Essay On Philip Randolph's Non-Violent Protest Movement

In 1941, A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Negro American Labor Council, initiated a national demonstration by African-Americans in Washington, D.C. The demonstration never occurred, because President Roosevelt issued and congress approved the Executive Order 8802, implementing racial desegregation among armed forces. Although the movement never occurred; the planning for it, and the significance of the movement had a big impact on Black people in the United States during the second world war. The concept of non-violent protest was established through organizing this march. Non-violent protest was an important influence preparing for the Civil Rights and Black Liberation struggles of the 1950s and ‘60s. Before examining the actual political
Randolph coordinated with leaders of the NAACP, the National Urban League and other prominent African-Americans to form the Negroes’ Committee to March on Washington for Equal Participation in National Defense. In May the committee issued a call to action by Negro America to March on Washington for equality of jobs and participating in national defense. This march was scheduled to occur on July 1, 1941. A press release sent by Randolph stated, “I suggest that ten thousand Negroes march on Washington, D.C., the capital of the Nation, with the slogan, WE LOYAL NEGRO AMERICAN CITIZENS DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO WORK AND FIGHT FOR OUR
To advertise for the march, Randolph’s union members, in the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, spread the word of the march to African-American communities across the country. The protest was to be all-Black; this was more so viewed as an opposition to segregation verses an endorsement for black nationalism. “We shall not call upon our white friends to march with us. There are some things Negroes must do alone. This is our fight and we must see it through…” Randolph continued to advocate that African-Americans get their full rights as members of the United States, as they unite together to protest military and civilian