The Silent Parade of 1917 was a significant event in the history of civil rights protests, largely due to the leadership and organizational efforts of the NAACP. Founded in 1909, the NAACP was instrumental in advocating for African American rights and played a central role in orchestrating this silent march in New York City.
The NAACP's Strategic Planning
The NAACP's involvement in the Silent Parade was a strategic move to address the widespread racial violence and discrimination
faced by African Americans. The parade was organized in response to racially motivated attacks, including the East St. Louis massacre and lynchings in Waco and Memphis. James Weldon Johnson, the NAACP's Field Secretary, collaborated with influential community leaders to plan the protest.
Initially, the idea of a protest at Carnegie Hall was considered, but Johnson proposed a silent march to emphasize the message through contrast with the brutality of lynchings and race riots. The concept of a silent protest was inspired by Oswald Garrison Villard's suggestion during an NAACP conference, drawing on his mother's silent march against war in 1914.
Mobilizing African American Communities
The NAACP worked with a committee composed of representatives from churches and businesses to organize the parade. Prominent members of the New York clergy served as executives, with Hutchens Chews Bishop as president and Charles Martin as secretary. The parade marshals included nationally recognized African American leaders such as J. Rosamond Johnson, Christopher Payne, and Everard W. Daniel.
The parade was intended to be a demonstration of African American solidarity, and while white people were not explicitly excluded, none participated. The NAACP's magazine, The Crisis, played a crucial role in publicizing the event, publishing articles documenting specific lynchings and advocating for anti-lynching legislation.
The Impact and Legacy of the NAACP's Efforts
The Silent Parade was widely publicized and drew significant attention to the plight of African Americans. The NAACP's leadership in organizing the march demonstrated the power of peaceful protest and the importance of unity in the fight for civil rights. Although President Woodrow Wilson did not act on their demands for federal anti-lynching legislation, the parade marked a turning point in the civil rights movement.
The NAACP's involvement in the Silent Parade is a testament to its commitment to advancing equal rights for African Americans. The organization's efforts laid the groundwork for future civil rights activism and continue to inspire advocacy and action against racial discrimination.
