I t
SELMA MARCH 1968, a testiaaOllJ to the I hlp 01 tbe
AfrIca rica e urcb. A.M.E. MlDiste Jol d the --=:!..-�..:.::!::.���:::.._____!:����::..:._.:.2E��
o were detenniaed they could make a dir-
du� research, collects histori­
cal documents, pub' es boo
on Black life and history and
promotes Black hi torty
through community organiza­
tion, hurches and cbool.
From 1915 until his death in
1950, he served a the
association's director and editor
of the Journal of Negro History.
Woodson was appointed
dean of the school of liberal arts
and head of the graduate facul­
ty at Howard University in 1919.
He late served as dean at West
Virginia State College in In-­
stitute, W.VA., and reorganized
the school's curriculum, but he
left after only- two ye r to
devote all his time to ASNLH
and the Journal.
ummer 001 and correspon-
dence cour es, e earned a
ma ter's degree from the
Uaiser ity of Chicago and a
. doctorate in history from Har­
vard University.
The n tion's capital was a
mecaa of culturtal, political and
scholarly activitie _ but it was
also a center of r cia] hostility
and . despread egregation.
- Woodson pent hour in the
Library of Congress researching
his doctoral the' side-by-side
'th white colleagues. But when
the other scholars stepped out
for a cup of coffee, he had to stay
,behind. Blacks were not per­
mitted in the local restaurants.
S GREGATIO in the Dis­
trict of Columbia reinforced his
belief that ignorance led to
r' and he increased the in­
tensity and p ce of ' his research
and pub . catio .
Woodson and several col­
leap 1ished the Associa­
tiOn for the Study of Negro Life
aad History (ASNLH), a
scholarly orpnization that COD-
NEGRO HISTO Y WEE
was one of Woodson' most sue­
ce ful efforts at promoti g:
Black histor.y and culture.
Crea ed in 1926, the week
an aDIlual celebration of B
accomplishments. As a result of
WoodsoD's publicity skills and
the dedicated of ASNLH
association branches, Negro
History Week was widely
embraced. In fact, it was so uc­
ceuful that it was expanded to a
full-month celebr . on, which is
o known as Black History
Month.
Although the week's celebra­
tion a ignificant in the
development of race conscious-
ess and Black pride, the
widespread publicity helped to
Increase knowledge among
whites of the contribution
Blac have made to Ameri�
hi tory.
The National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People awarded Woodson the
prestigious Spingarn Medal in
1926. In 1947, three years before
he di ed, he received the
honorary degree of doctor of
la froin Ho d for his COIl­
tributi to the Rudy of BI ck
history.
L­
Boys' ·di
I
tin d fr 1
were tossed in jail
The next day they were
charged with raping two white
women train passengers, both of
whom were know prositutes,
and one of them later recanted
her testimony.
. Thus, began the tortu us,
stormy and sordid history 0 the
Scottsboro Boys. The early ial
was a hate- filled farce Wtiere
white spectator hurled racial
epithets and the judge mad no
bon about his feelings - the
bois re guilty, and the trial a
waste of time for Diggers". They.
were convicted and sentenced
to die. '
The case twice went to e
Supreme Court with a ne bjaJ
ordered each time. Norris as
cote eed to die three time
spe five years on death rOw
and additional ten yean in an
Alabama tate penitenitary.
The National Association (or
the Advancement of Colored
People v,hich fought bitterly
.cottsboro
with the Communist Party over
legal representation of.the Boys,
entered the case and sought to
overturn the gross miscarriage
of justice. It soon became an in­
ternational cause celebrr..
He was finally paroHed in
1944 and fled north where he
lived as a wanted man until, with .
the help of the NAACP in 1976,
he received a full pardon.
Norris, who quit school � the
second grade to help his
sharecropping family, , vir­
tually unlettered and possessed
few skills. He earned meager
living working at menial jobs in
New York. He frequently spoke
at meeting on behalf of the
NAACP and the Association
. ed him from time to time
with clothing and other essen­
tials. Norris told the story of his
1ife..long struggle for vindication
in The Last of the Scousboeo
Boys, ,with the assistance of
writer Sybil D. Washington.
He h d been in declining
health for several years.