Guiding Question: To what extent did Founding principles of liberty, equality, and justice become a reality for African Americans in the first half of the twentieth century?

• I can interpret primary sources related to Founding principles of liberty, equality, and justice in the first half of the twentieth century.
• I can explain how laws and policy, courts, and individuals and groups contributed to or pushed back against the quest for liberty, equality, and justice for African Americans.
• I can create an argument using evidence from primary sources.
• I can analyze issues in history to help find solutions to present-day challenges.

Building Context

From 1920 to 1938, the NAACP flew a flag outside its headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York City. By marking one of the city’s busiest streets with this message, the NAACP hoped to bring attention to unprosecuted murders. The flag was removed in 1938 to resolve a dispute with the landlord.

A Man Was Lynched Yesterday Flag (Replica), 1920-1938

Source link: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linciaggio_ negli_Stati_Uniti_d%27America#/media/File:A_Man_ Was_Lynched_Yesterday_fag.svg

A replica of the NAACP’s “A Man Was Lynched Yesterday” fag by Mliu92, 2017

Comprehension and Analysis Questions

1. How does this flag connect to the images of the 1917 Silent Parade in Document 9? Which do you think is more effective?
2. Lynchings still occurred in the twentieth century. How did they contradict the Fourteenth Amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law?