World War I W. E. B. Du Bois

du bois organized 1917 silent parade in new york, protest east st. louis riots.

after east st. louis riots occurred in summer of 1917, du bois traveled st. louis report on riots. between 40 , 250 african americans massacred whites, due resentment caused st. louis industry hiring blacks replace striking white workers. du bois s reporting resulted in article massacre of east st. louis , published in september issue of crisis, contained photographs , interviews detailing violence. historian david levering lewis concluded du bois distorted of facts in order increase propaganda value of article. publicly demonstrate black community s outrage on riots, du bois organized silent parade, march of around 9,000 african americans down new york city s fifth avenue, first parade of kind in new york, , second instance of blacks publicly demonstrating civil rights.

the houston riot of 1917 disturbed du bois , major setback efforts permit african americans become military officers. riot began after houston police arrested , beat 2 black soldiers; in response, on 100 black soldiers took streets of houston , killed 16 whites. military court martial held, , 19 of soldiers hung, , 67 others imprisoned. in spite of houston riot, du bois , others pressed army accept officers trained @ spingarn s camp, resulting in on 600 black officers joining army in october 1917.

federal officials, concerned subversive viewpoints expressed naacp leaders, attempted frighten naacp threatening investigations. du bois not intimidated, , in 1918 predicted world war lead overthrow of european colonial system , liberation of colored people worldwide – in china, in india, , in america. naacp chairman joel spingarn enthusiastic war, , persuaded du bois consider officer s commission in army, contingent on du bois writing editorial repudiating anti-war stance. du bois accepted bargain , wrote pro-war close ranks editorial in june 1918 , thereafter received commission in army. many black leaders, wanted leverage war gain civil rights african americans, criticized du bois sudden reversal. southern officers in du bois s unit objected presence, , commission withdrawn.