.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/Niagara
Movement/niagaramain.htm)
• Du Bois Central. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of
Massachusetts Amherst (http://www.library.umass.edu/spcoll/dubois/)
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Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors
Niagara Movement Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=519420794 Contributors: Adam Bishop, Adam keller, AlexPlank, Am088, Anahal, Avicennasis, BD2412, Bblackmoor,
Bearcat, Bevo, Bkonrad, Burntsauce, CanadianLinuxUser, Caponer, Colonies Chris, Cordd, Courcelles, Crownjewel82, Darklilac, Deeceevoice, DerHexer, Dx1755, Fat pig73, Flcelloguy,
FoekeNoppert, Galaxiaad, Guybrarian, Hahacool1010, Hashjihad, Jengod, Jonathan.s.kt, Keilana, Khatru2, Kuru, Little Mountain 5, LittleDan, Malik Shabazz, Matthersh, Mesoderm, Moink,
Moolowdy, Morwen, Mulatto, Noleander, Nv8200p, PaulHanson, Pigman, Plasticup, Postdlf, R'n'B, RJFJR, Rafman11, Shlomke, Spylab, SwisterTwister, Tanaats, Tinco77, Tomkelly0915,
Toussaint, Vanished user 39948282, Viswanand, WarthogDemon, Whpq, WikipedianMarlith, Wingnutamj, Yoho2001, Youthelectronix, 113 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Niagara movement meeting in Fort Erie, Canada, 1905.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Niagara_movement_meeting_in_Fort_Erie,_Canada,_1905.jpg
License: Public Domain Contributors: Noleander, Ruhrfisch, Santiago Casuriaga, 1 anonymous edits
File:Niagara-leaders.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Niagara-leaders.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Crownjewel82, Kenmayer, Santiago Casuriaga,
Skeezix1000
File:Niagara-women.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Niagara-women.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Crownjewel82, Kenmayer, Skeezix1000
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