George W. Woodbey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George W. Woodbey
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| Born |
George Washington Woodbey
October 5, 1854 |
| Died | August 27, 1937 (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Author, minister |
| Political party | Republican Prohibition Party Socialist |
George Washington Woodbey (born October 5, 1854 – died August 27, 1937) was an important African-American minister, writer, and Socialist. He wrote many important papers about Socialism and the lives of African Americans. He also served as a minister in churches in the Midwestern United States and California. Woodbey was the only Black delegate at the Socialist Party of America conventions in 1904 and 1908.
Contents
George W. Woodbey: A Champion for Change
Early Life and Activism
George W. Woodbey was born into slavery in Johnson County, Tennessee. Not much is known about his early childhood. However, it is said that he learned to read when he was very young. After the Civil War ended, Woodbey moved to Emporia, Kansas. In 1874, he became a Baptist minister. He served in churches in Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
Woodbey became involved in politics with the Republican Party. By the 1880s, he grew interested in making society better. In Omaha, he joined the Prohibition Party. This party wanted to ban alcohol. He even ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska in 1890 for this party. In 1894, he was their candidate for Congress in Nebraska.
During the 1900 Presidential campaigns, Woodbey supported William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was a candidate for the Democratic and Populist parties. Around this time, Woodbey learned about the ideas of Eugene V. Debs. Debs was a labor organizer and later ran for president five times as a Socialist. The Democratic Party invited Woodbey to give speeches. But they stopped him because his ideas were too strongly socialist.
Becoming a Socialist
Woodbey soon became a member of the Socialist Party. He believed that the Socialist Party could help solve racial problems in the United States. This was because the party focused on changing the economy. Woodbey saw the fight for socialism as a continuation of the fight against slavery. He thought that just as the Civil War ended chattel slavery (owning people), socialism would end "wage slavery." He meant that workers would no longer be controlled by those who owned businesses.
Woodbey also noticed that the Black community was becoming divided by wealth. He doubted that rich Black leaders alone could solve racism. He pointed out that if a few white people had all the wealth, their brothers were still poor. He also spoke out against negative feelings towards immigrants. These feelings were common in labor groups and the Socialist Party at the time.
He traveled across California, sharing his socialist message. He was known as a great speaker. He could explain his ideas in a way that everyday people understood. Once, a restaurant refused to serve Woodbey because he was Black. He organized a successful boycott of the restaurant and hotel with his socialist friends.
In 1902, Woodbey moved to San Diego. There, he was the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He was also on the executive board of the Socialist Party of California. He believed that the socialist idea of helping the poor fit well with his Christian faith.
Woodbey often faced trouble for his strong messages. He was in and out of jail for several years. In 1905, after an incident, the police sent him to the hospital. He then went to the county jail to complain. Instead, he was physically thrown out of the building. Woodbey then pressed charges against the officer. A jury found the officer not guilty. Even though he lost the case, it helped him gain support from the community. It also allowed him to show how the police were used to protect powerful businesses.
His Ideas on Society
George Washington Woodbey wrote several books about socialism. One important book was What to do and how to do it, published in 1903. This book aimed to help people understand socialism. It also explained how socialist ideas could work in America. Woodbey was a natural speaker, and this book was a written version of his talks.
In the book, Woodbey connects his socialist beliefs to Christian teachings. He used examples from the Bible, like Genesis and Matthew. He believed that God made the Earth for everyone to use and survive. So, the Earth and everything on it should belong to all people, not just a few. However, he also said that you don't have to be Christian to be a socialist. People of all faiths can agree that humans need the Earth to live. He supported freedom of religion for everyone.
Woodbey argued that a big problem with capitalism is that people pay for what they have already earned. He believed that everyone has a right to the Earth and its resources. So, paying rent to live on land that is rightfully yours is wrong. He mentioned philosophers like Karl Marx and Herbert Spencer to support his ideas about not owning or selling land.
He explained that tools and machines are made by workers. So, a capitalist who doesn't produce anything but uses the work of others creates bigger gaps between rich and poor. Capitalism, he said, only allows a few people to succeed. Saving money might help some, but if everyone saves, there's no market for goods.
In his book, Woodbey also explained the goals of the Socialist Party. In a socialist society, everyone would work together. All people would equally own land, machines, tools, and roads. This way, no one would have to pay for what their work produced. He compared it to a family farm where they don't pay for their own food because they produced it.
Woodbey listed four main things socialists wanted:
- All people should have an equal share in the land. This is because everyone needs the Earth to survive.
- All people should own the tools they use for work. This includes everything from a screwdriver to a large factory.
- All people should equally own all ways of transportation for themselves and their goods.
- The working class should make all laws about industries through direct voting.
He believed these changes would create a society that valued workers. The idea of total equality in socialism was important for racial issues. Woodbey felt that a system of complete equality would help African Americans gain the freedom and justice they deserved.
Woodbey thought that socialism was growing fast. He predicted it would greatly influence governments worldwide. He imagined a socialist government with very few laws. He believed that with equal ownership, people would not commit crimes for money. He suggested a system where any citizen could propose a law. If enough people (like 5% of the population) supported it, it would be voted on. If most people agreed, it would become law. He also thought that equal opportunities would make differences between people disappear, ending prejudice.
Later Years and Legacy
Records show that George W. Woodbey continued his work until at least 1923 in California. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, on August 27, 1937. He was living at the home of his son, William. He was survived by his third wife and three children.
Reverend George W. Slater, Jr. said that Woodbey helped him understand and become a Socialist. Slater continued Woodbey's message, carrying on his work in the Socialist movement.
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George W. Woodbey
