Niagara Movement W. E. B. Du Bois

founders of niagara movement in 1905. du bois in middle row, white hat.

in 1905, du bois , several other african-american civil rights activists – including fredrick l. mcghee, jesse max barber , william monroe trotter – met in canada, near niagara falls. there wrote declaration of principles opposing atlanta compromise, , incorporated niagara movement in 1906. du bois , other niagarites wanted publicize ideals other african americans, black periodicals owned publishers sympathetic washington. du bois bought printing press , started publishing moon illustrated weekly in december 1905. first african-american illustrated weekly, , du bois used attack washington s positions, magazine lasted 8 months. du bois founded , edited vehicle polemics, horizon: journal of color line, debuted in 1907. freeman h. m. murray , lafayette m. hershaw served horizon s co-editors.

the niagarites held second conference in august 1906, in celebration of 100th anniversary of abolitionist john brown s birth, @ west virginia site of brown s raid on harper s ferry. reverdy c. ransom spoke , addressed fact washington s primary goal prepare blacks employment in current society: today, 2 classes of negroes, ... standing @ parting of ways. 1 counsels patient submission our present humiliations , degradations; ... other class believe should not submit being humiliated, degraded, , remanded inferior place ... not believe in bartering manhood sake of gain.