Premium Essay

March On Washington Movement Research Paper

Submitted By
Words 909
Pages 4
African Americans time and time again have been the target of oppression and racial injustice. Even so, during time of need, they were there to protect and serve their nation. In World War II over 2.5 million Black men registered for the draft, and one million served throughout all branches of the Armed Forces during the conflict. Within that one million, over 12,000 black men were forced to stay in segregated combat support groups.
By the 1940s there was 145,000 black men serving in the US Army Air Force. This included the 99th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were African American bomber and fighter pilots who were awarded for their heroic service during World War II. The Navy put up a lot of resistance when it came to letting blacks serve and only allowed them to serve as mess attendants. But, with pressure from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and civil …show more content…
Philip Randolph launched the March on Washington Movement (MOWM), which helped organize thousands of people of African origin in the United States to march on the nation’s capital in 1941, demanding that President Franklin D. Roosevelt issue an executive order banning discrimination in the defense industry. The March on Washington Committee was organized and headed by Randolph and of prominent black leaders such as Walter White of the NAACP and Lester Granger of the Urban League. Although Eleanor Roosevelt met with Randolph and White to convince them to call off the march, Randolph refused, insisting that the President agree to ban discrimination in the defense industry. The threat of thousands of black people coming to Washington, DC, to protest convinced FDR to hold a meeting with Randolph and other march leaders in June 1941. Although the president attempted to convince Randolph to call off the march, Randolph refused unless an executive order was

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Affirmative Action

...How Affirmative Action Ban Affect College Admission? Abstract: In this research paper I examined the effects of affirmative action ban on the university enrollment stage. The importance of this topic is that it is very contentious social issue today. In this paper I mentioned some of the experiences of African American activist Ward Connerly, examples of his movement and his opponent approach towards affirmative action. The research finds that affirmative action bans decrease the enrollment in selective universities. However, affirmative action debate will continue in the United States. From research discussions I find that affirmative action carries out emotional reaction, because the concern is the inequality in education. However throughout the research I found some confusions and mixed proofs for that concern. Affirmative action in college admission is one of today’s most argumentative social policy issues. The supporters of affirmative action view it as a just response to past or present discrimination, stress the social benefits of producing minority role models and leaders, and claim that there are educational benefits to diversity. At the same time its opponents contend that it is an impediment to achieving a race-blind society and may even be harmful to those it is intended to directly benefit. The issue has been in headlines as affirmative action in college admissions has been limited in recent years by court decisions...

Words: 1102 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Bayard Rustin

...Bayard Rustin is mostly remembered for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which has been one of the most famous of the non-violent marches in United States history. He had used Gandhi’s tactics of non-violence by introducing it to the American civil rights movement, while at the same time, bringing Martin Luther King, Jr. to the forefront as the focal point for nonviolence and peace. Despite the achievements that Rustin had accomplished during his career as an activist, he was beaten, silenced, imprisoned, and fired from different organizations mainly because of the fact that he was a gay man living at a time that homosexuality was not only frowned upon, but also it was outlawed. In this paper, I will explain all the contributions that Bayard Rustin had made to the Civil Rights movement during the mid to late 20th century and why he is not given credit for the other activities that he was responsible for. Writers and historians such as Lawrence Freedman have stated that Bayard Rustin was content with his status as an “intellectual engineer behind the scenes” 1. In their view, Rustin was a powerful man with such a powerful political philosophy that the leadership at the time had begun to constrict him. Other historians have argued that the main reason why Rustin was written out of the history books is because he stayed true to a social agenda that had benefited all groups who were oppressed at the time that the civil rights movement had grown to be politically narrow2....

Words: 4606 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Constitutional Rights

...Raytheonr of 1989 is a case predicated on the freedom of speech and if a corporation has the right to dismiss you based on whether your speech directly or indirectly affects the company and a individual as there is associated with that company. Mr Korb was released from his duties as vice president for Washington operations of Raytheon Corporation because he spoke the media publicly and expressed views in direct conflict with the corporation's economic interest. It was noted that he spoke on behalf of the organization that he joined the executive board of the Committee for National Security (CNS). Although he was given permission by his company join CNS the company wanted Mr. Korb to still uphold the values and corporate initiatives the represented. Mr Korb gave a press conference on February 25, 1986 with CNS in the senate building during Korb's normal lunch hour in connection with the release of its annual alternative defense budget. Korb spoke at the press conference. Because this was during lunch and not an unscheduled break Mr. Korb felt like he wouldn’t be associated with Raytheon. The reporters present at the press definitely did as they reported to their outlets. The Washington Post newspaper the day after the press conference reported on the event. The article described Korb as a former assistant secretary of defense and now a private civil citizen working for arms maker Raytheon Co. It reported that at the event Mr. Korb was critical of increased defense spending and urged...

Words: 1255 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Martin Luther King, Jr.

...in a Mass Struggle Dr. Mark Allen Organizational Behavior/Leadership (MBA-552) Harkaran Singh Hara & Aras Azarbay 08 Fall 08 Fall Abstract The paper examines the myths associated with the life and leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the African-American Civil Rights movements of 1950s and 1960s and scrutinizes King’s depiction by the mass media as the sole significant leader of the struggle. It also examines the charismatic label associated with King’s name, his exceptional oratory skills and also his weaknesses as leader. The paper further discusses the contributions of King towards the civil rights struggle and also suggests us not to forget the contributions of leaders to the movement and the social factors which led to King’s rise. It also suggests some lessons we can learn from King’s life and relates his beliefs and methods to various scholarly works. Finally, it reflects upon the role of charismatic leadership and how it relates with transformational leadership styles in today’s business environment. About the Author This article which was originally published in the Journal of American History, 1987 is written by Dr. Clayborne Carson, who is a professor of American History at the Stanford University and is also the founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Dr. Carson obtained his B.A. (1967), M.A. (1971) and Ph.D. (1975) degrees from University of California, Los Angeles...

Words: 2011 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Famous Thinkers Paper

...Famous Thinkers Paper PHL/458 11/4/2013 Famous Thinkers Two famous thinkers are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and William “Bill” Gates. I admire these two famous thinkers for the impact and influence they both have had on society. These two famous thinkers have contributed and positively affected many lives past and present. Both famous thinkers had to overcome hardships and use their creative minds to deal with challenges, obstacles, and issues. These two have changed and created their own history and legacy, which will be written in history books for the world to see. Contributions to Society Born Michael King Jr. in 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most recognized civil rights leader in history. His father was Baptist minister and raised him to follow in his footsteps as a minister as well. During the civil rights movement Dr. King headed a crusade to help Americans to gain the same human rights, despite their origin or skin color. Dr. King had numerous contributions to society and is remembered for his non-violent movement. Dr. King was honored most for his heroic civil rights activism in the United States as well as a prophet of peace and justice in a world torn by Vietnam. Dr. King led the fight in 1956 to desegregate the bus lines in Montgomery, Alabama. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference appointed him the head position, which was to create racial equality throughout the country using non- violence. Dr. King was most famous...

Words: 1581 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Final Portfolio

...unnatural?” ― Bill Hicks The legalization of marijuana is a debate being held all over the country. Everyone has their own opinion on the whole idea of marijuana. There are legislators who think that if marijuana is legalized that it will be grown illegally, and medically abused. There are potheads who think it would be cool and that they would get cheaper weed. But what it comes down to are the numbers. Marijuana is a cash crop. How can Wisconsin say no to numbers like fourteen billion, and thirty five billion dollars? Can legalizing marijuana rescue Wisconsin’s economy? Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington. In seventeen states, and DC it is legal to have at least an ounce of marijuana. In fourteen of them it is legal to even have plants (ProCon). Should Wisconsin be state number eighteen? NBC News produced an article Marijuana Called US Cash Crop and within that article they state “The study estimates that marijuana production, at a value of $35.8 billion, exceeds the combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).” Wisconsin is in forty six billion dollars of debt and increasing every second (WisconsinDebtClock). If marijuana can bring in millions of dollars a year, why not legalize it? It would significantly decrease our debt problem. Not only would legalization bring in money for Wisconsin but it would also decrease...

Words: 3259 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

James Baldwin Annotated Bibliography

...Johnathan Kennedy WorldLit Monday,Wednesday 8:30pm-9:45pm Research Paper #2 May 25, 2016 Autobiographical of James Baldwin The depleting endlessly of James Baldwin's enchantment was a dramatization quite examined in the years paving the way to his passing in 1987 at the age of sixty-three. There had been the primary demonstration of waif in Harlem, artistic drifter in Paris, and avenging blessed messenger of the Freedom Summer, when his lifted up voice caught the strain of a country went up against by what resembled a decision amongst respecting and selling out its goals of social equity. The articles, books, and short stories had accompanied all the power of reason and splendor of dialect any youthful author could seek after. At that point...

Words: 1844 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

The Contemporary Use of Power

...Leadership and the Use of Power to Achieve Social Change Introduction The United States changed forever on November 4, 2008. Anyone watching a television on this important evening knew that everything had changed. Barak Hussein Obama had just been elected the 45th President of the United States of America, and he represented the first African American to ever win this office. To many the election was a fulfillment of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream for social and political equality for African Americans. Still others, including the newly elected President, reached back to Lincoln. President Obama would also, invoke the founding fathers, giving credit to the social experiment that democracy is and thus hinting to the efforts of Washington and others. The days that followed the Obama election would be filled with symbolism leading to the concert on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, and the day of service, called by the President, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the day before inauguration. The election of President Obama seemed to have brought full circle the experiment of democracy. The dreams of the founding fathers were present, the echo of Lincoln’s consequential Presidency were present, and certainly the dreams and speeches of Dr. King were front and center in this cultural moment. Yet the cultural moment represented so much more than a continuum of ideas and dreams of significant men. This moment was one of the first major societal changes in a generation...

Words: 8168 - Pages: 33

Free Essay

Int'L Business

...Independent Institute Working Paper Number 53 September 27, 2004 100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428 • 510-632-1366 • Fax: 510-568-6040 • Email: info@independent.org • http://www.independent.org Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards: Are the Jobs Worth the Sweat? Benjamin Powell and David Skarbek• Department of Economics San Jose State University San Jose, CA 95192-0114 benjamin.powell@sjsu.edu ABSTRACT Many studies have shown that multinational firms pay more than domestic firms in Third World countries. Economists critical of sweatshops have responded that multinational firms’ wage data do not address whether sweatshop jobs are above average because many of these jobs are with domestic subcontractors. In this paper we compare apparel industry wages and the wages of individual firms accused of being sweatshops to measures of the standard of living in Third World economies. We find that most sweatshop jobs provide an above average standard of living for their workers. Benjamin Powell is an Assistant Professor of Economics at San Jose State University and the Director of the Center for the Study of Entrepreneurial Innovation at the Independent Institute. David Skarbek is an economics major at San Jose State University and intern at the Independent Institute. The authors thank Jeffery Hummel, Charles Murray, Larry Pratt and Edward Stringham for helpful comments on earlier drafts. Financial support from the American Institute for Economic Research is gratefully acknowledged...

Words: 4322 - Pages: 18

Free Essay

Research Narrative- Kurt Cobain

...Brittany Peters Instructor Wenrich Eng. 121 7 June 2015 Research Narrative “Okay, so I get to wake up today and have another day he doesn’t.”- Dave Grohl, band member of Nirvana What would music have been like in the 1990s without Kurt Cobain? Or maybe the question to ask is, “What would music be like today if Kurt Cobain was alive?” The grunge movement was brought to life by the front man of the band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain (Kurt and Courtney).He was what most believed to be an iconic man in the 1990s for the music genre known as alternative rock/grunge. Kurt Cobain passed away on April 5th, 1994, in his home, when he was only 27 years old (“April 05”). He recently started a family with his wife Courtney Love, who was also a musician in a band called Hole (Kurt and Courtney). Kurt was in and out of rehabilitation centers for his drug addiction, and soon before his death had, what people considered at the time, an accidental overdose in Rome. The day his corpse was found an electrician reports his findings. The police and fire department arrive. Pictures are taken of the scene, and then handed to detectives to enhance the report of the incident that took place on the street of Lake Washington Boulevard. As news spreads of the musician’s tragedy fans gather at his house and a memorial service is performed in his honor (Kurt and Courtney). I now tell you the story of how and when Kurt Donald Cobain’s body was found. An electrician, Gary Smith, from the company Veca Electric...

Words: 2697 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

What Is Gender and Development?

...This small abstract underscores the main conceptual meanings of gender and development.lt shows the heated debate among scholars and substantiates how elusive these concepts are in development discourses. In the 1970s the word gender became a buzzword both in development discourse and policy making. The feminist movement challenged the existing theories of development which neglected women and excluded women in the mainstream development. It is in this backdrop that women like Boserup (1970) championed or spearheaded the women in development approach (WID) as a means of inco-operating gender analysis in development. However, the main thrust of this abstract is not on theoretical approaches but rather a definition of concepts such as gender and development. A limited understanding of gender using some dictionary denotations would mean being male or female. If such, then gender studies would not be of any sociological interest. According to Cornwall (1997) gender relates to the various relations between men and women, boys and girls, mothers and their sons, fathers and their daughters, men and men, women and women and so on. Gender refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women that are created in our families, our societies and our cultures (Schech and Haggis 2000, Razavi and Miller 1995; Kabeer 1995). According to Oxfam (1999) the concept of gender also includes the expectations held about the characteristics, aptitudes and likely behaviours of both women and men (femininity...

Words: 859 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Ethical Response to Terroism

...Mr. Braganca HRE-4M1 Saturday, March 9th, 2013 CPT Part A Annotated Bibliography Topic: #30. Ethical Response to Terrorism Essay Question / Thesis: According to the American Heritage Dictionary, terrorism is defined as the unlawful use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. Has global terrorism escalated to an extent so that the ethical response to extremism is no longer a viable alternative; forcing global intervention and the active use of extreme measures in the name of peace keeping? Annotated Bibliography: Source #1: Cook, Martin L., Dr. “Ethical Issues in Counterterrorism Warfare.” Ethical Issues in Counterterrorism Warfare. Santa Clara University, Sept. 2001. Web. 09 Mar. 2013. <http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/ethicalperspectives/cook.html> The author of this essay, Dr. Martin L. Cook, is an Elihu Root Professor of Military Science and a Professor of Ethics under the Department of Command, Leadership and Management at the U.S. Army War College. Under the guidance of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, U.S. Army, Cook was asked to prepare this paper. Prior to his current position, Cook engaged his professional expertise at the Santa Clara University and taught under in the Department of Religious Studies. Cook’s paper first states that as a result of...

Words: 1410 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Legalization of Marijuana

...Legalization of Marijuana Tina Washington Everest University March 3, 2015 Abstract The prohibition of marijuana has brought forth multiple passionate debates for many years in reference to its effects on the human body, its medicinal properties, and its effect on society. Even though there are many people who are opposed to the legalization of marijuana, this paper will dispute that the legalization of marijuana is justified. This paper will provide proof by measuring marijuana’s effects on the human body when ingested by inhalation against the effects on the body when consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking tobacco, by submitting research facts on its medicinal qualities, and providing you with information on how the use of marijuana can benefit a lot of people as well as our nation as a whole. Legalization of Marijuana Legalization of marijuana is wide spread. There are so many benefits to it such as helping those with medicinal issues like anxiety, AIDS, Cancer, glaucoma, etc. Being able to assist someone without throwing pills down their throat is certainly a better approach. Most people don’t know this, but there are 18 states that have already gotten on the band wagon of legalizing marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the two most recent states that adopted this law. Not only is it a great way to aid in certain medical issues, but it is also a way for the states and our government to generate revenue...

Words: 2224 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Black History

...Shirley Chisholm Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. She served seven terms as a representative from New York's 12th district, from 1969 until her retirement in 1982. Chisholm grew up in Barbados and also in New York City, where she earned a graduate degree from Columbia University in 1952. She taught school before entering the New York state assembly in 1964 and then easily winning election to Congress in 1968. She ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1972, becoming the first African-American woman to run for the office. An opponent of the Vietnam War and a proponent of education and child welfare, she received about 5% of the vote at the party's national convention. (She lost the nomination to George McGovern, who was defeated by Republican incumbent Richard Nixon in the general election.) Chisholm wrote the memoirs Unbossed and Unbought (1970) and The Good Fight (1973). Jan E. Matzeliger Jan Ernst Matzeliger was born on September 15, 1852 in Surinam (South America), the child of a biracial marriage. His father was a white engineer from Holland and his mother was a black woman in the Dutch colony. By his third birthday Matzeliger was sent to live with his father’s sister. By the time he turned 10 years old, Matzeliger became a worker in the machine shop that his father owned. It was at this time that he quickly became aware of his talent for working with machinery. Although he...

Words: 1245 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The History of Women's Suffrage

...Victoria Ward Bonnie McMeans English 112 March 30th, 2015 Votes for Women: The Struggle to Get Women from the Household to the Polls In “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the protagonist Mrs. Mallard is told her husband has died. At first she is sad, and weeps in her sisters arms. Soon after though, she is sitting in her room and she becomes relieved when she realizes that she is now free. She notes that she often didn’t love her husband, and vows to live her life for herself. At the end of the story, her husband walks through the door, having been alive the whole time. Mrs. Mallard literally dies of grief at seeing he is alive and well. This intrigued me, as I wondered why she was so upset he wasn’t dead, and I wanted to find out more about women’s roles in 1894. At the time this story was written, women did not have many rights. They could not seek higher education, own land or property, and they could not vote. In 1894, the fight had started but the battle was still a long way from being won. This story was inspiring to me, and it made me want to learn about the fight for women’s suffrage since 1848, which is when the Seneca Falls Convention was held on July 19 and 20th (“Rights for Women”). According to the National Woman’s History Museum, it took women more than seventy-two years to get right the vote (“Rights for Women”). I find it amazing that the United States denied women the right to vote for that long. The fight for women’s suffrage, which started with the Seneca...

Words: 2619 - Pages: 11