1. What do you notice? What do you wonder?
The first thing that got my attention is the questions, “Do you Believe”. I felt that I needed to give my opinion on a matter, especially when it mentioned that it was associated with the advancement of colored people. We know that black people were fighting for their rights, such as voting, and education. As I go further in the details of the source, I got interested to learn more about the matter. How different were the colored people from the white? What was the purpose of the organization?
2. Source:
The source seems to be an advertisement, It was written in 1919 in New York. It mentions that if we agree with the advancement of colored people and their rights, then we should apply to be a member of the organization to fight democracy that implies for negro. The goal is to get 100,000 members, by June 1st they have already got 57,000 members. They are trying to encourage people to join the organization. There will also be a payment of membership to being one year in the organization.
https://transcription.si.edu/view/22594/NMAAHC-2012_84_3_002
3. Context:
In module 9, We can see that the Jim Crow Law would be one of the examples that have affected Blacks. The law has created legal separation and segregation. The rules were enforced even if violence was necessary. Blacks were to demonstrate their subordination, while the whites demonstrated white supremacy, they had control and were dominant. Blacks were treated differently and were expected to follow the social norms that were set. This issue has existed in every part of their life. As it was mentioned in Module 14, WW1 was an opportunity for the blacks to prove themselves that they are worthy and are capable as much as the whites. The US army uniform the blacks wore represents authority, power, and respect. However, it was viewed as a threat to southern whites.
https://maryklann.wixsite.com/hist110/post/module-9-race-and-violence-in-the-new-south
https://maryklann.wixsite.com/hist110/post/module-14-world-war-i
4. Implications/Conclusions:
This source was important for understanding American History because despite everything that happened to the blacks and the way they were treated. They were still trying to fight and prove themselves as worthy as the whites, which the WW1 gave them this advantage. They were still asking and demanding their rights. The fact that they have created an organization and have gained a good amount of members, who share the same opinions as them.
5. Discussion Question:
If you have read the advertisements back in the days. Would you have joined the organization? Why or Why not?
Hi Amany! I really appreciated in your post how you approached the source by weighing how effective it could be for getting potential new members to join the organization, the NAACP. I definitely agree that the context of WWI was used strategically by Black activists, like those involved in the NAACP to call attention to the positive role that Black Americans had made in the US and the hypocrisy they saw in American society and politics. Thinking about the effectiveness of using those numbers to get people to join, as @whitneyweinapple1 pointed out, it would be compelling to be a part of something that could produce real change.