The 100th anniversary of the gathering
of a group that would have
a profound influence on the lives
of many Americans will be celebrated in
2006.
Harpers Ferry National Historical
Park will commemorate the centennial
of the Niagara Movement, the first
major civil rights organization of the
20th century.
The Niagra Movement. The photo is from 1906; DuBois is seated.
“The Niagara Movement was the cornerstone
of the modern civil rights era
in America,” says Todd Bolton, park project
director. “The movement provided
the foundation and the context for the
progress of the 20th century.”
In 1905, Dr. W. E. B. DuBois founded
this group, which was the forerunner to
the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). Members demanded equal
enforcement of the law for all races and
active political involvement.
“The battle we wage is not for ourselves
but for all true Americans,”
DuBois said.
The 1906 meeting was held on the
campus of Storer College, which is now
part of Harpers Ferry National Historical
Park. This site was chosen because
of its history. Many runaway slavessought refuge during the Civil War at Harpers Ferry.
Several freemen’s schools were established in the area
which inspired Maine philanthropist John Storer to
offer $10,000 for the establishment of a school in the
south open to all regardless of sex, race or religion.
Storer Normal School opened in 1867.
The 1905-1910 Niagara Movement’s importance is
recognized today because it created the first, modern
platform for civil rights. In addition to aiding in the
organization of the NAACP, the movement also
marked DuBois’ first attempt to create a civil rights
organization. It also was significant because women
became full-fledged, voting members of the group at
that time.
The event marked the rejection of Booker T. Washington
as spokesman for African-Americans. He
believed African Americans should focus on agriculture
and industrial education. He espoused social separation
of races and did not believe African Americans
should become involved in politics.
Members of the Niagara Movement were
strongly opposed to Washington’s views. According
to National Park Service documents, one of the
reasons why the Niagara Movement is not well
known is that Booker T. Washington used his influence
to squelch press coverage of the event and its
significance. With very few exceptions, only a small
group of newspapers owned by members of the
movement reported the event.
