New Deal Era:
The New Deal brought economic expansion and an unprecedented amount of government involvement came along with it. The programs put forth by President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at lowering unemployment through government jobs and offering financial relief through welfare, agricultural aid, and food programs. Every American was impacted by the Great Depression, but especially African Americans due to economic disadvantages black citizens had been facing for decades. The New Deal offered a progressive and aggressive approach to poverty and unemployment, which triggered a large amount of black voters to switch to the Democratic party. Despite putting their faith in FDR and the Democratic party’s program, it still failed them in many areas. The main concern on the Democratic party at this time was getting the employment and income rates back up for white citizens. The needs of others fell to the bottom of government priorities, which wasn’t new for the African American demographic.
An article published in 1936 by the Philadelphia Tribune pointed out the unequal treatment towards black citizens in the New Deal. It was proven that less funding was going towards government housing in typically black areas in Philadelphia than white areas. New Deal supporters came out in response to this and in fact confirmed it. Their reasoning was that since Philadelphia was mostly Republican at the time, it would be a waste of resources to put money into the area because they wouldn’t get votes in return. The Democratic party was putting votes ahead of equal rights outright, despite trying to court the black vote throughout elections.
Source: Roster, Edgar. 1936. “New Deal Ignored Negro Needs Congress Charges.” Philadelphia Tribune. October 22nd , Proquest Historical Newspapers.
Little Benefits
Despite a lack in equal funding and opportunity in New Deal programs, chances for economic betterment were still available for non-whites. Several agencies hired black workers, including the Farm Security Administration founded in 1937. This program hired agricultural workers to combat poverty in rural farming areas. While the New Deal provided jobs for African Americans, it was still extremely unequal among races. However, this program provided more than the Republican party offered, so many voters remained in a party that did little to fight to racial equality.
This image taken in 1942 depicts a night of dancing at a work camp funded by the Farm Security Administration.
Link to Image: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:bsc:&rft_dat=xri:bsc:multimedia:3208554