The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23200

Title

The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This seminal 1920 volume chronicles the history of Black education, migration, and civil rights in the United States and Canada. Featuring essays by prominent scholars like Carter G. Woodson, it documents the struggle for literacy against restrictive laws, the establishment of historic institutions like Hampton and Tuskegee, and the legal battles protecting freedom in Upper Canada. A vital primary source for understanding early 20th-century African American life.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1920, Volume 5 of the Journal of Negro History offers a comprehensive examination of the African American experience during a pivotal era of struggle and advancement. The volume is anchored by an extensive analysis of Black education, tracing its evolution from early private institutions in the 18th century to the industrial training models pioneered by the Hampton and Tuskegee Institutes. Despite fierce opposition, including mob violence and state laws explicitly banning Black literacy, educators demonstrated remarkable resilience. The text highlights the achievements of organizations like the Freedmen's Bureau, which established thousands of schools and employed thousands of teachers to educate nearly 250,000 students by 1870. Religious societies, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, also played a crucial role in founding colleges such as Wilberforce and Oberlin, fostering an intellectual climate that countered prevailing racial stereotypes. The collection further addresses the phenomenon of Black migration to Canada, particularly Upper Canada (Ontario). It recounts the legal and social struggles of fugitive slaves who crossed the border to escape the Fugitive Slave Act. The volume details high-profile cases, such as the rescue of Thornton Blackburn and the violent defense of Solomon Mosely in Niagara. These narratives illustrate the stark contrast between the Canadian legal framework, which recognized freedom upon entry, and the brutality of American slavery. The text notes that while masters sometimes attempted to reclaim their property, the Canadian government generally refused extradition for crimes related to escape, viewing personal freedom as a fundamental civil right. Additionally, the volume includes critical book reviews that provide insight into the intellectual climate of the time. Reviews of Bishop L.J. Coppin's autobiography, *Unwritten History*, and Emmett J. Scott's study on wartime migration emphasize the need for objective historical records. These sections highlight the significance of documenting the lives of ordinary people and the broader social movements of the era. The essays explore the economic and social implications of the Great Migration, noting that while war conditions initiated the movement, social repression and the search for better living conditions drove the masses toward northern markets. Ultimately, the collection serves as both a historical record and a call to action for the uplift of the Negro race through education, legal advocacy, and community organization, emphasizing that facts outweigh opinions in the delicate issues of racial justice.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23200.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg23200.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-02 16:06 UTC

Categories

• History
• Periodicals