Black Cabinet

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The Black Cabinet was first known as the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, an informal group of African American public policy advisors to United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was supported by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. By mid-1935 there were 45 African Americans working in federal executive departments and New Deal agencies.

President and Mrs. Roosevelt on Inauguration Day, 1933.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt on Inauguration Day, 1933.


Contents

[edit] The need for representatives

The Roosevelt administration wanted to tend to the increasing needs of African Americans which had not been met during the Lincoln administration. African Americans wanted some form of representation which had not been provided for them. This need was seen by the administration at the time and prominent individuals from the African American community were chosen unofficially to represent the needs of African Americans. "Through these efforts, blacks were appointed to positions of responsibility within numerous governmental agencies, the Black Cabinet" or Black Brain Trust" - a vocal and eloquent group of highly trained and politically astute African American intellectuals who spearheaded the struggle for civil rights during the thirties." [1]. The members of the cabinet worked officially and unofficially in their agencies to provide an insight in to the needs of African Americans. In the past, there had never been this amount of members chosen at one time to work together for the African American community and this changed when during the Roosevelt administration 45 African Americans were chosen even through they were primarily an advisory group. [2]. It is said that the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged the organization of the Black Cabinet to help shape New Deal programs. [3].

[edit] The members

Most of the members were not politicians but community leaders instead, with strong ties to the African American community. Some of the prominent members included Dr. Robert C. Weaver, who was the first Black Cabinet member, secretary of Housing and Urban Development and also the director of the Municipal Assistance Corporation which was formed during 1970s during the financial crisis in 1970s. As a Black Cabinet member during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration he was hired as a race relations adviser who worked with the White House to provide more opportunities for African Americans. [4]. Another important member included Ms. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune. "Ms. Bethune was a Republican who changed her party allegiance because of Franklin Roosevelt." [5]. Ms. Bethune was very closely tied to the community and felt that she knew what the African Americans really wanted and worked hard to be their voice. She was looked upon very highly by other members of the cabinet who called her "Ma Bethune." Ms. Bethune was a personal friend of Mrs. Roosevelt and had access to the White House. Their friendship began during a luncheon when Mrs. Roosevelt took her arm and sat her to the right of Franklin Roosevelt which was considered the seat of honor. Franklin Roosevelt was so impressed after one of her speeches that he appointed her to the Division of Negro Affairs in the National Youth Administration which was just created.

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]Slave Narratives
  2. ^ [2]Invisible Politics (page 263)
  3. ^ [3]African American History- Encyclopedia Encarta
  4. ^ [4] New York Times-Robert C. Weaver
  5. ^ [5] Farewell to the Party of Lincoln (page 142)

[edit] Bibliography

  • Fleming, Thomas C. "The Black Cabinet." The Free Press. 8 September 1999.
  • Barron, James. "Robert C. Weaver 89, First Black Cabinet Member, Dies". New York Times, 19 July, 1997.
  • Yetman, Norman. "The Black Presence in the Writers Project." An introduction to the WPA Slave Narratives. 23 March, 2001.
  • Horton, James O. "African American History." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007.
  • Walton, Hanes. "Invisible Politics- Black Political Behavior." State University of New York Press, 1985, 263 pages.
  • Weiss, Nancy J. "Farewell to the Party of Lincoln: Black Politics in the Age of FDR." Princeton University Press, 1983, 142 pages.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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