Members of an NAACP Planning Committee at a recruitment event. Photograph: Library of Congress Black women were on the frontlines of civil rights activism during the war years. The grassroots organizing work of young leaders like Rosa Parks, Juanita Jackson, and Ella Baker helped fuel a dramatic increase in NAACP membership and branch activism. Union … Continue reading Black Women in the Wartime Struggle
Mary McLeod Bethune acted as leader of the Black Cabinet. Bethune was a friend and confidante of Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR held her in high regard. She used her unique connection to the Roosevelts to bring race-related issues directly to the President. Photograph: Library of Congress Much of the success of the Black Cabinet was … Continue reading The First Lady of the Struggle
“Throughout the nation today, colored men and women are playing the part in the government under President Roosevelt’s New Deal that we have awaited . . . these seventy years which have passed since President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” —Elizabeth McDuffie, Campaign Speech, St. Louis, Missouri, 1936 Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie, two Black … Continue reading Irvin and Elizabeth McDuffie
“If you have a purpose in which you can believe, there’s no end to the amount of things you can accomplish.” Marian Anderson by Kirsten S. Carter, Supervisory Archivist Born February 27, 1897, Marian Anderson first sang publicly at age six with the Union Baptist Church choir in her home city of Philadelphia. Backed by … Continue reading Special Exhibition Highlight: Marian Anderson
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum presented a well-attended author talk and book signing with Martin Professor of Constitutional Law and Dean Emeritus at New York Law School JAMES F. SIMON who spoke about his most recent book FDR AND CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES: THE PRESIDENT, THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE EPIC BATTLE OVER THE NEW … Continue reading Public Programs News and Events
May 24, 1957 "HOUSTON—I am in Texas for two lectures on behalf of Bonds for Israel and arrived in Houston when a court hearing was being held on the speed for compliance with the Supreme Court's order on desegregation of schools. This led the press to ask me a number of questions which, as a … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt – My Day: May 22-31
May 20, 1954 "NEW YORK, Wednesday—...While I was on the Tex and Jinx show I was given the news of the unanimous Supreme Court decision that wiped out segregation in the schools. I am delighted this was a unanimous decision because I think it will be difficult for the states with segregated school systems to … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt – My Day: May 15-21
February 9, 1948 "HYDE PARK, Sunday—I went to speak for one of the Y.M.C.A. groups at New York University Medical College late Friday afternoon, and I was interested to see that a good cross section of our New York City population was represented in the audience. There were Protestants, Catholics and Jews, as well as … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt – My Day: February 8-14
December 2, 1957 "NEW YORK—People all over the world have been asked to sign a Declaration of Conscience to observe a day of protest against South Africa's apartheid policy. An international committee, composed of more than 150 world leaders from more than 43 nations, has designated Human Rights Day, December 10, as this worldwide day … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt – My Day: December 1-7
May 20, 1954 "NEW YORK, Wednesday—...While I was on the Tex and Jinx show I was given the news of the unanimous Supreme Court decision that wiped out segregation in the schools. I am delighted this was a unanimous decision because I think it will be difficult for the states with segregated school systems to … Continue reading Eleanor Roosevelt – My Day: May 15-21
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