The Bowery Boys: New York City History #330 The Silent Parade of 1917: Black Unity in a Time of Crisis
Jun 4, 2020
In July 1917, 8,000 black men, women, and children took to Fifth Avenue in a silent protest against racial discrimination. This groundbreaking march, organized by the NAACP, emerged after the violent East St. Louis riots that shocked the nation. Participants wore contrasting outfits of white and black, aiming to convey unity and dignity. The podcast explores the challenges faced by early civil rights activists and the march's often-overlooked legacy, connecting it to modern movements for justice and equality.
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Silent Parade As Foundational Protest
- The Silent Parade of July 28, 1917, is widely seen as America's first large-scale African-American civil rights march.
- The protest used disciplined spectacle to force New Yorkers to witness Black solidarity and grievance on Fifth Avenue.
War, Migration, And Racial Violence Linked
- The parade arose amid a national spike in lynchings, Klan resurgence, and Northern labor tensions tied to wartime migration.
- Du Bois and NAACP leaders framed migration, labor competition, and racist violence as interconnected causes of unrest and riots.
East St. Louis Massacre Details
- The East St. Louis massacre began after white workers resented black laborers recruited during a strike and exploded into mob violence.
- Survivors fled burning homes, some with infants and children in wagons, escorted out by militiamen.