Forrester Blanchard Washington facts for kids

Forrester Blanchard Washington (born in 1887, died in 1963) was an important American leader in social work. He helped many people and worked to make things fairer for African Americans.

Early Life and Education

Forrester Washington was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1887. He was the first of four children. Growing up in Massachusetts helped protect him from some of the unfair racism that many African Americans faced, especially in the South.

His family moved to Boston, where he finished South Boston High School in 1905. He then went to Tufts College and graduated in 1909. He continued his studies at Harvard University from 1912 to 1914. Later, he earned a master's degree in social economy from Columbia University in 1917. He got married in 1918. Washington also trained in social work at the New York School of Social Work, which helped him start his career.

Leading in Detroit and World War I

Forrester Washington took on many important leadership roles. His first job was as the very first director of the Detroit Urban League (DUL). He led the DUL when many African Americans moved to Detroit during World War I. This was part of a big movement called the Great Migration.

Washington asked for equal job chances in Detroit. He also encouraged the new black residents to get used to city life. His time at the DUL was cut short when he was called to join the U.S. Army for World War I. However, another social welfare leader, Dr. George Edmond Haynes, helped him leave the army. Washington then joined Dr. Haynes to help with a new group called the Division of Negro Economics. This group was part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Even though this office didn't last long, it was important. It was created to help with the lack of jobs for African Americans. It also aimed to respond to their growing demands for fair treatment. The government wanted to work with strong African American leaders during this time.

Helping During the Great Depression

After the war, Washington went back to Detroit. In 1923, he became the director of the Armstrong Association of Philadelphia, which was connected to the National Urban League. He also became a research director for Associated Charities.

Three years later, in 1926, he became a director and teacher at the Atlanta University School of Social Work. Washington believed it was important for African American social workers to help people in their own communities. He saw how much good came from this.

In 1927, Washington realized that most African Americans still lived in the South. They had many needs, but few people or places to help them. He decided to dedicate his life to teaching social work. He accepted the director position at the Atlanta School of Social Work in 1927.

This showed Washington's strong dedication to education, his community, and social work. His work at Atlanta University led to his next big role during the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a time of great hardship after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was elected in 1932 and started programs called the New Deal to help.

One major New Deal program was the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). It gave out money to help people directly. However, African Americans often faced unfair treatment and didn't always get the full benefits. Because of this, President Roosevelt created a group of African American leaders called "The Black Cabinet". Forrester Washington was a member of this important group.

In 1934, Washington was chosen to lead "Negro Work" within FERA. In this role, he spoke out against the unfair treatment of African Americans by state FERA leaders and employers. Washington argued that the government should make sure everyone had equal job chances. He wanted to help black workers become self-supporting, not just rely on relief. He also urged other social workers to speak up for more job opportunities for African Americans.

When the Roosevelt administration didn't act on his concerns, Washington resigned from FERA in 1935. He returned to the Atlanta School of Social Work. He stayed there until he retired in 1960. Forrester Washington passed away in 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Washington's Lasting Impact

Forrester Washington was a true pioneer in social work. He always cared deeply about the social, political, and economic needs of African Americans. He believed that having a job and being able to support yourself was very important for a person's dignity.

Washington showed how to stand up against unfairness. He fought against unfair rules and systems during the 1930s. Many people believe that Forrester Washington deserves a lot of credit for building up the Atlanta School of Social Work. He led the school through tough times and helped train many skilled African American social workers. His leadership greatly helped social work develop in the southern United States.

Forrester Washington's life and work are a vital part of social welfare history. They help us understand how social work and social welfare education grew. They also show the important contributions African Americans made to social welfare policies and the social work profession. His work can inspire us to work for social justice and help others.